(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries and letters to the Editor of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers)

By Beatriz Gómez Mouakad

On October 8, 2023, the Somerville School Construction Advisory Group (CAG) held its first meeting. Formed by the Mayor’s Administration, this group includes community members from the Benjamin Brown School and Winter Hill Innovation and Community School (WHICS) along with representatives from advocacy organizations like Padres Latinos de Somerville Public Schools and the Green New Deal for Somerville Schools. The goal of this group is to develop recommendations for a new school’s location and scope, which include considering the Brown School to be part of a joint new facility.

While the establishment of the CAG is a promising step toward community involvement in school planning, it is crucial for the City to clarify its goals regarding school equity, municipal financial constraints, and project timelines. This clarity will enable the CAG to provide effective input. Specifically, the City must communicate school infrastructure needs that are not being addressed through the school district including those that support vulnerable students, highlight financial challenges posed by a growing list of deferred maintenance projects, and emphasize the urgency of initiating a new school building project without available temporary space for displaced municipal or school buildings.

Community Support and School Equity

With rising construction costs due to labor shortages and increased material prices, the estimated cost of a new K-8 school may exceed the 2016 high school budget of $256 million. The MSBA will fund only up to 50% of the new school’s construction costs. To cover the remaining expenses, the City plans to seek a property tax increase similar to the 2016 proposition 2½ Debt Exclusion for the high school.

Securing community support for the debt exclusion ballot requires the City and SPS to demonstrate how the new school will meet the diverse needs of the student body across Somerville, including over 60% of whom are classified as high needs. Historically, constructing two separate schools incurs higher costs, as it necessitates additional support facilities (i.e. cafeterias and gyms). High-needs students also demand more specialty classrooms and support staff, increasing overall square footage and construction costs.

Financial Challenges and Deferred Maintenance

Ensuring equity across the school system, especially in light of required community support for the debt exclusion, is just one of the City’s challenges. The City also faces the need to balance costs of new school construction with urgent renovations across existing buildings. The more modern school buildings from the 1990’s and early 2000’s like Healey, West, Kennedy, and Capuano require substantial upgrades, particularly for heating and cooling systems, which are nearing the end of their useful lives. The East Somerville Community School too has ongoing issues with its exterior and elevator that need to be addressed.

Moreover, the City’s fire stations are in need of critical repairs. Although a request for $17.3 million for fire station rehabilitation was included in the 2023 five-year Capital Improvement Plan, funding for these projects remains unallocated. Some stations, like the one in Union Square, operate in temporary structures, raising safety concerns. Teele Fire Station had to be taken out of service in 2023 due to structural concerns.

City Hall is facing considerable exterior and operational challenges, including a damaged clock tower, persistent leaks and failing cooling and heating systems that have created unfavorable working conditions for city staff. The City Annex also suffers from recurring leaks, disrupting essential departments, such as the Office of Housing Stability. The historic 1895 building, which could serve as a swing space during City Hall renovations and accommodate over 300 city staff members that currently are un housed, is currently on hold. This space is crucial for replacing the inadequately maintained City Hall Annex and addressing the urgent need for suitable working conditions for City staff and need to centralize City Services to better serve the community.

The Urgency of a New School Building

With WHCIS relocated to Edgerly School, SPS has lost its only swing space, forcing the relocation of administration to Tufts Tab Administration Building (TAB). This unexpected move incurs over $1 million in leasing costs for an 18-month period, which may extend until a new school is completed, adding a potential $4-5 million financial burden to the City.

The Benjamin Brown School, over a century old, has faced structural failures, leading to the relocation of hundreds of students in 2015 and displacing classrooms in 2018. Further incidents could result in more unplanned expenses. Coupled with a potentially stagnant commercial tax base, the City may struggle to absorb unexpected costs related to deferred maintenance of schools and municipal buildings.

Given the extensive list of deferred maintenance issues and operational disruptions, the City must expedite the construction of a new school building. The lack of extra space and the age of the Brown School compound the risks associated with prolonged construction timelines.

Conclusion

The formation of the CAG reflects the City’s intention to involve the community in educational planning. However, for the CAG to provide valuable input, the City must clarify its goals regarding equity, finances, and timelines. Decisions about new school construction or renovation must account for the infrastructure resources needed to best serve vulnerable students and address existing educational disparities. The K-8 years are formative for students; waiting until high school to address these issues is too late.

With a growing list of deferred maintenance projects and lack of space, the City cannot indefinitely delay these decisions or fund all projects simultaneously. Some deferred maintenance needs could even threaten the operational status of schools. The City may need to consider selling properties to fund these initiatives. While community input is vital, the City must clearly outline its constraints to enable the CAG to make informed recommendations that benefit the entire Somerville community.

Beatriz Gómez Mouakad is former Ward 5 City Councilor, member of Padres Latinos of Somerville, mother of two children in Somerville Public Schools and a Senior Project Manager for Planning and Construction in Healthcare.