This new $95 million state-of-the-art DeBerry-Homer School project will replace two old and outdated schools. DeBerry School was built in 1951 and no longer can accommodate the needs of our students and staff. Homer Street School was opened in 1898 and lacked the amenities needed such as a cafeteria and gymnasium.
Mayor Sarno states, “First, I want to thank the Massachusetts School Building Authority. We just cut the ribbon for the grand opening of the brand new state-of-the-art Brightwood/Lincoln School in our North End and here we are again breaking ground to replace two more aging schools in our Upper Hill and Old Hill Neighborhoods. The MSBA has been a tremendous partner and I want to thank them and Treasurer Deb Goldberg for their unyielding support and investment in our Springfield. To the principals of both schools, Elizabeth Fazio and Catherine Roberts, this is for you, your teachers, staff, students and their families. The community has longed for this project to come to life and today is the day we break ground. Thanks to the continued support from our School Committee, especially School Committeewoman Barbara Gresham for her outreach and efforts working with our neighborhood councils. Special thanks and appreciation to State Representative Bud Williams who has been a strong advocate for this project since his days on the City Council. I am looking forward to returning to this site in 2023 when we cut the ribbon for the grand open ceremony!”
State Representative Bud Williams stated, “I want to applaud and thank Mayor Sarno, Superintendent Dan Warwick and the entire city team for their commitment to our neighborhood and community. This DeBerry/Home School project has been on my agenda since my days on the City Council. It is great to see it come to fruition and a testament to the leadership of Mayor Sarno and his Administration. Not many communities in the Commonwealth can capitalize on the investment made by the state through the MSBA. Mayor Sarno has made sure that the City of Springfield is well positioned to utilize these vital state resources to give our community new state-of-the-art schools. I am looking forward to the grand opening of this new DeBerry/Homer School and the creation of the new Park in the future.”
The new state-of-the-art school will be on the site of the existing DeBerry School property on Union Street and DeBerry Park. The DeBerry School will remain in use during construction. The school is scheduled to be completed and open by August 2023. The old DeBerry School would then be demolished and a new parking lot created by August 2024.
Much like the Brightwood-Lincoln School, the new consolidated DeBerry-Homer School will have separate entrances and each school would retain their names, but would share some common areas such as a gymnasium and cafeteria-auditorium
