$28M Cummings School teen center deemed unfeasible

This was a joint session of the City Council's School Building Facilities and Maintenance Committee (Chair Jonathan Link and Councilor Naima Sait present; Councilor JT Scott absent) and the School Committee subcommittee of the same name (Chair Leiran Biton, Laura Pitone, Liz Eldridge). DPW Commissioner Eric Weisman, Infrastructure Director Rich Raiche, and SPS Facilities Safety and Transportation Coordinator Danielle Barry presented.

Items Discussed

Teen center feasibility at the Cummings School – Recommended work completed

This council order asked the administration to study whether a teen center could be established in the Cummings School's School Street wing. Director Raiche presented a memo (referenced in the agenda as "Memo Cummings Reno") drawing on a building analysis already underway because of the warming center MOU with the School Committee. His conclusion: the building is "in very rough shape." The School Street wing's north wall is separating from the roof and needs extensive structural repair before anyone could occupy it; lintels over doors and windows have brick, concrete, and mortar "ready to fall"; the building is not sprinklered or alarmed; and there are extensive electrical and ADA issues compounded by an "awkwardly configured" layout. Because code, life-safety, electrical, and ADA upgrades drive the cost regardless of use, Raiche said estimates for any occupancy—teen center, school swing space, or offices—"come in very high." Chair Link cited the memo's roughly $28 million figure and asked whether dropping the parking lot and playground work would save $10 million; Raiche said he would need the detailed breakdown but did not think that much could be cut.

Raiche was candid that with the city's new charter requiring a five-year Capital Investment Plan (CIP) to be submitted to the council each November, this project faces "a very narrow path" onto the CIP, and confirmed to Biton that his department is not recommending Cummings redevelopment within the next five years. He offered his opinion that rehabilitation "is not worth the effort," that the land is more valuable than the building, and that demolition and reconstruction would be a better path—but stressed that because the School Committee controls the property, that decision starts with them. Pitone agreed the School Committee will eventually have to decide whether to release the building, noting it has not been a school in her nearly thirteen years on the committee, and said she would raise it with the School Committee chair and superintendent.

Biton asked whether this changed the district's emergency swing-space plan; Raiche and Barry clarified Cummings was never identified as school swing space—the TAB building is the immediate relocation site under the continuity of operations plan, with neighboring districts and the Archdiocese as medium-term options. Cummings had only been contemplated for displaced TAB office staff, and the number it can hold is now somewhat lower than hoped.

Eldridge asked whether other teen center sites exist; Raiche said every unoccupied building in the city's portfolio has similar structural or code problems and "nothing is clearly rising to the top." Councilor Sait, calling it "unfortunate" there will be no teen center within five years for a community that has "been waiting for this forever," asked about using the high school after hours. Raiche said the schools have been activated for other uses and the main problem is staffing and leaving spaces ready for educators the next morning—a topic under discussion at the cabinet level. Biton said the School Committee "by and large" supports expanded after-hours use of the high school but suggested that conversation belongs in a different committee since it is a staffing rather than maintenance question. Sait said she would file an order seeking a cost estimate for staffing such a program. Link noted that "hiring extra staff has to be cheaper than $28,000,000." Both chairs agreed to close the item.

MSBA process for Winter Hill and Brown Schools – Kept in committee

Raiche reported the Preferred Schematic Report has been submitted to the Massachusetts School Building Authority. MSBA staff sent follow-up questions, mostly figure clarifications, which consultant Perkins Eastman answered in under 24 hours. The project is slated for the MSBA Facilities Assessment Subcommittee on either September 16 or September 30 (the city hopes for the 16th), with a presentation on the education plan led by the superintendent and the Winter Hill principal and a building presentation by Perkins Eastman. A favorable recommendation would go to the full MSBA board later in the fall, advancing the project to schematic design. Raiche said the city remains "on track with our very aggressive schedule," and credited the School Committee for holding two meetings during recess to authorize signing.

On test borings: no foundation concerns, but high ledge/bedrock was found, which would be a major cost factor if underground parking is pursued because it would require blasting. More borings are planned to refine parking cost estimates. Bedrock is likely favorable for geothermal, but more testing is needed; Raiche estimated a geothermal go/no-go decision around February. The alternative would be air-source heat pumps—still electric but less efficient and with shorter equipment life. Raiche noted no geothermal system exists anywhere in Somerville, public or private, so the city would be "pioneering." The tight site footprint is part of the analysis, with the adjacent Annex site a possible supplemental well location.

Councilor Sait urged staff to pursue state geothermal incentives early because "a lot of those funds and programs are going away," and reminded the group that higher upfront cost brings long-term savings. Biton asked that any non-geothermal option not be fossil-fuel based; Raiche confirmed air-source heat pumps are the fallback. Chair Link praised the pace and urged against making "the cheap choice just because it's cheap."

Outreach: Perkins Eastman will table at Civic Day on Thursday, September 10, and staff will attend upcoming Ward 4, 5, and 6 community meetings (and possibly others), where a 3D neighborhood model is expected to be available.

Argenziano School safety improvements – Kept in committee

Commissioner Weisman reported security cameras are installed and functional and the schoolyard enclosure fencing is complete. Link, whose children attend Argenziano, said the fence is keeping young students contained where the prior setup was "very porous." Eldridge relayed staff relief about the enclosure and said it was more aesthetically pleasing than feared, but asked for continued updates on whether fence height is sufficient. Barry confirmed the fire chief and deputy chief inspected the enclosure with DPW and the fence contractor and had no concerns.

On the cafeteria balcony, Raiche said the city decided not to pursue changes: any intervention would be "extremely invasive" and "look like a jail," and the existing condition complies with the Massachusetts state building code and exists at the Capuano, the high school, and nearly every stairwell landing. Plexiglass would still need reinforcing bars and would require a scissor lift to clean. He noted the request reached his office late, after it had already gone to the School Committee. Biton pushed back, drawing an analogy to Somerville street design exceeding state minimums and arguing code compliance "is one metric" but "not the only metric," particularly for students with individualized needs. Barry said SPS will follow the capital experts' advice for now and monitor. Pitone asked to keep the item open until the district formally weighs in on whether it is satisfied; Biton agreed. Link kept the item in committee.

East Somerville Community School custodial staffing – Recommended work completed

Weisman reported the swing-shift custodial position suggested by this committee was posted internally but drew no bids despite custodians' assurances of interest; it is now posted publicly. In the interim, a morning floater and an afternoon floater split the coverage. The Local 3 contract is nearly finalized, with final elements needing council approval. In response to Eldridge, Weisman confirmed the shift is 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. (moved from an initial 11–6:30), adding coverage beyond the lunchtime coverage that already existed. Barry said the daytime floater added last spring "seemed to help improve certain things" and that the school "looked beautiful" at opening. Biton thanked Weisman, calling the response "exactly the response that I think constituents were looking for."

Edgerly Education Center cafetorium/kitchen temperature – Kept in committee

Weisman corrected the record: the air conditioning unit was placed in the cafeteria after consulting kitchen staff and cools both the cafeteria and kitchen. Installed early summer, removed for floor work, and reinstalled, it brought the room from 82 to 74 degrees in thirty minutes. It is set to 72 but loses efficiency through hallway doors; the building systems manager is working with the principal on door logistics. Barry said feedback has been positive and the unit allowed hot meals for the summer AIM program for the first time.

Pitone asked about monitoring and about previously discussed electrical upgrades. Weisman said the building is "butting up to the limits of the electrical capacity." Raiche later explained the next step is a new transformer (in partnership with Eversource, a long-lead item that likely could not be installed before the summer after next) plus panel upgrades, budgeted at roughly $3 million; no go/no-go decision has been made, but he expects it to land within the five-year CIP because Edgerly is "vital classroom swing space" needed for future work at East, West, Kennedy, and Healy. Sait asked staff to look for state grants or rebates; Raiche said the grants department is tracking options. Link noted Thursday would be hot and asked Weisman to check in; the item was kept for one more report.

Appreciation for rodent work at West Somerville Neighborhood School – Recommended work completed

Weisman accepted the recognition on behalf of DPW and the health department but cautioned "we will continue to monitor and work with the school department on rodent issues." Biton noted the school had been among the worst rodent problems citywide in the spring, that summer conditions differ from a school in session, and that ongoing roof construction could draw out rodents, so vigilance is needed. Barry said ISD staff will join the annual school building walkthroughs.

Minutes of May 21 – Accepted 2-0

Accepted on roll call (Sait, Link) with no corrections.

What's Next

• Cummings School teen center and East Somerville custodial staffing and West Somerville rodent appreciation go to the full council recommended as work completed (no meeting date stated).
• Winter Hill/Brown MSBA process stays in committee; MSBA subcommittee review expected September 16 or 30, full board vote later this fall; geothermal go/no-go expected around February.
• Argenziano safety stays in committee pending explicit feedback from the superintendent and principal on the balcony decision and ongoing fence-height updates.
• Edgerly temperature stays in committee for one more check-in after hot weather; the ~$3 million electrical upgrade decision will be reflected in the CIP due in November.
• The five-year Capital Investment Plan is due to the council in November; Raiche noted the city went four years without publicly updating it.
• Councilor Sait plans to file an order seeking a cost and staffing estimate for after-hours teen or community use of Somerville High School.
• Pitone will raise the future of the Cummings property with the School Committee chair and superintendent.