By SANDY McGEE

BLACKSTONE — Several improvement projects are expected to begin at the Blackstone-Millville Regional High School and Frederick W. Hartnett Middle School this spring and summer as a result of re-allocated funds.

The improvement projects will be funded from money leftover from a town approved bond created to fund the building of the Hartnett Middle School. The middle school, which was completed under budget, opened its doors to students in August 2003.
“The school department previously asked permission (from the legislature) to allow money unspent to be used for projects that needed to get done,” said Interim Superintendent of Schools Herbert Levine.
Legislation, cosponsored by Sen. Richard T. Moore (D-Uxbridge) and Rep. Jennifer Callahan (D-Sutton), was approved by the House and Senate and signed by Gov. Deval Patrick this past December.
The legislation allows the school district to re-allocate surplus money from the middle school’s construction and use the funds for other district-related capital expenses.
The funds, which total $330,000, may only be used for projects at the district’s regional high school and middle school, said Levine.
The superintendent recently released the list in the box at right.
All of the improvement projects are expected to begin this spring or summer.
“A number of the projects can be done during the school year,” Levine said. “The parking lot will be done during the summer.”
The Blackstone-Millville Regional School District was established in 1967 to serve the needs of students from the towns of Blackstone and Millville. The district consists of one elementary school in Millville, two elementary schools in Blackstone, one regional middle school and one regional high school.
In recent years, the Blackstone-Millville Regional School District has constructed two new elementary schools, as well as rehabilitated the John F. Kennedy Elementary School. The Blackstone-Millville Regional School District has an enrollment of 2,291 students in pre-kindergarten through grade 12.