Approximately 65% of the 127 public school buildings in Boston were constructed before World War II, and less than half of those schools have been fully renovated. That’s why Khadijah Brown, Boston Public Schools director of facilities management, was thrilled when Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh (D) announced a 10-year, $1-billion investment in the district’s facilities during his Jan. 18 state-of-the-city address. Brown, who has worked for the district for more than 20 years, said, “We can’t do it fast enough.”
The 10-year master plan, called “Build BPS,” included gathering community input and data on its current facilities during an 18-month period. Walsh said the renovated buildings will include twenty-first-century classrooms with modern furnishings and technology, as well as better lighting, ventilation, climate control, energy efficiency and accessibility.