NORFOLK - For environmentally-conscious building, the town has been awarded a $50,000 grant for the planned reconstruction or replacement of Freeman-Centennial School off Boardman Street.

The design grant from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative Renewable Energy Trust is for participation in the Green Schools Initiative, according to the town's legislators, Sen. Scott Brown and Richard Ross, both R-Wrentham.

That initiative promotes incorporating green building features into building designs. The activities include support, energy modeling, acoustic design, daylight design, and renewable energy system design.

"I am pleased that Norfolk sought, and was awarded, this important funding," Ross said. "These funds will assist the town as they move forward in considering the construction of a green school, which has long been the focus and priority."

"This money is vitally important if we are to build a school that is energy efficient," Brown said. "I appreciate the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative's work on getting these funds to such deserving projects." Freeman-Centennial is aged and cramped and in desperate need of work, especially to its 1950s-era front section, school officials say.

Late last year, Freeman-Centennial School made the Massachusetts School Building Authority's (SBA) coveted list of schools to be considered for the first round of funding for building projects.

Residents approved $500,000 for a state-required feasibility study at the May town meeting, and the state is expected to pick up about half that tab as the town anticipates about 50 percent state reimbursement for any school building work.

The feasibility study will determine whether the town will move forward with a new facility or a renovation/addition. The study will detail the scope of the project as well as the schedule and budget.

Also, a building committee is being formed for the project, and a task force has held forums and given tours of the school, as well as getting information out to the public via various media.

For more information, visit norfolk.k12.ma.us and click on the School Building Project link.