Gibbs School Public Forum Set for Tuesday

ARLINGTON, MA—Although the decision to choose the Gibbs building over expanding Ottoson Middle School didn't seem to face significant opposition, Arlington school officials must now decide between utilizing the Gibbs building as a town-wide sixth grade facility or using the Gibbs as a separate 6-8 grade facility. 

Officials will be holding a public forum Tuesday evening regarding the choice between the two educational models. Tuesday's public forum could hold significant impact on the decision, as School Committee Chair Jennifer Susse told Patch that a decision on the new model could be made on Thursday at the earliest. 

The School Committee unanimously voted 7-0 in favor of repurposing the Gibbs Building on May 9, following the vote by the School Enrollment Task Force and a recommendation from Superintendent Kathleen Bodie. The borrowing of the $2.55 million for the Gibbs project is contingent on the passage of a debt exclusion vote, set to take place on June 14.

The motion also states that the Superintendent will work with the Arlington Center for the Arts to find a new space for the center's summer camp in 2017.

Susse told Patch that the decision to use the new building as either a sixth grade facility or a 6-8 grade facility has not yet been made, but financial projections for the project will use the sixth grade-only model.

Tuesday's public forum will take place at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, and will feature a presentation from Ottoson teachers and opening remarks from Susse and Bodie.