"State moves Hingham, Hanover, Quincy school building projects forward"

"BOSTON — Hingham will be reimbursed for its new elementary school, while Quincy and Hanover can design new schools, following a Wednesday vote by the Massachusetts School Building Authority.

Sharon will also be allowed to complete the designs for its middle school renovation project, as a result of the vote.

Hingham school officials today learned the funding agency’s board approved its proposal to build a new $26.6 million elementary school on Collins Street. In March, Hingham voters agreed to a temporary property tax increase to pay for the new school.

Massachusetts School Building Authority spokeswoman Carrie Sullivan said Hingham would be reimbursed for 40 percent of the project, a total grant of close to $10.4 million.

Hingham school officials hope to break ground in May and open the new school in September 2009.

Meanwhile, for Hanover, the state agency agreed to let the town design a new high school, as town officials hoped, without requiring more studies.

“They realized we had done the work,” said Hanover School Building Committee Chairman Chris Martin. “They looked at the data and they agreed with us.”

By fast-tracking the project, Hanover can immediately go out and hire an architect, Martin said. The goal is to design the new building and establish a price in time to have the town vote on the plan in September.

Quincy will also be allowed to design its new Central Middle School, under the decision. City officials, though, must find a location for the building and direct funding to the project.

Sharon was also given approval to revise and finalize the construction documents for its middle school, which will allow the school to renovate its aging modular classrooms.

“If we continue to work together as we have with these communities, I see no reason why they won’t get a grant from us and be the first in the state to get a grant from us,” State Treasurer Timothy Cahill said."