FAQ
General
The Monument Mountain Regional High School (MMRHS) Project, encompasses all aspects of the planning and construction of the High School, including the selection of the Owner’s Project Manager (OPM), designer, and contractor, as well as oversight of the Project.The district is participating in the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) process to design and construct a new or renovated High School. Acceptance to the MSBA program does not guarantee state funding. The MSBA approval process must be completed successfully for the State via the MSBA to provide significant financial assistance to the Project. In June 2023, the district approved funds for the MMRHS Feasibility Study. The final product of the Feasibility Study will be a construction project proposal for which the district must approve funding via a district wide debt exclusion vote.
The Massachusetts School Building Authority (“MSBA”) is a quasi-independent government authority created to reform the process of funding capital improvement projects in the Commonwealth’s public schools. The MSBA strives to work with local communities to create affordable, sustainable, and energy efficient schools across Massachusetts. Visit the MSBA website to learn more.
Please refer to the schedule page for details about the schedule.
The MMRHS Building Committee is currently in the Feasibility Study and working on establishing the Preliminary Design Program (PDP) to be submitted to the MSBA in July 2024. The PDP includes the following deliverables:
- Educational Program, written by District leadership with guidance from the design team to serve as the basis of design
- Space Summary, which compares the school’s current spaces to the MSBA’s standards
- Existing Conditions Report
- Establish design parameters
- Develop and evaluate alternatives
In this phase the district will undergo district-wide visioning sessions that will set goals for the project. The Committee will also look to schedule future community forums to begin presenting project information, findings, and ask for community input. Community Members are invited to join School Building Committee meetings and give feedback during public participation.
Please see The Process for more details.
The MMRHS Building Committee represents all Great Barrington, Stockbridge, West Stockbridge, School administration, district committees, as well as the community at large. Skills include educational, financial, architectural, construction, and environmental.
- See the full building committee membership.
- Have questions about the project that are not answered on this site? Contact the Building Committee
Design
DiNisco Design, in collaboration with William Rawn Associates.
485 students
Monument Mountain Regional High School currently offers three Chapter 74 Vocational Technical Education Programs (Automotive, Horticulture, and Early Childhood Development), three Innovation Pathways (Healthcare, Advance Manufacturing & Engineering, and Business Finance), and three general CVTE programs (Computer Science, MMTV, and Wood Technology) . The District is continuing to explore the possibility of moving general programming into Chapter 74 status or adding additional programming to meet the needs of our community.
Cost & Funding Process
The exact project cost, MSBA grant, and district share will be established at the end of July 2025 following Schematic Design cost estimation process and Project Scope and Budget approval from the MSBA. Once the MSBA gives approval and the project Scope and Budget is established, the district will hold a vote in the fall of 2025 to approve local funding. Details on the vote will be finalized and shared with the community in the coming months.
The district will be asked to appropriate the entire project budget amount, with MSBA providing a percentage based on the eligible reimbursement. If approved by the taxpayers, the funding would be incorporated through a local vote. Details on the vote will be finalized and shared with the community in the coming months.
In the event that the district fails to approve funding for this proposed project within the one hundred twenty (120) day deadline as established under the Massachusetts School Building Authority’s (MSBA) standard form Project Funding Agreement, then no later than ten (10) business days following the failed vote the district must submit to the MSBA a plan that presents the vote results. The MSBA will review the plan and determine whether it can continue to set aside MSBA funds for the proposed project. However, a failed local vote likely will result in the district being required to submit a new Statement of Interest to the MSBA and await an invitation from the MSBA to enter the Eligibility Period phase of the MSBA’s process. The process to be accepted into the MSBA grant process could take another 5+ years and require another feasibility study to be completed which would not be reimbursable by the MSBA. However, there is no guarantee the district would be accepted back into the MSBA program.
The Monument Mountain Regional High School Feasibility Study budget is $1.5M. Secured by unanimous vote at the March 10, 2022, School Committee meeting and by majority vote at the Annual Town Meetings in May and June of 2022.
Reimbursement rate for the Feasibility Study is 45.52%.