WHCIS Building Renovation and Replacement Efforts

K-8 Schools Master Plan Development

The K-8 Schools Master Plan will inform the City’s approach to school building development over the next generation. The goal of the plan is to ensure our school system meets the current and future educational needs of Somerville Public Schools (SPS) students. This includes preparing for anticipated enrollment as well as for evolving programmatic needs necessary to provide a quality 21^st Century education to all students. The plan also seeks to solve for two existing facility challenges at our two oldest schools: The Benjamin B. Brown School and the Winter Hill Community Innovation School. In short, the K-8 Schools Master Plan is the first step in the process of planning for the major renovation of current schools or new school construction.

Master Plan Development/Funding

January/February 2022: Ballantyne Administration Requests Schools Master Plan Shortly After Assuming Office

Shortly after the Ballantyne Administration assumed office in January 2022, Mayor Katjana Ballantyne requested that planning begin for both the long-range building needs of the School District as well as for the immediate needs of Winter Hill and Brown schools, which both face challenges. Work to prepare for a K-8 Schools Master Plan that would include assessing the needs and options for the Brown and Winter Hill schools was swiftly begun. 

March/April 2022: Master Plan Outline Developed and Funding Plan Prepared 

The Master Plan outline is developed, cost analysis is conducted, and a proposal for funding of the plan via the fiscal year 2023 budget (covering July 2022 to June 2023) is prepared for the Mayor’s Office and Superintendent by City infrastructure staff in coordination with Somerville Public Schools. 

May/June 2022: City Submits and Receives City Council Approval for Funding for the Master Plan  

In May 2022, Mayor Ballantyne’s first City budget is submitted to the City Council, and the first Schools budget prepared collaboratively with SPS, the City, and the School Committee under her administration is submitted to the School Committee. Among other items, they include funding for the Master Plan in the City budget, funding for several school yard renovation projects including at the Brown and Healey Schools, and a historic 10% increase overall in the Schools budget. The SPS budget is passed by the School Committee. And both budgets are passed by the City Council.

Master Plan Execution

July 2022 to March 2023: Enrollment Study, the First Step of the Master Plan 

The enrollment study is a crucial initial step in the planning process. It includes detailed projections of the future student population of the district and will inform the development of a strategic plan to meet the needs of those students. 

Launched in fall 2022 and lead by SPS, the enrollment study by Flo Analytics estimates future enrollment on a 5- and 10-year horizon.

The preliminary data indicate either a fairly steady or a slight decrease in enrollment over the next 10 years. At the higher end, the forecast indicates about a 2% increase in overall student enrollment between this year through SY33. At the lower end, the forecast indicates anywhere from a 5% to a 9% decrease in enrollment between this year through SY33.  

You can read the full report here. 

January - April 2023: Building Capacity Study

The Building Capacity Study or existing building assessment is another part of the first phase of the K-8 Master Plan. A Building Capacity Study looks at how many staff and students our current schools can support. Evaluating how many classrooms our schools can hold and the number of students those classrooms can serve well informs us to what extent our existing buildings can support the needs of SPS. Brown and Winter Hill school have more exhaustive existing building assessments because of the age of the schools. The City completed the Building Capacity Study in April 2023.  

Summer - Fall 2023: Gap Analysis 

The second phase of the Master Plan process compares our enrollment and space needs both now and into the future with the buildings we currently have to determine our building needs going forward. This phase involves problem-solving for the needs identified. Those needs can include new types of spaces that best serve modern educational instruction, expanded specialized space for growing programs like the AIM Program for neurodiverse students, or new or renovated structures needed due to building age or deterioration. We then evaluate the options for reconfiguring, renovating, or replacing buildings (whether in one or more projects). These options also go through a cost estimating exercise. This is just the start of how Somerville looks at needs and options. Parents, guardians, and the full community are engaged next as we determine together what is best.  

Winter 2023 - Fall 2025: Feasibility Study and Community Process  

Intensive community process and the formation of building committees will begin during this period. During this phase, we  will solidify plans for building projects in our school district. As those plans take shape with community input, the City will estimate their costs and explore ways to finance school construction or renovation with approval from the City Council and/or voters. These steps are called a Feasibility Study, which sounds like we are just evaluating information, but actually this is the start of preparing rough designs and mapping out general aspects of projects our schools need and that our community wants. 

This phase includes a vital financial step as well: identifying funding. The City will seek state funding via the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA). The MSBA requires all of the previous planning and study steps above (started way back in January 2022) before they will consider funding a portion of a project. The City and SPS have already taken the first step in starting our funding application process with MSBA for Brown and Winter Hill by submitting a Statement of Interest in April 2023.

Starting Fall 2025: Design, Followed by Construction 

Upon completion of the feasibility study and community process, work on the specific project design will get underway. Once funding is in place and the design is completed, the construction process will begin. From finding a contractor to installing the last door or light, school projects can take several years to renovate or build as can be seen with the new High School or the renovated East Somerville Community School.  

Get Involved

Community engagement is a critical component of any public investment. There will be opportunities for parents, guardians, and all community members to provide feedback on the K-8 Master Plan development process as well as any individual school-specific renovation/reconstruction projects including the Winter Hill school.  

Looking ahead, a Building Committee will be formed prior to beginning a design phase for a renovated or new school. The Building Committee would include representatives from the City, Somerville Public Schools (both administration and staff), School Committee, City Council, and Somerville residents and stakeholders such as parents and guardians.  

As those opportunities become available more information on how to get involved will be made available here and through other City and school channels.

Building Assessments

2020 Roof & Window Project (115 Sycamore)

• Limited Asbestos Sampling

K-8 Master Plan (115 Sycamore)

• Hazardous Building Materials Survey Report

2023 Structural Evaluation (115 Sycamore)

• Building Commissioner Assessment
• Structural Engineer's Initial Assessment
• School Temporary Closure Announcement
• Abatement Status Update
• Abatement Work Plan
• Background Air Sampling Report
• Closeout Report
• Hazardous Building Materials Survey Report
• Surface Wipe Sampling Report
• Supplemental Asbestos Inspection
• Inspections for Fall Hazards at Building Interior and Facade  

Winter Hill at Edgerly Assessments 

• Asbestos Removal Work Plan
• School Closeout Report
• Hazardous Building Materials Survey Report

Events

Dear SPS Families, Students, and Staff, 

The community meeting previously scheduled for Tuesday, December 5th has been postponed to Tuesday, December 19th at 6:30 p.m. At the meeting, City and SPS staff will present our K-8 Capacity Study report that will inform both short- and long-term planning for school buildings. The meeting on December 19th will be held in the Somerville High School cafeteria, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Pizza and refreshments will be provided. 

Staff from the Somerville Parks and Recreation Department will provide activities for school-aged children during the meeting. Interpretation will be available in Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, and Mandarin. 

We made the decision to postpone the meeting as we anticipate that the Board of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) will vote in mid-December on which school districts to invite into their funding program. This vote will impact timelines for potential building projects, and understanding whether or not we will be invited into the MSBA program this year will help inform our next steps.

At the meeting on December 19th, we will go over facilities and enrollment analysis collected over the past 18 months across all of our school buildings, kick off a community engagement process to gather feedback on how to address facilities challenges in our district, and discuss immediate next steps toward building a new school.

If you have any questions, please email communications@k12.somerville.ma.us. 

–

Cambio de fecha: Reunión comunitaria del plan de capacidad K-8

Estimadas familias, estudiantes y personal de SPS,

La reunión comunitaria previamente programada para el martes 5 de diciembre se pospuso para el martes 19 de diciembre a las 6:30 p.m. En la reunión, el personal de la ciudad y de SPS presentarán nuestro informe del estudio de capacidad K-8 que informará la planificación a corto y largo plazo para los edificios escolares. La reunión del 19 de diciembre se llevará a cabo en la cafetería de Somerville High School, comenzando a las 6:30 p.m. Se proporcionarán pizza y refrigerios.

El personal del Departamento de Parques y Recreación de Somerville ofrecerá actividades para niños en edad escolar durante la reunión. Habrá interpretación disponible en español, portugués, criollo haitiano y mandarín.

Tomamos la decisión de posponer la reunión porque anticipamos que la Junta de la Autoridad de Construcción Escolar de Massachusetts (MSBA) votará a mediados de diciembre sobre qué distritos escolares invitarán a su programa de financiación. Esta votación afectará los cronogramas para posibles proyectos de construcción, y comprender si seremos invitados o no al programa MSBA este año ayudará a informar nuestros próximos pasos.

En la reunión del 19 de diciembre, revisaremos los análisis de instalaciones y de inscripción recopilados durante los últimos 18 meses en todos nuestros edificios escolares, comenzaremos un proceso de participación comunitaria para recopilar comentarios sobre cómo abordar los desafíos de las instalaciones en nuestro distrito y discutiremos los próximos pasos inmediatos hacia la construcción de una nueva escuela.

Si tiene alguna pregunta, envíe un correo electrónico a communications@k12.somerville.ma.us. 

–

Mudança de data: Reunião da comunidade do plano de capacidade K-8

Prezadas famílias, alunos e funcionários do SPS, 

A reunião comunitária anteriormente agendada para terça-feira, 5 de dezembro, foi adiada para terça-feira, 19 de dezembro, às 18h30. Na reunião, os funcionários da cidade e da SPS apresentarão o nosso relatório do Estudo de Capacidade K-8 que informará o planeamento de curto e longo prazo para edifícios escolares. A reunião de 19 de dezembro será realizada no refeitório da Somerville High School a partir das 18h30. Serão fornecidas pizzas, lanches e bebidas.

A equipe do Departamento de Parques e Recreação de Somerville fornecerá atividades para crianças em idade escolar durante a reunião. A interpretação estará disponível em espanhol, português, crioulo haitiano e mandarim.

Tomámos a decisão de adiar a reunião porque prevemos que o Conselho da Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) votará em meados de Dezembro sobre quais os distritos escolares a convidar para o seu programa de financiamento. Esta votação terá impacto nos prazos para potenciais projetos de construção, e compreender se seremos ou não convidados para o programa MSBA este ano ajudará a informar os nossos próximos passos.

Na reunião de 19 de dezembro, analisaremos as instalações e a análise de matrículas coletadas ao longo dos últimos 18 meses em todos os nossos edifícios escolares, iniciaremos um processo de envolvimento da comunidade para coletar feedback sobre como enfrentar os desafios das instalações em nosso distrito e discutiremos o próximo passos imediato para a construção de uma nova escola.

Se você tiver alguma dúvida, envie um e-mail para Communications@k12.somerville.ma.us. 

–

Chanjman Dat: Reyinyon Kominotè Plan Kapasite K-8

Chè Fanmi SPS, Elèv, ak Anplwaye, 

Reyinyon kominotè ki te deja pwograme pou madi 5 desanm lan te ranvwaye pou madi 19 desanm a 6:30 p.m. Nan reyinyon an, anplwaye Vil la ak SPS pral prezante rapò Etid Kapasite K-8 nou an ki pral enfòme planifikasyon alontèm ak kout tèm pou bilding lekòl yo. Reyinyon an 19 desanm ap fèt nan kafeterya Somerville High School, apati 6:30 p.m. Y ap bay pitza ak rafrechisman.

Anplwaye Depatman Pak ak Rekreyasyon Somerville ap ofri aktivite pou timoun ki gen laj lekòl pandan reyinyon an. Entèpretasyon ap disponib an panyòl, pòtigè, kreyòl ayisyen, ak mandaren.

Nou te pran desizyon pou ranvwaye reyinyon an pandan n ap prevwa Komisyon Konsèy Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) pral vote nan mitan Desanm ki distri lekòl yo pou envite nan pwogram finansman yo. Vòt sa a pral afekte delè pou pwojè bilding potansyèl yo, epi konprann si wi ou non yo pral envite nou nan pwogram MSBA ane sa a pral ede enfòme pwochen etap nou yo.

Nan reyinyon ki te 19 desanm nan, nou pral analize etablisman yo ak analiz enskripsyon yo kolekte pandan 18 mwa ki sot pase yo nan tout bilding lekòl nou yo, epi nou pral lanse yon pwosesis angajman kominotè pou rasanble fidbak sou fason pou rezoud pwoblèm etablisman yo nan distri nou an, epi diskite pwochen etap imedya a nan direksyon bati yon nouvo lekòl.

Si w gen nenpòt kesyon, tanpri imèl communications@k12.somerville.ma.us.