Springfield (Mass.) district breaks ground on $82 million elementary

The Springfield (Mass.) district has broken ground on an $82 million elementary school that will replace two aging campuses.

The Springfield Republican reports that Brightwood-Lincoln Elementary School will combine two schools—Brightwood and Lincoln. Each of the existing schools will be housed in separate wings of the new facility.

“We wanted to make sure Brightwood remained in the community and Lincoln is in need of serious renovations, so when everyone agreed to repurpose the Roberto Clemente fields into this beautiful new building we were thrilled,” says Assistant Superintendent of Schools Lydia Martinez.

Construction is already underway and the building is expected to be completed in the next two years, says Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno.

Jack McCarthy, executive director of the Massachusetts School Building Authority, pitched the concept of putting two schools in one building, and Brightwood and Lincoln were a natural fit, the mayor says.