School committee asks city for contingency plan and MOU on school displacement; administration working with legal teams

At the June 10 joint meeting, School Committee members pressed the city for a clear contingency plan and a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to define responsibilities if a school building must be closed during a school year and students must be relocated.

School Committee member Sarah Phillips and others emphasized that previous relocations have required ad hoc decisions and that the district needs a prearranged plan. Phillips said the intent of the earlier motion was to have the MOU created and signed before opening a warming center on Prescott Street.

Yasmin Radassi, legislative liaison in the mayor’s office, said the city solicitor is following up with the Somerville Public Schools legal team on the requested MOU. Radassi also told the committee the administration is investing in preventative maintenance and repairs to reduce the likelihood of mid-year displacements.

Committee members asked for an explicit timeline. Administration staff said they would check with legal and return with a timeline; School Committee members requested the matter be placed on the fall subcommittee agenda for a formal update and possible motion. Chair Lance Davis agreed to submit an order to have the city’s emergency plan for school closure presented at a fall meeting.

The committee decided to close the current item and to use a related, more detailed agenda item on swing/swing space to carry the topic forward in a later meeting.