Deteriorating school facilities burden Gloucester, Mass.

From The Boston Globe: When work crews in Gloucester, Mass., inspected the city’s schools this summer, they knew years of neglect had taken a toll. But the damage still took them aback. Roofs were leaking, ceiling tiles had collapsed, mold had infected three classrooms, and 100 toilet seats were broken. Trees and brush blocked emergency exits. The situation in Gloucester’s schools reflects the financial pressures squeezing school systems across Massachusetts after three years of economic turmoil. In Gloucester, there is mounting frustration that school finances have reached a breaking point.