No classes for ESCS Students through Friday December 14th; Students Assigned to New Classrooms with No Changes to Teachers and Classmates
The Somerville School Committee voted today to accept the recommendations of Superintendent Tony Pierantozzi to relocate East Somerville Community School students and teachers displaced by a devastating fire to three alternate school locations. With the goal of keeping students with their teachers and classmates, and keeping students within the tight knit neighborhood of East Somerville, the District will begin preparations to establish the following alternate classroom environments:
· Kindergarten students will be placed in classroom spaces at the Capuano Early Childhood Center, located two blocks from the East Somerville Community School;
· Students in Grades 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, along with Grade 6 students in the Unidos Program, a city-wide English/Spanish bicultural program, will be placed in rehabilitated classrooms at the Edgerly Education Center, located 1.5 blocks from the East Somerville Community School;
· Students in Grades 6,7, and 8, excluding the Grade 6 Unidos students, will be placed in rehabbed classrooms at the Cummings School.
The School Committee also accepted the Superintendent’s recommendation that school for East Somerville Community School students and teachers be cancelled through Friday, December 14th. “We are working tirelessly to ensure classrooms at Capuano, Edgerly and Cummings are ready for students and teachers by Monday, December 17th,” said Superintendent Pierantozzi at the Special Meeting of the School Committee on Monday night, December 10th, at 5:30 PM. “It is in the best interest of our students and our teachers to stay in their class cohorts to minimize further disruption in an already traumatic situation.” Principal Holly Hatch agrees. “Even while we are in our alternate locations, we will remain the East Somerville Community School, a place where Every Student Can Succeed.”
Superintendent Pierantozzi acknowledged the success of the complex, coordinated efforts underway to ensure students and teachers are able to resume the educational process as quickly as possible. “The entire City has risen to the occasion and come together to make sure our facilities are safe and ready for students to learn and teachers to teach.” He acknowledged the efforts of the Office of the Mayor and his team of legal, inspectional and purchasing experts, the entire Central Office staff, the East Somerville Community School administrators, Food Service staff, custodial staff and Department of Public Works officials, and the school nursing staff.
Parents and guardians will receive information about their child’s building assignment by telephone as soon as the start date for school has been decided. Students who are assigned to the Cummings School will get bussing to the school site; details on the bussing arrangements will also be available as soon as it is determined. Efforts are underway to coordinate supervised day care for families during the interim, along with alternate sites for free breakfast and lunch. As these details are in place, information will be made available on the Internet and on cable access television. East Somerville Community School students will still perform in the All-City Elementary Winter Concert on Thursday, December 13th at 7:00 PM at Somerville High School (81 Highland Avenue).
The next steps in the process of restoring community include inventorying classroom equipment and instructional tools, and beginning to piece together those materials teachers need to address their course content and to establish as normal a learning environment as possible for students. A wish list of material needs will be available by the end of the day on Tuesday, December 11th. The elected members of the School Committee acknowledged their gratitude at the outpouring of community support they have received by telephone and email over the last 24-hours. When asked how the community can help, the Superintendent replied, “Patience is needed until we figure out what we need.” Offers of donations, and volunteer assistance may be sent to the Office of the Superintendent of the Somerville Public Schools. These donations will be organized and distributed by the Office of the Superintendent working with the Parent/Teacher Association and other community volunteers.
The East Somerville Community School has been closed to the public since the morning of Sunday, December 9th, when a 3-alarm blaze caused significant structural and mechanical damage to the southeast quadrant of the building. The cause of the fire is being assessed by the Somerville Fire Department working with the state Fire Marshalls. The City of Somerville is working with a team of architectural engineers, and reclamation/salvage experts to assess the extent of the damage and to make long and short term recommendations about the future of the 120,000 square foot building. The present East Somerville Community School was completed in 1973, and was preparing to celebrate its 35th anniversary in April 2008.
Additional online information is available at www.somerville.k12.ma.us.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
UPDATED! How long will school be closed for students?
School is closed at least through Friday, December 14th. Parents/guardians will receive information by telephone as soon as we know we are ready to start school in the alternate locations.
UPDATED! How long will school be closed for staff?
School is officially closed at least through Friday, December 14th. Staff is invited to report for a VOLUNTARY staff meeting in the cafeteria at the Edgerly Education Center on Tuesday, December 11th at 9:00 AM. Arrangements for setting up alternate classroom spaces has yet to be determined.
Can I get into the building to get my stuff?
The building and the schoolyard are not safe. No one can enter the building to get classroom materials or other belongings. The southeast quadrant of the building has been completely destroyed by the fire.
UPDATED! Where will my child go to school now?
On Monday night the School Committee approved the following relocation plan:· Kindergarten classes will be moved to the Capuano Early Childhood Center· Grades 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, along with Unidos Grade 6, will be moved to rehabbed classrooms at the Edgerly Education Center· Grades 6, 7, and 8, excluding Unidos Grade 6, will be moved to rehabbed classrooms at the Cummings School. These alternate locations were selected because they could keep most of the East Somerville Community School community together and keep the majority of students and staff in a neighborhood near the former school site.
UPDATED! Will there be bussing to the alternate classroom locations?
There will be bussing available to the Cummings School site. Final details have not been arranged. Parents/guardians will be notified as soon as details are clear.
Will there be afterschool programs in the alternate location?
No decision has been made at this time. We will let you know as soon as the decision has been made.
My child gets the bus at the East Somerville Community School. Where will they go now?
Special education and English language learner bus stops have been relocated to the corner of Otis and Cross Streets, across from the Edgerly Education Center. Staff will be available on Monday morning and Monday afternoon to escort students and families to the new bus stop.
UPDATED! When is the community meeting?
No decision has been made on the date, time and location of the community meeting. A Connect-Ed message from Dr. Hatch will be sent to all families. Information about the community meeting will also be posted on the Somerville Public Schools website and the City website.
Where was the fire? How did it start?
The fire was in the southeast quadrant of the East Somerville Community School, near the corner of Pearl and Glen Streets. The Somerville Fire Department is working with the State Fire Marshall to investigate the cause of the blaze.
Was anyone hurt in the fire?
The building was unoccupied at the time of the fire, and no one was hurt.
Does this mean we get a new school?
The Superintendent of Schools is working with the Mayor and the State to determine what happens next. Our first priority is making sure students and teachers are safely located in alternate classrooms to minimize the disruption to learning and teaching.
NEW! My child is feeling scared, angry and/or sad. What can I do to help my child?
Mental health experts advise us to assure students that they will be with their teacher and their classmates as soon as we can make alternate classrooms available. Also assure students that smart adults have a strong plan to make sure students can get back to school as quickly as possible, for learning and having fun. Finally, remind students that no one was hurt in the fire. Parents/guardians are asked to try to maintain as normal a routine as possible for children, given the significance of this disruption in their lives. Maintaining normal bed times, normal meal times and meal routines, television schedules and other details will help children smoothly integrate into their alternate classrooms as soon as they are ready. Counseling services are expected to be available when the alternate classrooms are ready.
NEW! I want to help the students and staff in the school. What can I do?
Thank you for your generosity! A wish list of donations requested to help us start school in the alternate locations as normally as possible will be on the Internet after Tuesday. Donations of supplies, money or time will be coordinated after then.
NEW! Will there be child care or food service during the next week, while my child is out of school?
The District is working with the City and community partners to assess if these arrangements can be made in a manner that is convenient for students and families. We will keep you posted.
I use to go to that school. When i heard the news it was really sad for me because im all the way here in Houston Texas. :(
Posted by: Orea Ali | December 28, 2007 at 12:41 AM
I was interested in the ESL classes...I heard from a friend that was really good. i wanted to know more about it. thanks a lot i wanted to make in appointment..with you guys.
please write me back.
Posted by: Glaucia Marotta | March 18, 2008 at 04:27 PM
You are replying to an article about a public elementary school that has partially burned down and entirely closed. Are you perhpas looking for SCALE (Somerville Center for Adult Learning Experiences) instead? And specifically this program ?
Posted by: Ron Newman | March 18, 2008 at 05:30 PM