January News Notes

School Committee to Vote on School Reorganization
The Seekonk School Committee is planning to vote on a school reorganization plan at its next meeting on Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. The district needs to redistrict students to different school buildings starting in the fall of 2018 in order to manage overcrowding in the elementary schools. Several options have been proposed and are available for review on the school department website at www.seekonkschools.org. One of the options involves moving fifth grade students from Aitken and Martin Elementary Schools to Hurley Middle School. Another option would be to add modular, or portable, classrooms to the elementary schools.

Selectmen Again Approve Split Tax Rate
Selectmen voted to maintain the split tax rate for homes and businesses, according to an article in the Sun Chronicle. The estimated residential tax rate is $13.35 per $1,000 of value and the estimated commercial/industrial tax rate is $28.52. The average single family home assessment increased from $311,300 to $326,000, or 4.7 percent. In addition, 51 commercial properties qualified for a 10 percent exemption. Total residential values increased almost 6 percent and commercial values increased by 3.5 percent.

Homeowner Finds Artillery Shell in Backyard
A homeowner on Maynard Avenue in North Seekonk found an old military shell in his backyard. Seekonk Police and Fire Departments, Mass. State Police Bomb Squad and bomb experts from the FBI and the U.S. Navy’s Explosive Ordinance Unit responded and the shell was determined to be inert, according to a Sun Chronicle article. The military ordnance was found to have been made sometime before World War II. The shell, which did not contain any explosives, may have belonged to the former homeowner.

Kiwanis Collecting Calendars for Seniors
The Seekonk Kiwanis Club is collecting 2018 calendars to distribute to seniors. If you receive one as a gift or from a business and would like to donate it, drop it off at the Seekonk Senior Center at 540 Arcade Ave. For information, contact Beverly Della Grotta at dellagrotta24@aol.com.