A School Construction Advisory Group in Massachusetts

Background and Challenge

In Somerville, Massachusetts, two aging public elementary schools—Winter Hill Community Innovation School and Benjamin G. Brown School—have been facing critical facility challenges. Winter Hill had to close in 2023 due to a collapsed ceiling, and the Brown School building needs major renovation to replace outdated systems and address accessibility needs. The city of Somerville requested funding for renovation for both buildings from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA). In December 2023, the MSBA notified Somerville that the Winter Hill SOI was invited into the eligibility phase of the MSBA process. Although the Brown School was not accepted into the program, the MSBA expressed willingness to fund a single project that accommodates both the Winter Hill and Brown school populations, along with space for additional projected growth in the city, in one building. The city was given the choice of whether to include both Winter Hill and Brown capacity at the new school, or whether to size it to include only Winter Hill, keeping Brown in its current location. They recognized the strong interests and broad impact these decisions would have on the Somerville community, the school system’s parents and guardians, students, and educators, making structured deliberation essential to the success of the project.

Our Approach

To incorporate the community’s perspectives into the decision-making process, CBI designed and facilitated a Construction Advisory Group (CAG). First convening in October 2024, the 13-member group consisted of family representatives from both schools, elected officials, and other Somerville residents. Between October 2024 and November 2025, the group met 13 times, approximately monthly, to review data and information provided by the city and Somerville Public Schools, as well as from local surveys and focus groups. CBI also coordinated site tours to aid the groups in talking through upgrades for the schools. The group developed a list of criteria to evaluate options. Among these, the group considered education needs, disruption impacts, and financial implications. The group was then tasked with drafting a recommendation to be submitted to Somerville’s Mayor. 

Results

At the conclusion of the meeting cycle, the CAG drafted a formal recommendation. The group unanimously agreed to recommend a new school be built on the former site of the Winter Hill Community Innovation School, and nine of the group’s thirteen members proposed that the school be built at the maximum capacity allowed by the MSBA to maximize budget efficiency. In its recommendation, the group acknowledged a split on the fate of the Brown School. Specifically, seven members favored remitting the decision on closure, three endorsed the closure, and three advocated for the school to remain open. The CAG’s recommendation was incorporated into recommended next steps by both the city’s departing and incoming Mayors and was supported by the School Committee.  Next steps now fall to the School Building Committee and public workshops to develop designs and final size and specifications, to the MSBA for approval, and ultimately to a citywide vote to fund the project. While the work is far from complete, the CAG's recommendation reflects the hard work of collaboration among community members to create a meaningful recommendation on a tough issue.