Construction Advisory Group Meeting

The first meeting of the Advisory Group will be in person. All meetings will be open to the public and will include a designated comment period toward the end of the meeting. Future meetings will be either virtual or in person. Meetings will be videotaped by the City’s GovTV team and made available for later viewing. For links and updates, see www.somervillema.gov/WHCIS  or somervillema.gov/cag. 

• Date: Tuesday, October 8th from 6 to 8:30 p.m. 
• Location: Somerville High School, 81 Highland Avenue, Room 205 

Background 
In April 2023, the City submitted individual applications for major grant support from the state. The requests were to receive funding to renovate or rebuild both the Winter Hill and the Brown schools. In December 2023, the Winter Hill school was accepted into the Eligibility Phase of the Massachusetts School Building Authority’s (MSBA) grant program.  

The grant program could potentially provide significant state funding for renovation or construction of a new school. Although the Brown School was not individually accepted into the program, the MSBA expressed willingness to consider a single project that accommodates both the Winter Hill and Brown school populations. 

Both the Advisory Group and the broader public process aim to ensure that the full community has an opportunity to weigh in on a decision that impacts current students, future students, and the community at large. Community input will be sought via multilingual outreach and a range of methods and opportunities for input. 

The MSBA process involves a timeline set by the state. The Advisory Group and broader public process will fit into this existing MSBA timeline, and will not delay the school building process. The anticipated fall 2025 conclusion of the Advisory Group and public process is based on the current estimate of the MSBA timeline. If the MSBA schedule changes, the Advisory Group process could accelerate or have more time accordingly.  

More information 
For more information on the Winter Hill Community Innovation School construction project, the MSBA process, and related information, please visit somervillema.gov/WHCIS. Updates related to the work of the Advisory Group and community input opportunities will be shared via City and School channels, and the somervillema.gov/WHCIS web pages. Watch for our new school building project website coming soon. Sign up for the City e-newsletter at somervillema.gov/subscribe.  

 

Image	Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact Adrienne Pomeroy in advance at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or  ada@somervillema.gov.
Image	The City of Somerville can provide you with an interpreter in your language for free. To request an interpreter, please contact us at somervillema.gov/ContactSomerViva or call 311 (617-666-3311) at least 7 days in advance of this event.
Image	This event will be videotaped by the City’s GovTV team. Watch it on-demand with optional closed-captioning (select the CC icon) on YouTube.com/SomervilleCityTV. Or watch on cable TV at GovTV Comcast Ch. 22 and GovTV Astound (RCN) Ch. 13 & 613.  Videos generally post within one business day of recording.