School Committee gets first look at ideas for re-utilization of 617 Lexington St.

The school committee heard first drafts of wide-ranging proposals at its June 17 meeting for the future of 617 Lexington St., which would turn the former Waltham High School campus into a hub for education, community programming and student support services.

The lot currently houses the superintendent’s office, the Dual Language School and Waltham Valor School, but the 265,000 square foot space remains underutilized.

The 617 Committee, made up of parents, educators and community members and divided into four subgroups, spent about seven months developing their ideas. Raymond Porch, family and community engagement officer for the district, presented on the committee’s behalf. He said the proposals represent a vision, not a finalized plan. No costs have been calculated, and the 617 Committee was encouraged to think of ideas “with no ceiling,” Porch said. 

The four subgroups of the committee represented the stakeholders with the most reasonable claims on the space: the Valor School, the Dual Language School, a proposed universal preschool and a community group that would focus on public programming for all ages. 

The Valor School subgroup asked to remain in the back hallway of the building where it currently is, and requested a dedicated cafe, a fitness center, an art room with a kiln, a nursing suite for student mothers and an additional school entrance. Their portion of the presentation noted an intention to grow their enrollment to 75 next year, with an eventual goal of 125 students.

The Dual Language School presented the most ambitious expansion plan, proposing to grow from two to four sections per grade beginning in kindergarten, and eventually extending the program through eighth grade. This growth would require moving from the first floor where the school is now to the second and eventually third floor, along with a separate entrance, better elevator access, age-appropriate bathrooms and a second playground for older children. A parent survey conducted by the subgroup showed majority support for the K-8 model. 

The community-focused subgroup envisioned the building as a neighborhood resource open beyond school hours, with space for adult education, cultural events, a community kitchen, recreational sports and expanded use of the Reagle Theatre. 

Vondy Merisma, president of the Watch City Program, which runs recreational sports programming for young people, spoke in support of the plan. The subgroup noted in their part of the presentation that community programming would need to be revenue-neutral or generate income to cover staffing and custodial costs. 

The preschool subgroup called for a full-day, Monday through Friday program for children ages 3 to 5. They set a tentative target of fall 2027 for implementation. Proposals included child-sized bathrooms, sensory and dramatic play spaces and a literacy area. The program would be housed entirely on the first floor given the students’ age. Family surveys cited high demand, with one respondent noting that the cost of private daycare is “more than my mortgage.”

Questions and concerns

School Committee members raised several practical concerns with the proposals. Elizabeth AlJammal asked how community members could safely access the building during school hours alongside young children. Debra Coleman cautioned that transportation costs would rise significantly if DLS expands, since the program draws students from across the whole city. 

AlJammal said she would like to see “a more cohesive picture of how these things all fit together.” She also reminded the committee that the building may eventually be needed as an additional public school given ongoing housing development in the city. 

Mayor Jeannette A. McCarthy expressed support for the pre-k proposal. “There is definitely a need for this,” she said. 

Porch acknowledged the proposals require more development, cost analysis and community input before any path forward is determined.