Boston commits $2 billion to rebuild and renovate public school facilities

BOSTON — July 19, 2026 — Boston launches $2 billion Green New Deal for Boston Public Schools, targeting 14 construction and renovation projects in the first phase. Mayor Michelle Wu made the announcement Saturday at the McKinley Schools in the South End, committing more than $2 billion in city investment to rebuild or renovate every BPS school building — most of which were constructed before 1950 — with $605 million included in the capital budget currently before the Boston City Council. Chief of Operations Dion Irish said the city will add roughly 10 to 11 new positions to the Public Facilities Department and 15 new positions on the BPS facilities side, and is simultaneously launching a public school building dashboard and a Bureau Veritas facilities condition assessment. BPS Superintendent Mary Skipper said she "came back and cried" after visiting McKinley early in her tenure. BTU President Jessica Tang called it "the largest investment I can think of, actually, in recent memory for decades." Wu set a public goal of completing renovation or reconstruction of every BPS building within the next ten years.