Somerville Gets State Approval For New School

SOMERVILLE, MA — The Massachusetts School Building Authority Board of Directors voted to advance the city’s funding proposal to the next phase for a new school building for preschool through eighth graders.

With the state’s approval, the city’s next steps include hiring a project manager as well as a design and architectural firm in January. The MSBA will also need to approve both hires, which will reportedly be made by the School Building Committee.

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne said that this approval is an important step to giving students the education they need and deserve. The city envisions the new school building to be the new home for students of the Winter Hill Community Innovation and/or Brown Schools, as they are the two oldest school buildings still in use. However, no final decision has been made. Since June 2023, Winter Hill students and staff members have held classes at the Edgerly Education Center on Bonair Street due to a collapse of a ceiling tile. According to the city, the Brown School does not have a gymnasium or cafeteria.

“Our SPS (Somerville Public Schools) and City teams worked extremely hard over the last 270 days of our Eligibility Period to ensure we were well positioned to move into the next phase, with the blessing and support of our state partners,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Rubén Carmona said. “This vote marks a huge step forward, and we are excited to get right to work in the new year.”