FAQs
What does the Somerville School Committee do?
The School Committee is an elected body that oversees the Somerville Public Schools. Members work with the Superintendent to set broad policies and educational goals, develop a recommended budget for submission to the Mayor, and provide fiscal oversight of the School Department. The Committee is composed of seven members elected by ward every two years (on the odd years). The Mayor and the City Council President are ex-officio members with full voting rights.
Hmm, do I live in Ward 3?
Here’s a helpful map of the seven wards in Somerville.
What is your position on Winter Hill?
In recent years, the Winter Hill Community Innovation School has experienced a series of major disruptions that have left the school community in a long-term situation of displacement and operational survival mode. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the school facility was in a state of unaddressed disrepair that affected students and educators alike. The continually breaking elevator and inadequate wifi, for example, made the building both a challenge for accessibility and for learning. At the same time, the strong school culture at WHCIS amongst educators and families have made the school stand out in the district and cemented a sense of internal dedication within the school community.
When the pandemic hit, the school was one of the last in the district to be re-opened due to its HVAC issues and windows that could not be opened. After the ceiling incident in 2023, the school community was again displaced, first to Tufts University and then to the Edgerly building. While some adjustments have been made to the Edgerly facility to accommodate the school temporarily, it falls short as a longer term solution–it lacks and outdoor playspace, does not have adequate soundproofing for the students with sensory issues, and also has a temperamental elevator that creates an impediment for staff and students with disabilities. The Edgerly building is a band-aid that particularly does not work well for WH’s high needs students. While students, educators, and families are struggling to make do with this temporary situation, burnout is settling in across the school community. The city’s slow response in coming up with a solution for the Winter Hill building also lowers morale without providing a light at the end of the tunnel.
Here’s my take:
The city is in a process to decide on the new location and size of the building this fall. This will be decided (by the mayor) in the next few months.
When I am on School Committee, a primary concern will be improving learning conditions at the interim Edgerly location. The new building will not be completed until 2031, so I want to make sure the school community has adequate supports at the Edgerly for those 6+ years.
What will you do about special education?
I want Somerville to have a school district that supports every learner. Please check out my answers to a recent survey by the Somerville Special Education Parents Advisory Council (SSEPAC) for more details.