Rotting infrastructure forces closure of Somerville school for the upcoming year

According to the findings revealed to the Herald, an initial inspection indicates a pervasive and extensive issue at Winter Hill Community Innovation School. Consequently, the Winter Hill Community Hill Innovation School in Somerville, catering to students from pre-kindergarten to grade 8, will not reopen in the following academic year. Instead, the majority of classes will be relocated to the Edgerly administrative building, while the Capuano School will accommodate pre-K and kindergarten students.

Following the structural damage caused by crumbling concrete earlier this spring, the Somerville school that was forced to close its doors will proceed with conducting classes at an alternative location in the upcoming year.

The majority of students enrolled at Winter Hill Community Innovation School, ranging from pre-kindergarten to grade 8, will be attending classes at the Edgerly administrative building within the city. Meanwhile, pre-K and kindergarten classes will be relocated to the Capuano School.

Last week, authorities informed parents and community members about the relocation of the learning environment, expressing concerns about the uncertain safety of Winter Hill's deteriorating infrastructure for conducting classes.

Interim Superintendent Jeff Curley, Winter Hill Principal Courtney Gosselin, and Mayor Katjana Ballantyne have indicated that structural engineers are currently examining the 95,000-square-foot school, constructed in 1975. The reports, expected to be completed sometime in July, will provide further insights into the building's condition.

In a letter addressed to the community, they explained, "Due to the anticipated duration of assessments and final reports, which will likely extend for several more weeks, and in order to ensure adequate time for comprehensive planning and the establishment of a formal plan for the upcoming fall, we have determined that classes will be conducted at an alternate location for the next school year."

The initial inspection results, disclosed to the Herald on Friday, confirm what has been a prevailing belief among Somerville residents, educators, and officials: Winter Hill is undeniably plagued by long-standing infrastructure issues.

In June 1, Sylvester Black, a senior project manager at the structural engineering consultancy Silman, informed officials that resolving the issue at hand, which he referred to as a "systemic, wide-spread problem of water infiltration throughout the building," would require more than a quick fix. He emphasized that this problem has persisted for decades rather than just years.

Black noted, "Upon initial examination, the section of concrete that collapsed does not appear to be the primary area affected by water damage. This raises concerns that similar structural failures could transpire in other sections of the same staircase or in different staircases altogether."

On May 31, Black held a meeting with a team comprising teachers, administrators, and site personnel at Winter Hill, one day prior to the community being informed about the concrete deterioration that led to the school's closure. The precise timing of the ceiling collapse still remains uncertain.

On June 2, parents received the news that students would be completing the academic year elsewhere for 2022-23. Grades 1-8 were accommodated at Tufts University’s Olin Hall in Medford, while pre-K, kindergarten, and specialized programs for immigrant students and those with autism were hosted at Edgerly and Capuano.

Black conveyed, "The extensive history of water damage within the building is not readily apparent on a sunny day, such as yesterday. The localized areas of peeling paint and even previous patches I observed do not immediately indicate the full scale of the potential problem. In contrast to typical roof leaks that can be resolved with relatively straightforward patches, the described situation involves a disconcerting volume of water consistently infiltrating the building over an extended period of time."

During a visit on June 4, Nicholas Antanavica, the director of Somerville's inspectional services, concluded that students should not be permitted to return to Winter Hill until the issues with a leak and the ceiling grid in the "north stairwell" have been resolved.

In order to keep the majority of Winter Hill's approximately 420 students together, officials decided to choose Edgerly as the location for the upcoming year. Administrators will be relocating from the building in the following weeks to prepare it for the start of classes in late August.

In a letter addressed to the School Committee, the Winter Hill Parent Teacher Association emphasized that their primary objective was to preserve the unity and cohesion of the school community.

A segment of the letter expresses, "To numerous immigrant and refugee families, our school represents the only sense of family and belonging we have. We strongly oppose being separated this coming fall, as we have experienced in the past two weeks of school. We firmly believe that we belong together and that we are an integral part of the city of Somerville. Our school is our sanctuary."

The deteriorating concrete and resulting closure have garnered significant attention from the City Council and School Committee.

Earlier this month, the Councilors granted approval to the mayor's proposal to allocate an additional $7.8 million to the city's facility renovation and reconstruction stabilization fund, effectively raising the total amount in the account to approximately $12.2 million.

According to the mayor's office, this funding is anticipated to be more than sufficient to guarantee that the Edgerly Education Center is fully prepared and welcoming for Winter Hill students when they return in the fall.

Out of the total of $12.2 million, approximately $1.3 million will be allocated towards conducting a feasibility study aimed at creating additional building space at Winter Hill and another older school within the city.

Councilors also granted approval to the mayor's request for allocating an amendment of $103,382 to the proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year. This allocation is intended to fund a senior project manager who will assume the responsibility of overseeing interim solutions at Winter Hill while also supporting the development of a K-8 master plan.

Ballantyne emphasized that the renovation or reconstruction of Winter Hill is a top and central priority for her administration.

During a School Committee meeting on June 12, the mayor expressed her understanding and acknowledgment of the community's dissatisfaction and justified concerns regarding the deteriorating state of the buildings and the persisting infrastructure issues. She further emphasized her own personal frustration with the situation.

According to Councilor Willie Burnley, Jr., he expressed to the Herald his desire for greater urgency from city leaders. He believes that a feasibility study might take too long to confirm what is already evident: the necessity for a new Winter Hill building.

Burnley stated, "The mayor plays a central role in this issue in terms of determining the speed and process of our progress. The sooner we can provide the deserving community with the answers they seek, the more beneficial it will be for our community as a whole."