The Mass. School Building Authority's Board of Directors has approved a grant of more than $22 million to build a new elementary school at the site of the Hannigan School in New Bedford.

Hannigan students are currently attending classes in the Sea Lab building in the South End. The new school will serve 400 students in kindergarten thru grade five. "The new Hannigan Elementary School will replace an aging building with an up-to-date, 21st century learning facility," stated MSBA Executive Director Jack McCarthy

The current school was built in 1921, but has not been used for classes since part of the roof caved in several years ago. The $22.7 million grant represents 80% of the cost of a new elementary school.

The MSBA has approved more than $11 billion in reimbursements for school construction projects around the state since 2004.

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