Press Releases

LOWELL, MA – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) joined Methuen Mayor Neil Perry, Public Schools Superintendent Brandi Kwong, members of the City’s state delegation, City Councilors, and School Board Members to announce $8,394,000 in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding and $2,892,000 in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) funding for a new Methuen pre-kindergarten and elementary school.

“There is no better way to invest federal funds than strengthening public school education for our children. When I voted for the American Rescue Plan and the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund, this is the exact kind of project I had in mind at the local level,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “I’m grateful to Mayor Perry, Superintendent Kwong, and members of the City Council and School Board for their commitment to helping Methuen students succeed.”

“The federal funding that made the purchase of this property possible has had positive ripple effects across our entire school community,” said Mayor Neil Perry. “By moving our early childhood education and administrative offices into this new facility, we are able to free up more classroom space in our grammar schools and explore exciting new opportunities for the former administrative building. It’s a win for our city and our stuents on so many levels.”

“The COVID relief funding - both ESSER and ARPA - afforded the Methuen Public Schools the opportunity to acquire a new school building at a time when the needs of our students are growing,” said Public Schools Superintendent Brandi Kwong. “Housing the entire preschool program at our new school building opened up 15 classrooms across our four grammar schools which allowed us to maintain smaller class sizes, hire more support staff for our multi-language learnes and special education students post COVID.  We are so grateful for this one time funding that provided the city of Methuen the opportunity to focus on the needs of our students.”

In 2022, Methuen approved an allocation of $8.4 million in ARPA funding and $2.9 million in ESSER funding to purchase the building at 9 Branch Street and renovate it for use as an pre-kindergarten and elementary school, as well as to house Methuen Public Schools’ central offices. Most importantly, this investment will help reduce class sizes across the City’s public school system, which has seen an increase in enrollment since the resumption of in-person learning in 2020.

“I extend my thanks to Congresswoman Trahan for her steadfast dedication to providing Methuen students with the necessary academic spaces to succeed,” said State Senator Pavel Payano. “The opening of this new elementary school holds the promise of transformative change for our community. I look forward to collaborating with leaders at the federal, state, and local levels to ensure that our students receive an excellent public education.”

“Investments in our public schools are critical to ensuring students in Methuen have access to the best education available. By expanding classroom space for our pre-k and kindergarten programs, Branch St. will help our youngest learners excel from day one,” said State Representative Ryan Hamilton. “As a product of Methuen Public Schools and the family member of several public school teachers, I am always proud to stand with our federal, state, and municipal leaders on education.”

“Methuen public schools needed a building with the capacity that this new school has. I am so excited to see the funds being used for the benefit of education and Methuen's youths,” said State Representative Estela A. Reyes. 

Trahan secured both pots of federal funding for the City of Methuen through the passage of federal COVID-19 relief packages. She voted for the American Rescue Plan Act, which delivered $46,142,460 in federal funds to the City of Methuen. She also supported the creation of the ESSER program, which was established by the Coronavirus Aid Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act in 2020 and received additional rounds of funding from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act and the American Rescue Plan Act, both of which Trahan supported. In total, Methuen Public Schools received over $12 million in federal ESSER funding.

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