Seekonk Schools Announces Return for K-2, Grade 6 and 9

Seekonk Public Schools will be welcoming a return to four days a week in-person learning for Kindergarten through Grade 2 students beginning February 23. Superintendent Rich Drolet made the announcement at Monday’s school committee meeting. On March 2, Grade 6 students at Hurley Middle School and Grade 9 students at Seekonk High School will be returning to four days a week in-person learning. Mondays will be designated as remote learning days.

“It will be difficult to bring back more students outside of K-2 and one grade at the middle school and one grade at the high school due to current busing limitations and needing to keep at least three feet of distancing between students at all times,” Drolet said, noting Kindergarten through Grade 2 are being brought back due to lower class sizes. Bringing back students in Grades 3 through 5 and higher grades is not “feasible” at this time, Drolet noted.

Not everyone is pleased with the decision. Senior Kailee Peterson has started a petition in an effort to convince the school administration to allow seniors back into school. “As a senior who has lost their junior and senior year I am infuriated that the administration has made this choice with no consideration for the pitiful year the Class of 2021 has had with no school events or fall sports,” Peterson wrote in a January 26 post on Facebook group Konk Konnect. “We just want one thing back to normal and considering the freshmen have 3 years left of high school you would think they may give us something to look forward to.”

“Give the seniors their time in school,” wrote Alan Petzold on Change.org. “They should have the chance to reconnect socially, and have the fond high school memories we all have had... or as much as possible in this climate. Give them some semblance of high school “normalcy” while you still can.”

“This Administration is failing the Class of 2021 on so many levels,” wrote Shandra Ferreira. “This is the legacy they choose to leave this class with? Being overlooked for the freshmen who have 3 more years in the school? I’m extremely disappointed and pretty disgusted with the entire thing. Let’s hope our voices are heard and they reconsider this ridiculous decision.”

When contacted by the Reporter on Wednesday, Drolet said the next grade to return would be Grade 12. “It was not an easy decision for which grade to bring back first for more in-person learning at SHS, but ultimately we chose Grade 9 over Grade 12 first,” Drolet wrote: “This is a good sign that we are bringing more students back to school for more in-person learning at all school levels in Seekonk, and we remain optimistic that we will be able to bring even more students back as we inch closer to the spring. We are planning ahead with fortitude. There is light at the end of the tunnel. (Principal William) Whalen and I are listening to students and families from the SHS Class of 2021, and we understand people's disappointment. I am grateful that we have students and families who want to come back to school for more in-person learning, and who advocate for education.” 

The schools had been closed from January 4 through 8 due to an increase in reported Covid-19 infections. Drolet reported 112 total cases, 30 reported in the last two weeks. However, Seekonk has seen a decrease in its daily positivity rate from 13.68 percent to 9.84 percent. In addition, the average rate dropped from 84.1 per 100,000 residents to 55.6 per 100,000 residents. Seekonk has been given the designation of red, which is reserved for cities and towns with the highest average of new infections.

Drolet has advocated for getting the district’s teachers and staff vaccinated “as soon as possible.” The school nurses have already been vaccinated as first responders. “I want that vaccine,” said Sharon Ahearn, President of the Seekonk Educators Association. “I’m not going to have both those shots by February 23. We can’t even get signed up for it yet. It just seems to me this may be a bit premature.”

Drolet warned that students and classes may be required to quarantine and temporarily return to remote learning for a one to two week period if new positive Covid-19 infections were reported. “Our schools are safe,” Drolet added.