District cites cost, zoning, and structural issues; School Committee wants share of sale proceeds
WORCESTER—The Worcester Public Schools has no plans to utilize the former Becker College properties on Sever Street, after district officials determined the buildings would require significant investment to serve K–12 students.
The school committee first discussed the buildings at 51 and 61 Sever St. in May, after the city council petitioned to gauge any interest from the district in retaining them. On June 5, school administrators recommended allowing the city to move forward with selling the properties—though committee members emphasized that some proceeds should benefit the schools.
Both buildings are owned by the City of Worcester, which acquired them in 2021 following Becker College’s closure. The 61 Sever St. building was originally intended to serve Worcester Public Schools specifically. The city hired consultants to assess the buildings’ condition, and Deputy Superintendent Brian Allen cited their findings in his June 5 presentation.
According to Allen, the report concluded that 61 Sever St. would require major upgrades to meet state standards for K–12 facilities, including the removal of an entire floor or a structural overhaul using steel to meet Type IV building classification.
“If we were to use that for K–12,” said Allen, “we would either have to change the entire structure of the building to steel or we’d have to take the third floor off. Half of the classrooms are on the third floor, so if that was an option, that provides literally no use to us.”
In addition to structural challenges and zoning limitations, the building would need HVAC and elevator upgrades, a sprinkler system replacement, and basic amenities such as restrooms on each floor and a gym. Allen said the district would be better off investing those funds into its existing facilities.
As for 51 Sever St., Allen said he had no information about the building’s condition because it was always intended for city department use rather than for schools.
While Worcester Public Schools will not be using the Sever Street properties, the school committee voted to request that a portion of the sale profits be returned to the district. Committee Member Sue Mailman made a motion to that effect, which passed 7–2. Member Jermaine Johnson expressed support and pushed the idea further, aligning with Allen’s stance.
“The city eventually is going to sell it,” Johnson said. “I would be on board that maybe not all the funds, but some of the funds that the city gets for that building could be utilized by the School Committee to help with some of the funding for some of the buildings that we have that we are using and can use.”
Nativity School has expressed interest in purchasing the property, though no offer has been finalized as of this writing.
