News Notes

Town Meeting Approves Budget for Fiscal Year 2020
Voters at town meeting on May 13 approved a $58.9 million budget for the next fiscal year. It represents a $3.8 million, or nearly 7 percent, increase over this year’s budget. Voters also approved an addition to Aitken School, a ban on plastic bags, and more than $1 million in capital expenditures including a wood chipper, mower and trucks for the DPW, payments for fire engines and apparatus, lighting and curtain for Seekonk High stage and stage curtains for the other schools, and new voting machines for the town, among other items. For more information on the town meeting, see Town Clerk Florice Craig’s column in this issue.

Seekonk to Vote on Aitken Building Projects
On Monday, June 10 a special ballot election will be held to decide on a proposed temporary tax increase, or debt exclusion from the state’s Proposition 2 ½ law, to fund two projects at Aitken Elementary School. Question #1 on the ballot asks voters to approve the design, construction and furnishing of a 10-classroom addition at Aitken School. Question #2 asks voters to approve a new air-conditioning system at the school. School officials say that the addition is needed to relieve overcrowding in the elementary schools. Modular classrooms are currently being used at both Aitken and Martin Elementary schools. The expected annual tax increase is $129.00 for a home valued at $318,000, according to the town finance department. Voters at the April town meeting approved the projects but the funding must be approved at the ballot.

Acting Fire Chief Named
Seekonk has a new acting fire chief. Deputy Fire Chief Alan Grocott was named Acting Fire Chief last month, according to a Sun Chronicle article. Grocott is replacing Michael Healy, who retired in April.

Seekonk High Wins Second Place in Attleboro Arts Museum Exhibition
A team of students from Seekonk High School won second place in the Attleboro Arts Museum’s 23rd annual “High Art” exhibition. They competed against 14 other teams from Massachusetts and Rhode Island high schools. This year’s theme was “Metamorphosis” and each team created a large installation that depicted the idea of metamorphosis. The works were on display in the museum’s main gallery from May 15 to May 30. Awards were announced during the opening reception on May 15. The People’s Choice award is announced at the end of the show on May 30. Taunton High School won Best in Show at the exhibition.

Seekonk High School Announces Valedictorian and Salutatorian
Thomas Ciolfi is valedictorian and Aditi Patel is salutatorian for Seekonk High School’s class of 2019, according to a Sun Chronicle article. Ciolfi plans to attend Worcester Polytechnic Institute and study engineering. Patel is attending Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York. Graduation ceremonies are scheduled for Friday, May 31 at 6:30 p.m.

Seekonk High School’s Unified Track Team Wins State Meet for 3^rd Consecutive Year
Seekonk High School’s Unified Track Team won the Division 1 MIAA/SOMA Unified Track and Field State Championship on May 29 held at Milford High School. This is the third consecutive year that the team has won the state meet. They competed against 23 teams in their division. The team score was 195 points. Shrewsbury High School was second place with 93 points and third place went to Franklin High with 79 points. Head Coach Kristen Nelson was recently honored as Coach of the Year at the MIAA Awards Banquet. Congratulations to the team, Coach Nelson and the rest of the coaching staff.