Somerville’s School Committee voted 8-1 Monday in favor of merging the Winter Hill Community Innovation School and the Benjamin G. Brown School into one large school where Winter Hill’s building is, with City Council President Lance Davis casting the lone ‘no’ vote.
“This is a mistake,” Davis said. “Let the record reflect I am calling this out, as I have before, as a misguided process that we are going to regret in the long term.”
Davis stirred up debate during the meeting over his concerns about the loss for students of the intimate learning environment the Brown school offered. The Committee approved a 925-seat Pre-K-8 school at Winter Hill’s 115 Sycamore Street site, which will be sent to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA). The Brown School’s Willow Avenue building faces decommissioning.
Vice Chair Leiron Briton, the only other opponent of the merger at previous committee votes, ultimately sided with the rest of the committee. “I still have my reservations, but I am committed to making sure that we build the best school we can at the site,” Briton said.
Proponents of the merger focused their arguments on accessibility. “Nine months ago, there really wasn’t an alternative solution that was cost effective and addressed all the accessibility issues,” said Committee Member Laura Pitone. She added the “train has already left the station” on the decision.
Several members referred to previous votes from the Construction Advisory Group (CAG) and committee that pointed toward a preference for the larger school. Davis criticized that process as well.
“The CAG recommendation was not a consensus,” Davis said. “I believe that process was slanted and geared towards a desired result.” Some parents at the Brown School had campaigned to keep Somerville’s only stand-alone elementary school. Its building needed substantial renovation to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The Preferred Schematic Report for the 925-seat school at 115 Sycamore Street now heads to the MSBA, which will vote on its approval and clarifications this fall.
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