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Subcommittee backs Chestnut Street site and sends Harena boundary changes to MSBA
Summary
The subcommittee approved recommending the Chestnut Street site for the new Harena Community School and voted to submit proposed boundary adjustments — shifts that would move roughly 86, 144, 97 and 47 students among adjacent schools to meet MSBA enrollment targets and improve walkability.
The Legislative & Contracts Subcommittee voted to recommend the Chestnut Street site as the proposed new location for the Harena Community School and directed Springfield Public Schools to submit the proposed boundary adjustments to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).
Chief Sam Lawrence presented the boundary plan and enrollment rationale, saying the proposed changes align neighborhood streets with the new 495 Chestnut Street footprint and would shift approximately 86, 144, 97 and 47 students among Bolland, Lincoln, Harena and White Street boundaries to meet the MSBA’s capacity targets and improve walkability. "We saw a natural alignment that got pretty close to the numbers we were looking at," he said.
Members asked about the project timeline (target opening 2030), whether traffic and safety studies have been completed (staff said a traffic study must follow a site vote), how dual‑language program growth was factored in, and protections such as grandfathering current students and siblings. Staff said the district plans phased transitions, will grandfather students already attending a school who wish to remain, and will use a community outreach process before finalizing changes.
The subcommittee also approved recommending the proposed boundary submission to the MSBA, noting the full school committee will receive the same presentation and will have final vote authority.
