Seekonk Schools Outline Capital Needs

At Wednesday’s joint meeting of the Select Board, School Committee, and Finance Committee, the Seekonk School Department shared a list of capital needs, including $725,000 in funding for the high school’s pool, along with $85,000 for repairs to the floor in the gymnasium.

At press time, it was not determined if the items had been placed on the warrant for the November 10 Fall Town Meeting.

Ryan McGee, the Business Administrator for the school district, explained an air handling unit on the roof of the high school needs to be replaced. McGee noted the system was dated, needs frequent maintenance, and is at the end of life.

“Without a functioning air handling unit, the pool will become unusable due to the buildup of toxic chemicals,” McGee noted.

Superintendent Rebecca Kidwell explained that the school department has focused on making the pool a source of community engagement. Trained lifeguards provided swim lessons to children and adolescents.

“If the community still views (the pool) as a resource, we would like to keep it in play,” Kidwell said. “I think it’s something that makes Seekonk High unique, something that we’re proud of, and it’s something that we can use more effectively.”

“We are trying to provide quality programming that other school districts don’t have,” said School Committee Chair Robert Gerardi, adding the use of the pool for athletic competitions and other events is a source of revenue.

Select Board chair Michelle Hines asked Kidwell for a specific dollar amount of how much revenue had been generated.

Kidwell pledged to share those figures at a future meeting.

The pool funding was met with some resistance from a member of the Finance Committee.

“In good conscience, I can’t sit before the taxpayers (at town meeting) and say this is a good use of funds,” said Michael Brady. “If we have to close (the pool), then we have to close it. I feel bad for the swim team. I really do but not every school has a swim team. It’s a luxury, something that makes us a little unique but I would say many districts the size of Seekonk do not have a swim team.”

The school department is also estimating a cost of $975,000 to resurface the Martin Elementary parking lot, which has “substantial cracks, potholes, curbing deformity, and patches,” according to McGee.

“It’s a safety need,” Kidwell said, noting other avenues could be explored, such as combining the resurfacing with other projects or looking for better quotes. “We’re completely willing to do more work with this. I just wanted to share it with you tonight as an identified need.”

In addition, the school department had hoped to secure $88, 569 for Phase two of TV17 PEG funding, specifically upgrades to broadcast equipment in the high school auditorium, gymnasium, press box, and television studio.

McGee noted the equipment currently used is “dated, unreliable, and crashes regularly.”

Phase one of the PEG funding has already been completed.

“We’ve made some great progress and hope to continue to do so,” McGee added.