WSNS Updates

10.23.26: Updates from WSNS: Work Progress, Make-up Day, and PTA response

Thank you for your support, cooperation, feedback, and patience over the past week. Thank you as well to the PTA for organizing a great coffee hour. We appreciated the opportunity to hear from you and connect. At the PTA’s request, the City and District are also coordinating to hold a WSNS community meeting within the next few weeks. More to come on date and time. 

Timeline for a Return to West
We are happy to report that progress on repairs at West is moving according to our anticipated timeline, meaning our estimate for the return of all students to the building remains on schedule for early to mid-November. As we shared earlier this week, both City and District teams are dedicating significant resources to achieve a return by the earlier end of that estimate. With these types of repairs, unforeseen circumstances can sometimes introduce delays. At this time, we feel confident that we are on track, and we will keep you informed of any changes to the timeline as we move toward more specific dates and plans.  

Makeup Day – January 4
Formal approval is still in process, but we want to share makeup day timing now so you can mark your calendars. The School Committee, in collaboration with the Somerville Educators Union, has agreed that the makeup day will be Monday, January 4, 2027. Students will be dismissed at noon, and teachers will participate in a professional development session that afternoon.

WSNS PTA Letter Response
The District and City received a thoughtful and detailed letter from the WSNS PTA outlining questions and concerns on behalf of families. We have responded directly to the PTA and, recognizing that other families may also be interested in the information shared and the details of our response, are making the document available for the broader community to review. English | Spanish | Portuguese

Internal Repair Work Progress Update
As planned for this week, crews completed drywall work. On Friday, they began priming walls to prepare for painting. All proper procedures for ventilation during priming and painting are in place. Next week’s schedule is to complete priming and then painting, followed by deep cleaning and room preparation. Safety protocols are in place, and Industrial Hygienists will continue to monitor the worksite as needed.  

Roof Repairs Update
The school’s roofing project has continued alongside the internal repair work, with separate crews assigned to each effort. At this time, the flooding has not changed the roof project’s scope or schedule. Barring unforeseen changes, the roof work is expected to be completed by the end of November, as originally planned. The contractor is triple-checking all roof drains as work progresses, and the City has diverted staff from other projects to carefully monitor all work.

Our Guiding Commitment Remains, Every Student Learns. Every Class. Every Day.
Again, we understand that the temporary relocation has been disruptive for students, families, and staff. District teams are continuing to assess classroom configurations, space needs, student transitions, and the overall learning experience, and are working closely with City staff to deliver ongoing improvements. Feedback from students, educators, and families is an important part of that process. We remain committed to listening and making adjustments as we navigate the next steps for returning our students to the West.

10.20.26: Work Progress Update  

Over the weekend and Monday, crews completed the replacement of all insulation and began replacing all removed drywall. This work will continue throughout the week and will include prepping for painting. Safety protocols are in place, and Industrial Hygienists will continue to monitor the worksite.  

Outlook/Timeline
At this time, the City expects to have all classrooms and other affected spaces ready for use by SPS by early- to mid-November, and both the City and District are pushing hard to keep the timeline to the early side of that estimate. In remediation and repair, it is always possible that a timeline can change, however that is not anticipated at this time. We understand how disruptive this process has been for students, families, and staff. Please know that we have mobilized among departments, teams, and contractors to ensure we have the proper resources in place to move this work forward without delay. The emergency operations center and the SPS Continuity of Operations Plan also remain active, which enable us to respond to unexpected events as efficiently and effectively as possible, and with the least possible disruption to the school community. We have been keeping SPS leadership apprised of our work daily and thank them for allowing us to share this update with you through their messaging system. We will continue to keep you informed on our progress via regular messages. 

10.19.26: Updates Tonight at School Committee Meeting, 7:00pm

The Somerville School Committee will meet this evening at 7:00pm for its regularly scheduled meeting. The agenda includes a comprehensive update on the status of West Somerville Neighborhood School (WSNS) following recent water damage. Superintendent Carmona will provide updates on instruction and curriculum delivery, while Rich Raiche, the City’s Director of Infrastructure and Asset Management, will share information on building restoration efforts and the anticipated timeline for completion. Tonight’s meeting can be viewed online at City of Somerville GovTV or on local cable channels 22 & RCN 613/13.

10.16.26: Schedule and Relocation Update for Week of Monday, October 19

Please find below an update for the week of Monday, October 19. 

Pre-K to Grade 4: Remain at WSNS
On Monday, students in Pre-K thru Grade 4 will continue to report as usual to West Somerville Neighborhood School. Two independent industrial hygienists are monitoring work and conditions; they continue to confirm that there is no cause for concern for health and safety at the building. Air purifiers are placed in work areas for extra precaution and comfort. 

Grade 5 and Grade 6: Temporary Relocation to TAB Building
Beginning Monday, students in WSNS Grades 5 and 6 will relocate to the Tufts Administrative Building (TAB), located at 167 Holland Street. Moving crews are transporting essential furniture and supplies to set up classrooms and ensure students have the resources they need to maintain a productive learning environment. Additional staff will be on hand Monday morning to ease the transition for all students. 

• For parents/guardians interested in viewing your child’s temporary classroom space at TAB, we are happy to welcome you shortly after Monday dismissal from 3:30-4 p.m. for a short guided visit. For more information, please contact WSNS’s parent liaison  Lee-Anne King at 781-915-9789. 

Grade 7 and Grade 8: Remain at the TAB Building
Students in WSNS Grades 7 and 8 will continue to attend classes at the TAB building. We appreciate this week’s smooth transition between buildings and look forward to resuming classes again on Monday.   

For family drop-off and pick-up at the TAB building, we encourage you to use the driveway in front of the building at the main entrance along Holland Street. Students who walk or bike to school will be aided by additional crossing guards in front of the building. Please note that all students at TAB will be in dedicated classroom areas, with restrooms reserved only for students and SPS staff positioned to monitor access. We have also increased our capacity for warm breakfast and lunch daily.

After-school programming will continue at WSNS as scheduled. Staff will escort all students who attend after-school programs from TAB back to WSNS each afternoon. These students can be picked up after school from WSNS as usual.

Multiple City teams and contractors remain on site actively carrying out all needed work to safely and properly assess, dry, clean, prep, and repair affected spaces for reopening. Again, thank you for your continued partnership and understanding. We will keep you informed as restoration progresses and appreciate your support as we work toward a full return to normal school operations.

10.13.26: Update for WSNS Families

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we address the building disruptions caused by the water leak over the weekend. We recognize that these changes have affected students and families, and we appreciate your flexibility as we work to ensure a safe and welcoming learning environment for everyone.

Please see below our outlook for Wednesday and the remainder of the week:

Pre-K to Grade 5: Return to WSNS
Students in Pre-K thru Grade 5 should report as usual to West Somerville Neighborhood School on Wednesday, October 14. City crews remain on-site to address the water damage, complete necessary cleanup, and ensure the building is safe and healthy for students and staff to return to the classroom by following all appropriate protocols and conducting appropriate testing.

Grade 6: To Continue Weeklong Field Trip
Our sixth graders are currently on a weeklong overnight field trip, which will continue as planned. We will update on plans for sixth-grade classes later this week before our students return.

Grades 7–8: Temporary Relocation to the TAB Building
For the remainder of this week, students in Grades 7 and 8 will attend classes at the Tufts Administrative Building (TAB), located at 167 Holland Street. Throughout Tuesday, moving crews have been relocating essential furniture and supplies to prepare classrooms and create a supportive, functional learning environment for students. School hours will remain unchanged, with both drop-off and pick-up taking place inside the parking lot in front of the TAB. 

Extra staff will be on hand at the Holland Street entrance on Wednesday morning to assist in directing students to building entrances and classroom spaces. 

• Should you need to reach your child at the TAB during the day, please call the front desk at the West.
• School breakfast (7:30am) and lunch will be available at the TAB as regularly scheduled.
• Students will be in a dedicated area, with dedicated rooms and bathrooms, and staff positioned to control access.

After-School Programming: Will Continue As Normal at West
After-school programming will continue at WSNS as scheduled. Staff will escort students in Grades 7 and 8 who attend after-school programs from the TAB back to WSNS. These students can be picked up after school from WSNS as usual. 

Ongoing Cleanup
City teams and crews as well as water damage remediation and cleaning contractors continue working to clean and dry out the areas of the school affected by water intrusion on Sunday night and assess any additional needs. At this time, we have identified approximately 10 classrooms as well as some additional smaller spaces like breakout rooms and storage rooms that sustained water damage to varying degrees. 

Drying Out and Restoration
To facilitate the drying process, crews are removing sections of drywall so that industrial fans can dry out wall cavities, as well as using fans to dry carpets and rugs. As this work takes place, air purifiers and wet/dry vacuums are being used to clean up minimal dust and debris. Once these areas are properly dried, which typically requires at least 48 hours, drywall will be reinstalled and any needed repairs to baseboards or other items will be completed. All drywall and insulation being removed as part of ongoing repairs in the affected classrooms will be removed and cleaned up today before designated grades and staff return to the building tomorrow.   

Health and Safety
Due to the swift and thorough response to address moisture and that this work produces minimal dust, there are no known safety or health concerns for the building. Air purifiers near drywall work areas are nonetheless being run during remediation for extra precaution. For added surety, the City has also retained an Industrial Hygienist, who has been on site for an extended period Tuesday. The Hygienist is legally required to flag any issues, and has confirmed that there is no reason for concern. Masks are not required, and any staff seen wearing masks are doing so as a matter of personal preference (or unrelated need). All work is being conducted in accordance with all proper procedures and safety protocols. 

Outlook
We understand that an unexpected disruption like this can be challenging for parents, guardians, staff, and students, and we regret the impacts to our school community. Our priority is to maintain continuity in students’ learning and daily routines while ensuring a safe and healthy environment for our school community. Teams are still assessing required work and timelines needed to restore all classrooms to normal use. Multiple staff and departments, as well as contractors, have mobilized to work swiftly but carefully. As different classrooms sustained different levels of water intrusion and damage, some rooms may come back into use earlier than others. First and foremost, regardless of rooms impacted, our intent is to keep lower grades together at WSNS and upper grades together at the TAB as this best supports educational needs and continuity. We will continue to update as quickly as possible as we gain more information on next steps. Thank you again for your patience, flexibility, and continued partnership.

10.12.26: Classes Canceled

The West Somerville Neighborhood School sustained water damage overnight Sunday, October 11, during heavy storms, resulting in significant water intrusion into the building. The cause of the leak is undergoing ongoing assessment in coordination with the City’s contractor that has been conducting repairs on the roof this fall. It appears to be related to an improperly functioning roof drain. 

Some classroom spaces sustained varying degrees of water damage while other areas of the school were not impacted. Multiple city teams and crews as well as water damage remediation contractors mobilized Monday to clean, assess, and dry out the affected areas. This ongoing work will prepare for needed repairs that will use all proper procedures to restore the classrooms to safe and welcoming environments for our students and staff.

The City has activated an emergency operations center for coordination of our response and the SPS Continuity of Operations Plan is now in effect. 

As cleanup and repair work takes place, classes and all after-school activities will be canceled on Tuesday, October 13. We deeply regret this disruption to our students and families and understand the challenges that an unexpected school closure can create. We are working hard to resolve the issue as quickly as possible while ensuring the building is ready for students and staff to return safely.

We will share additional updates as they become available. Every effort is being made to allow us to resume classes on Wednesday, and we will update the WSNS community as soon as more information is available.