OMS Expansion

As an abutter to the Ottoson, the area is already extremely congested with traffic, teacher/staff parking on neighborhood streets, and dangerous intersections with kids trying to cross and cars jockeying to get through. This would only make the situation far worse, let alone add stress to the main building cafeteria, gym etc. that wasn't designed for such a large student population.

I grew up in Arlington. I strongly feel that we should return to a two middle school model, especially now in light of the overcrowding and expected increases in enrollment. We are essentially sending our 6th grade 11/12 year old students into a high school environment. I'm quite sure staff are stretched to their limit already. My daughter is in 2nd grade and I am not comfortable with the idea of sending her to an overcrowded, under-resourced school in less than four years. I hope that decisions will be made in a thoughtful, foresightful manner with priority given to the social emotional health of our children at this vulnerable age. Children who are anxious and underserved due to overcrowding and lack of resources will not perform to their academic potential.

Middle school is too important to get it wrong. Take back the Gibbs so we have the option of flexibility.

Bigger is Not Always Better

Renovate Gibbs or build a second middle school to better and more comprehensively address the overcrowding issue.

Reopen the Gibbs!!!

This plan is truly awful. Physically, our kids deserve better than learning in a tacked-on wing and squeezing into core spaces that were designed to hold 40% fewer students. I also assume that what little green space there is would be gone by then. Socially and emotionally, as others have pointed out, they would be better off in smaller schools. The superintendent and the School Committee should be using educational goals as a starting point for this conversation--not as a secondary consideration to budget.

I am against Ottoson expansion.I would much prefer a second middle school. -The expanded school still would not have sufficient common spaces to fit its student body. -The transportation is already total waist of time -There is no way the kids best interest was taken into consideration with this expansion idea. - use Gibbs School as a second middle school

I have nearly a decade's worth of teaching middle school. Having this many students of this age in one building is not in the best interest of the children or the educators who service them. I desperately hope that by the time my children are in middle school, this problem will have been resolved with a comprehensive solution that is in the best interest of our student population.

Concerned Arlington parent of 2

I'm completely baffled as to why the town refuses to listen to what residents want and what is best for our children. Meanwhile the town manager and higher ups in the school administration continue to get raises. This is completely unacceptable on every level.

Adding extra rooms without other amenities is not solution. We bought a house in Arlington because of its school. Compared to surrounding cities, the school is getting overcrowded because cheap rent in Arlington. As East Arlington residents, we support another middle school in East Arlington. We support proposed MAGNET school in East Arlington. We don't want our kids to face similar overcrowding problems seen in Thompson elementary.

our students, teachers & residents deserve better than this proposed solution.

The School Committee and School Administrstion need to demonstrate leadership and vision during this enrollment crisis. Making Ottoson the largest middle school in the state is shortsighted and will negatively affect educational outcomes--- in short, our children's futures. Using surplus buildings in the event of enrollment growth was the reasoning behind keeping the former Gibbs School. Now is the time to use it!

This choice has long term implications for Arlington. Please consider the long term educational implications for our students.

I would much prefer a second middle school.

There is no way the kids best interest was taken into consideration with this idea.

Please do not push for short sighted solutions that will be of immediate detriment to current students and of future detriment to incoming students.

Please start looking holistically at a bigger picture and a longer future.

...not to mention that the MBA bus 77 is packed to capacity w Ottoson students from 7-8 am and after release. The expansion of the middle school is a transportation catastrophe!