Century-old Somerville HS at risk of losing accreditation

SOMERVILLE, Mass. — Outdated and overcrowded, the City of Somerville is working to renovate or replace one of the oldest high schools in New England.

Somerville High School  has been put on notice that its accreditation could be in jeopardy

Students tell FOX25 they’re very happy with the education they’re getting, but the century-old building needs some serious work.

"The structure of it, it's a little old, kind of decrepit,” Somerville HS senior Olivia Doh said.

The building was fist constructed in 1894 and had several additions throughout the 1900s with the most recent in 1986.

"We have one of the oldest, if not the oldest, renovated second school, possibly in New England, but definitely in Massachusetts,” Tony Pierantozzi, chairman of the Somerville High School Building Committee, said.

Pierantozzi is on a mission to renovate, rebuild or replace this sprawling brick campus. He made a video highlighting some of many challenges the schools faces; narrow halls and stairwells, an overcrowded art room, and outdated labs among them. The school has no air conditioning yet the energy bills are through the roof.

"When Hurricane Sandy hit the auditorium fell in. A lot of problems like that. For safety reasons that should be top priority,” Doh said.

To make matters worse, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges has put Somerville on notice saying they needs to see plans in the works to improve the high school or the school could lose accreditation.

"Certainly that would give a college admissions staff pause. Our students don't deserve that. They're great students,” Pierantozzi said.

NEASC tells FOX25, it visits schools every ten years and is due to return to Somerville High School in 2020. But in the meantime, the agency stays in close contact with the school and city.

Somerville is working with Massachusetts School Building Authority on a several possible plans to meet the educational needs of the students for the next 50 years.

"Somerville students and community deserve a new high school very badly,” he said.

The building committee says there are several proposals on table and they are in the process of gathering public input. You can view proposals here http://www.somervillema.gov/highschool/

Cox Media Group