We call on our city officials to address questions about traffic, school choice, catchment areas, commuting, education, and municipal space and come up with a comprehensive plan that works for all of Somerville - before we commit to a large centralized school at Sycamore. It's not too late!

The City of Somerville is proposing to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that we

build a 925-student school on Sycamore Street (Winter Hill Community Innovation School)

AND decommission the Brown School at Willow Street. 

In 2027, your ballot will ask you to fund this 925-student school -- and we all agree that Winter Hill kids need a new school now (or ideally three years ago). But taking state money for a giant school means committing to the state that we will close the Brown School. Instead, we should ask the state to help us build a 690-student school at Winter Hill.

925-student school:

• Increases traffic, by consolidating school seats on Sycamore St

• At best, doubles the kids using existing green/outdoor space at Sycamore - or even reduces that space

• More expensive today than an appropriately-sized school

• Requires closing the Brown School, the only K-5 environment available to students in the Somerville public school system

690-student school:

• Keeps geographically-accessible options in Western Somerville

• Provides Winter Hill kids with a school comparable in size to our current largest K-8 school

• Responsibly stewards Somerville funds by building the right school for our needs, rather than chasing the biggest state money

Make your voice heard NOW. 

Contact your City Councilor, School Committee Member, and Mayor Wilson

and tell them you support neighborhood schools. 

Build a 690 student school for Winter Hill, not 925 student, 

and keep the Brown School.