Seekonk School Committee Holds Budget Hearing

The Seekonk School Committee held a public hearing for the FY’27 budget at their March 16 meeting.

The current budget projection, considering level services and mandatory updates, is a 4.61 percent increase ($1.5 million). The school budget will be presented to voters at the May 11 Town Meeting.

Fixed costs have increased in several categories, including transportation, energy, maintenance materials, and tuitions.

Level services, non-salary costs are the primary driver of the increases.

“Because of budget reductions in recent years, our number of teachers, custodians, administrative assistants, building administrators, counseling staff, these have all decreased,” Superintendent Rebecca Kidwell noted.

Kidwell said there would be a decrease in Title One grants at the state level and at the federal level. The projected offset from federal entitlement grants was $849, 652 before the advisement of a $170,000 reduction.

“A federal recalculation puts the state’s current estimate for our FY’27 Title One allocation at $120,000,” Kidwell explained. “The actual FY’27 number will be available in July with possible adjustments through Fall 2027. Our goal is to avoid impact to student services.”

As the town develops a complete General Fund budget for FY’27, the schools will continue to examine the few remaining options for reduction.

Possible reductions may include elimination or reduction of full-day Kindergarten, elimination or reduction of electives (music, art, technology), elimination or reduction of activities (athletics, music, clubs), and elimination or reduction of transportation for students in Grades 7 - 12.

Another possibility is charging fees for athletics, parking/driving, and transportation, as well as for pre-school and/or kindergarten tuition.

Committee chairman Robert Gerardi expressed mixed feelings about a debt exclusion.

“(It) doesn’t ease past inequities to (the school) department. I think we’ve done a great job, but I also want to make sure the schools maintain their superior reputation. I think that debt exclusion conversation has to happen.” 

Kidwell praised the administrators and finance staff for their diligence.

“You have a team of fiscally conscious leaders who are trying to do right by the town and by our students.”

The school committee will hold another budget discussion at their March 23 meeting.