Alerts
Last updated 6/28/2023 at 2:00 p.m.
The Winter Hill Community Innovation School building closed for remainder of 2022-2023 School Year on June 2, 2023
Because we expect structural engineers' assessments and final reports to take several more weeks, and to be sure we have a formal plan in place for the fall with enough time to plan, we have made the decision that Winter Hill classes will be held in an off-site location for the 2023-2024 school year. As of right now, the building that best meets the needs of the WHCIS community and allows the majority of the school community to stay together in one building is the Edgerly Building at 8 Bonair St. Grades 1-8 and the AIM Program will be at Edgerly, while PK and K (3 classrooms total) will be at the Capuano. Read more in the June 20, 2023 email update in English, Spanish, Portuguese, or Haitian Creole.
Communications Updates to Families
Background
During the week of May 29, 2023, outside of operating hours and while the school was unoccupied, a piece of concrete fell onto a stairwell inside of the school. Immediately after this was found by staff, the stairwell was closed to both students and staff and a structural engineer was brought into the building to conduct an immediate review. Somerville Department of Public Works staff also immediately responded and conducted minor repairs. Throughout the week, DPW staff continued to monitor the conditions inside the building.
While assessments continued, the Superintendent of Schools and the Mayor made the decision to close the school on Friday, June 2nd, while City partners conducted a more thorough review of the building. Based on further review and discussions, it was determined that the Winter Hill school could not be fully reoccupied by the end of the 2022-2023 school year. The district and the city worked to immediately identify off-site space for temporary classrooms to finish out the school year. Classes will resume on Thursday, June 8th.
SPS and the city administration are working collaboratively to identify and plan for both short- and long-term action items for the Winter Hill school. More information will be shared in the next few days and weeks. Please check back regularly for updates.
Please email questions at any time to communications@k12.somerville.ma.us.
We will continue to share updates as they are available. Thank you for your continued patience.