School Choice Will Go Forward in Seekonk

The Seekonk School Committee approved the district’s entry into the state’s School Choice program by a vote of 3 to 2 on May 19.

Chairman Bob Gerardi, Lisa Rizzo, and Alicia MacManus voted in the affirmative with Kyle Juckett and Emily Field in opposition.

MacManus amended her initial motion to designate a total of 20 open seats, which amounts to five for each grade level at Seekonk High School through the 2028-2029 school year.

The Seekonk Public Schools website notes: “The number of available openings for each grade is reduced by the number of school choice students already attending in those grades. Applications are now being accepted for the 2025-2026 school year for incoming students residing outside of Seekonk. Students must be residents of Massachusetts. Applications are being accepted until June 16 at 5:00PM and a lottery will be held on June 26, if necessary. Transportation is not available to school choice participants and will be the sole responsibility of the parent/guardian

Superintendent Rebecca Kidwell said each student accepted under School Choice is accompanied by a $5000 yearly tuition revenue from the state. Additional special education costs can also be reimbursed by the state.

Students who are admitted under School Choice have the same rights as local residents in remaining with the district through graduation.

The committee’s vote resulted in a backlash on social media. A petition gathered 470 signatures in an effort to convince the committee to rescind their earlier vote. The deadline was June 1.

“Allowing out-of-district students into our schools poses a significant financial risk to our town,” the petition read. “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 told the Reporter on May 23.

“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,” he added.