A joint meeting was held last week to discuss the many pressing issues facing Somerville schools.

By Carlie Lombardi

On Monday, March 3, the School Committee’s Building Facilities and Maintenance Committee held a joint meeting to address pressing concerns about school infrastructure, budget constraints, and emergency planning for potential school closures.

The discussion stressed the need for urgent repairs, long-term capital investments, and the challenge of ensuring student safety in the face of limited resources.

Major school infrastructure challenges

One of the primary concerns raised was the deteriorating condition of several school buildings, particularly at the Winter Hill and Brown Schools. The city is in the process of hiring an Owner’s Project Manager (OPM) to oversee the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) project. However, cost estimates will not be available until Fall 2025, delaying key decisions on renovations and new construction.

Additionally, the roofs at the Healey and West Somerville Neighborhood Schools were identified as high-risk areas that need immediate attention. If these roofs fail, entire classrooms could become unusable. To address these risks, officials are prioritizing infrastructure upgrades based on urgency, potential impact on school programs, and the most cost effective.

Budget constraints and capital investment plan

City officials emphasized the growing challenges in securing funding for school repairs and new construction. Two major financial obstacles include:

• Lower than expected revenue growth, which limits available funds for long term capital projects.
• A $30 million liability from the 90 Washington parcel judgment, further straining the city’s financial outlook.

Despite these constraints, the city is working closely with Somerville Public Schools to develop a five-year capital improvement plan (CIP) that prioritizes urgent school repairs while balancing other essential projects, such as road paving and park construction.

Lack of emergency swing space for schools

One of the most concerning discussions centered on the lack of swing space for students in the event of a school closure. This issue became evident when the Winter Hill School faced structural issues, leaving students and staff scrambling for alternative locations.

Currently, the Cummings School is the only city owned property considered a potential swing space, but it requires significant renovations, including a new roof and updated HVAC systems. The city has also reached out to the Archdiocese to explore the availability of the vacant Catholic school buildings, but no firm plans have been established.

School committee members urged the administration to develop a formal swing space plan to avoid future disruptions to student learning.

Renovations and classroom conversions

Beyond major repairs, the committee discussed specific classroom improvement projects:

• The Healey School Room 208, currently used for small group learning and intervention services, is in need of extensive renovations. Due to capacity constraints, this project has been delayed until Summer 2026.
• The Argenziano School is receiving a new classroom addition this year, which has been prioritized over other renovations.
• The installation of lockdown blinds at Somerville High School is underway, with some delays pushing back the installation timeline.

The School Committee’s School Building Facilities and Maintenance Special Committee will meet next on March 31.