In late February, plans to move the John D. O’Bryant School of Mathematics and Science to West Roxbury were officially canceled due to community concerns. 

The original plan, which was first introduced in June 2023, proposed moving the O’Bryant School from its location in Roxbury to the currently empty West Roxbury Educational Complex, located almost seven miles away. A larger and newer school campus would give students access to athletic facilities and labs, allow for more space in classrooms, and give O’Bryant the opportunity to accept more students each year. 

The proposal is one part of Mayor Michelle Wu’s Green New Deal, which aims to upgrade school facilities and improve high school offerings. In a radio segment with Radio Boston, Mayor Wu says, “Every decision that is delayed another year is another class of students that will have no chance whatsoever of experiencing that brand-new, life-changing experience of a new facility.”

However, Boston Public Schools announced on February 27 that the plan would be scrapped indefinitely, citing “a lack of consensus.”

The O’Bryant School is currently located near Nubian Square, which is the heart of an area known as Black Boston. The O’Bryant School’s student population is nearly two thirds African American and Hispanic, while West Roxbury is a predominantly white neighborhood. Many concerned community members argued that a move to West Roxbury would sever the cultural connection to the area. 

The O’Bryant School’s current site also provides many important opportunities for students. The central location allows teachers to easily bring their students on field trips and workshops in Boston. O’Bryant’s also presents educational opportunities at local institutions like Northeastern University and the Wentworth Institute of Technology. Many students enroll in university programs and classes, and moving to West Roxbury would hinder their ability to participate in these opportunities.

Relocation to West Roxbury would also mean a longer commute for most students. Even with the original plans to create a shuttle bus system for students, students would spend more time commuting to and from school. They would have to wake up earlier and get less sleep. 

Amplifying these concerns, the City Council voted on December 6, 2023 to officially oppose the move. This was a symbolic resolution and did not constitute actual decision-making, but it brought more attention to the plan’s opposition.

Teddy Fortuin, a West Roxbury resident, is also concerned about the impacts that the move would have had on the West Roxbury community. He comments, “As someone living in Westie, I think this proposed move wasn’t a good idea. Traffic would increase, […] and I think West Roxbury would be too crowded and busy.”

Mary Matero, who graduated from O’Bryant in 2023, is one student who initially advocated against the plan to move O’Bryant to West Roxbury. Since the plan was announced, Matero has attended an alumni meeting, met with Mayor Wu, testified on the school committee and attended a panel discussion at the City Council. 

As for the future of O’Bryant, Matero believes that the city should either look for a new location in Roxbury or renovate the current campus. They conclude, “It’s so important for the school to be centrally located, but at the same time students also do deserve good facilities. The city can’t give up on this just because it’s not in West Roxbury. Displacement can’t be the only solution.”