SPRINGFIELD – The School Committee voted at its Jan. 17 meeting to make repairs at the German Gerena Community School the district’s top priority in applying for funds from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).

The improvements at the Gerena School would be “for the replacement and installation of the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems for the entire educational complex and for the associated exterior envelope repairs required by the new HVAC systems.”

Superintendent Dan Warwick called the problems at the Gerena School are “a huge challenge.” He explained representatives of MSBA would review the projects on paper and then come to each school for a walk-through to see the work to be completed.

“We had a great track record and have had more accepted than anyone else in the Commonwealth,” Warwick said.

Mayor Domenic Sarno said, “We’ve had a fantastic relationship with the MSBA.”

Sarno said so far the city has received three-quarters of a billion dollars for the MSBA for the city’s schools.

The committee approved statements of interest to be sent to the Authority, the first step in applying for funding for the improvements.

As noted in the meeting, “The following Statements of Interest, which describe and explain the deficiencies and the priority category(s) for which an application may be submitted to the Massachusetts School Building Authority are brought before the School Committee to approve and authorize the Superintendent of Schools to submit to the Massachusetts School Building Authority. Having convened in an open meeting on January 17, 2019, prior to the closing date, the School Committee of Springfield, in accordance with its charter, by-laws, and ordinances hereby votes to authorize the Superintendent to submit to the Massachusetts School Building Authority the following Statements of Interest forms to be submitted not later than February 15, 2019. The School Committee hereby further specifically acknowledges that by submitting these Statement of Interest Forms, the Massachusetts School Building Authority in no way guarantees the acceptance.”

The other schools include:

• Balliet Elementary for the installation of new windows and exterior doors under the Accelerated Repair Program

• Edward P. Boland School, Samuel Bowles School, High School of Commerce, Frederick Harris School, Glenwood School, Sumner Avenue School and Indian Orchard Elementary for “the replacement and upgrade to the Heating System and to place the school onto an automated web-based energy management system, to ensure the health and the safety of the school children and to decrease the energy related costs associated with the school building.”

• Springfield High School of Science and Technology, Arthur T. Talmadge School for “the installation of new windows and exterior doors under the Accelerated Repair Program.”