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Whittier Tech Enters Eligibility Phase for Massachusetts School Building Authority Grant
By Nell Fitts | August 3, 2025
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Superintendent Maureen Lynch, rear, speaks with mayors and community leaders about Whittier Tech’s building needs in 2024. (Courtesy photograph.)
The Massachusetts School Building Authority formally invited Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School Friday to the eligibility phase in its grant award process. This marks the start of a formal process that could lead to a new building project for the school.
The milestone follows steps to revive a replacement building, possibly on a shared campus with Northern Essex Community College in Haverhill. In June of this year, the 11 sending communities signed a joint agreement on pursuing such a plan.
“This is a major step forward not only for Whittier Tech, but for the entire region. It affirms the strength of our collective vision and the importance of preparing our facilities for the future of career and technical education. I’m grateful for the support of our 11 cities and towns and look forward to working together on this important project,” said Whittier Tech Superintendent Maureen Lynch.
The first criterion the state School Building Authority seeks is community backing. For this grant, as Lynch mentioned, the cities and towns that feed Whittier Tech came to a unanimous agreement and each wrote letters of support for the school’s participation in the program. Should the school be awarded the grant, they hope to address, “long-term facility needs.” There is currently a 200-student enrollment waitlist at the school.
In 2024, a $445-million-dollar building replacement plan was initially approved by the state but rejected by voters in 10 out of the 11 sending school communities.
Next in the grant process, a formal School Building Committee will be established in early fall of 2025. It will meet to explore potential project options.
Chapter 74 Vocational Technical & Agricultural Education
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