Four Candidates for School Committee

 Four candidates are running for two open seats on the Seekonk School Committee in the April 1 town election. Incumbents Noah Escaler and Kim Sluter are not running for re-election.

Profiles are below.

Alicia MacManus
Alicia MacManus is an attorney who specializes in “navigating and mediating high conflict situations.” She received a Bachelors of Science degree from UMASS Amherst with a major in natural resource conservation. MacManus obtained her law degree from the University of Oregon. 

“I really enjoy collaborating with others to come up with creative solutions. Being an excellent listener really helps to pinpoint issues and find common ground,” said MacManus, who is married and has two children. “It's important to understand and appreciate all perspectives in order to foster a more productive environment so that informed decisions can be made.”

Books featuring adult content have come under fire for being allowed in elementary school libraries. “As long as the books are age appropriate, I think it's important to have materials that represent all the different kinds of families in our community,” MacManus said.

Aging school buildings is another concern. “Something needs to be done,” MacManus noted. “Whether or not that's a brand new building is yet to be seen. I definitely believe the Statement of Interest should have been sent. When making decisions of this magnitude - the more information, the better.”

MacManus wants to serve as a liaison to the community. She has attended several meetings with the Aitken PTO and would love to run the school’s annual Pumpkin Something event.

“One of my favorite parts of the campaign is talking to people and learning about their thoughts and concerns,” MacManus added. “I’d love to bridge the gap between the committee and our community in a positive way.”

Lisa Rizzo
Lisa Rizzo is concerned about school enrollment, particularly at the elementary level. Class sizes are expected to increase due to the number of single-family homes being constructed.

The heating system at Hurley Middle School, which Rizzo notes is “antiquated,” is also a priority. Thousands of dollars have already been spent on repairs.

“A Statement of Interest to the Massachusetts School Building Authority for a new building is an attractive solution to both the antiquated heating/cooling system at Hurley Middle School and increasing school enrollment while defraying cost to taxpayers,” Rizzo said.

Rizzo is married and has two children. She works as a Nursing Supervisor at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. Rizzo also teaches at the hospital’s Emergency Cardiac Care program.

“From a young age, I always felt a duty to care for others,” Rizzo said. “That’s what brought my interest to the school committee when I started attending meetings a year ago.”

Rizzo vows to bring “an attention to detail” if she is elected to the committee.

Writing and enforcing policies is something she has experience with and would feel “most comfortable” handling.

“Current policy, as approved by the Seekonk School Committee, allows for certificated personnel to select instructional materials taking into account developmental appropriateness and for teachers to complete ongoing evaluations of materials for educational equity and bias,” Rizzo said. “As a School Committee member, I support the policies of our district.”

Rizzo appreciates the “small town feel” of Seekonk.

“I do love the connections I’ve made here. From the moment my husband and I have moved here, there are so many people who are willing to help in any way.”

Luis Sousa
Luis Sousa promises to be a voice for parents and believes in being transparent with residents.

“The issues that are important to me are being as transparent as possible with parents, the new sex education, and making sure what is best for the students is put first,” Sousa said.

Sousa has a wife and two young children who attend Aitken School. He is employed at Building Envelope Systems in Plainville. He attended Rhode Island College and majored in business management. Sousa also owns his own boat bottom painting business and works on moorings. 

Sousa is a member of the TV9 Board of Directors. He has been attending Aitken PTO meetings and school committee meetings for the past few years. 

Sousa is opposed to books featuring material about human sexuality and gender identity being placed in elementary schools. “I don't believe they belong around children,” Sousa said. “And I will stand up for that.” 

Sousa believes new school buildings will be necessary in the future. “Everything needs to be rebuilt but that's after you look at all the options and weigh out all the pros and cons,” he added.

Joshua Troiano
Joshua Troiano is a 2023 graduate of Seekonk High School. He is currently attending Stonehill College and is studying criminal justice.

“Our schools are extraordinarily important and if we don’t have good schools, then it’s going to affect the rest of the town,” Troiano said. “I know how important it is to receive a quality education.”

Troiano feels as a recent graduate that he has a strong understanding of the school system. “I understand how they operate, how the students feel, how teachers feel, and things that we can improve on,” Troiano said.  

Troiano was a member of the town’s Park and Recreation Committee for three years. He gained knowledge about budgets and interacted with various recreational leagues.

Troiano doesn’t feel he is too young to serve on the school committee. “It’s good to have diverse backgrounds,” he noted. “Having someone who’s younger along with (members) who are older, it’s good to have those different perspectives.”

Troiano acknowledges the challenges facing the school district, including aging buildings. “The heating system at Hurley is on its last leg and many replacement parts are obsolete. It is an immediate need that must be addressed now. While we must address the projected increases in our enrollment, it is important to remember that any new school will not be a reality for years down the road as it is a long process. The voters get the final say, so any proposal must be an appropriate solution that is affordable and fiscally responsible.” 

Many parents have expressed concerns about gender identity and sexually explicit content being taught in schools. Troiano vows to take a measured approach, allowing for clear definitions of what will be shared with students while giving parents proper notification.

“When it comes to educational materials in our elementary schools, we should remember that controversial topics that may be deemed inappropriate at such a young age, are bound to cause division,” Troiano added. “With that said, I am opposed to the banning of books, but I do support parental notification of books and materials deemed to be controversial or inappropriate where parents can decide if they choose to opt their child in or out. The good news is our district has a good track record of keeping parents involved in the education of their children, especially when it comes to sensitive issues.”