Gerardi Stands Firm on School Choice

Seekonk School Committee Chair Bob Gerardi is standing by his decision to vote for a School Choice program for the 2025-2026 academic year.

The committee voted 3 to 2 at the May 19 meeting. Gerardi, Alicia MacManus, and Lisa Rizzo were all in favor, with Kyle Juckett and Emily Field in opposition.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) states:
“If the new vote of the school committee occurs before June 1, it overrides the previous vote. Students who are already participating in the school choice program, or who were admitted prior to the new vote, have a right to continue attending school in the receiving district. If the new vote of the school committee occurs on or after June 1, it is ineffective and the district remains a school choice district for the upcoming school year.”

Opponents of School Choice have gathered over 470 signatures in an effort to convince the School Committee to rescind their vote before June 1.

“Allowing out-of-district students into our schools poses a significant financial risk to our town,” the petition reads. “State reimbursements do not fully cover the true cost of educating each student, potentially leaving Seekonk taxpayers to absorb the shortfall. At a time when school budgets are already strained, we cannot afford to take on additional fiscal burdens that compromise the quality of education for our own students. Our priority must remain on protecting Seekonk’s educational resources, maintaining class sizes, and supporting the students and families who live and invest in this community.”

Kim Sluter, a former school committee member who launched the petition, called the May 19 vote “disappointing” and “short-sighted.”

Noah Escaler, another former school committee member, said the vote was “uninformed” and “disgraceful.”

“I do not believe that an additional meeting as requested in the petition will be productive and my concern is that it may in fact cause greater division in the community,” Gerardi said Friday.

“The School Committee voted to approve a modest school choice program of 20 students in Seekonk for the 2025-2026 school year,” Gerardi continued.

“While attending a Finance Committee meeting before I was elected, the recommendation was for departments to explore programs that increase revenue. I believe that filling empty seats in (high school) classrooms with school choice students will be fiscally responsible for the tax payers of Seekonk.”

Gerardi explained that “declining enrollment at Seekonk High School from approximately 600 students to 500 students has negatively impacted course offerings.”

“I believe that increasing enrollment at Seekonk High School will increase course offerings for resident students. I appreciate the feedback I received in the many correspondences for and against school choice. Based on the data, participating in school choice is good for the tax payer and student.”