Seekonk Schools Adopt Mask Policy

The Seekonk School Committee voted Wednesday to adopt a mask policy for the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year.

The vote was 3-1. Chairperson Kim Sluter, Erin Brouillette, and Beth Eklund were in favor, with Noah Escaler opposed.

“Vaccines are a private medical procedure”, said Escaler. “Our schools should never cross a line to distinguish those who are and who aren’t vaccinated to determine who should have face coverings. I urge the committee to challenge DESE (Department of Elementary and Secondary Education) in their mandates through litigation. DESE is not a legislative body.”

“Our goal is 5 days a week of full in-person learning, with all extracurricular activities, and fewer students and staff quarantining,” Superintendent Rich Drolet told the Reporter. “If we can keep everyone safe, in school, on the sports fields and in our extracurricular (activities) more successfully than last year,that is progress and something to be thankful for. Things are still somewhat uncertain now, but we will work together with patience and respect. We want those eligible to strongly consider getting vaccinated, and their eligible children vaccinated, so that we are closer to our goal of a full return to normalcy, and no masks.”