More Support For Stigmatine Property As New Waltham High School

WALTHAM, MA — In an effort to keep eyes and pressure on the possibility of the city choosing it for the location to build a new high school, leaders of the Executive Board of the Waltham School Administrators, the Waltham Educators Association, the Waltham Schools Secretary Association and the Custodian Union have all submitted letters backing the use of the Stigmatine property. The letters were circulated this week to the City Council.

The letters come after Mayor Jeannette McCarthy got permission from the City Council in May to approach the Stigmatine Fathers to ask them if the city can access to their property to begin a feasibility study to see if a high school would actually work on the property, and as pressure from the Massachusetts School Building Authority, the funding agency mounted to choose a spot, already. The mayor did just that, but the Stigmatines once again said no.

Years-long subject of controversy:

Waltham's current high school was built in 1968 and had additions built on twice, most recently more than a decade ago. But as enrollment increases, the students need more space and one that isn't crumbling, folks agree on this.

What city councilors, school officials and residents haven't been quite able to agree on is just where that should be.

The property is favorite of the Waltham School Department and School Committee for its size and campus. A number of residents have taken to protesting outside city hall to let councilors know it's their choice, too.

The City Council previously took the Stigmatine property out of consideration for a new school site after the stewards of the Stigmatine sent a letter to the city making it clear they did not want to sell. City Councilors said if the Stigmatines didn't want to sell, they would not support taking the land by eminent domain.

Some residents agreed, citing a traffic nightmare if that property were to be developed and lamenting what developing the quiet space would do to the city.

But in February after pushback from residents and School Department officials the property came back on the table.

The MSBA, which is helping financially support a new high school project, asked the School Committee to send them a report on potential sites for the Waltham High School project, including a timeline for finalizing an agreement with the Stigmatines if that site was ultimately chosen and asking the city to start the ball rolling on a $269,079 feasibility study of the property at 554 Lexington St.

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Previous Patch coverage on this:

• Waltham Residents Rally At City Hall With Message About Stigmatine (Feb. 28, 2018)
• Waltham Mayor Lays Out Case For Stigmatine (Sept. 28, 2017)
• City Council Denies Eminent Domain Taking of Stigmatine (May 23, 2017)
• Stigmatine Official: 'Our Property Is Not For Sale' (May 18, 2017)
• Mayor McCarthy: Why I Didn't Speak At The Stigmatine Meeting(May 17, 2017)
• Waltham City Council Committee Rejects Eminent Domain (May 15, 2017)
• Waltham Mayor Requests Eminent Domain of Stigmatine (Feb. 2017)

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File by Jenna Fisher/Patch