City Council moves Northeast roof grant application process forward

The City Council backed the School Department’s pursuit of a state grant to cover the costs of replacing the roof at Northeast Elementary School, with city officials stressing the roof’s dire condition.

“We need a new roof, hands down — we know that,” Ward 5 Councilor Joseph LaCava said at the council’s Monday night meeting.

The roof has a major leaking problem, according to a letter sent by Mayor Jeannette A. McCarthy on behalf of the School Committee. Rain has created a buildup of water that leaks from the roof into multiple parts of the school.

The quest for state money to cover repairs is now on, and city and school officials have to follow a specific application process.

The School Committee at its March 19 meeting approved school plans to file a statement of intent for a grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority, a government agency that helps fund capital improvement projects in public schools throughout the state.

A SOI details needed repairs so that the state can evaluate whether projects are eligible for MSBA funds. If deemed eligible, Waltham can submit a formal application for the grant.

After receiving the initial School Committee approval, the district had to seek out permission from the City Council to submit the SOI, which it received at Monday’s meeting. Waltham Public Schools Superintendent Marisa Mendonsa can now submit the SOI to the MSBA on the district’s behalf.