Seekonk Town Officials Discuss School Repairs

The Board of Selectmen expressed concern over the cost of needed school building repairs in a discussion Wednesday with Superintendent Rich Drolet. The price tag for a new heating system for Hurley Middle School will cost over $6 million. The school department will be applying for funding through the MSBA (Massachusetts School Building Authority). Drolet said even if the school department gets partial funding, it would not likely happen for at least five years and the town would be asked to pay a portion of the total amount for the heating/HVAC system.

Selectman David Viera felt five years was too long to wait for reimbursement. “Anything that’s of a dire need or dire emergency, I’d just assume see us fix it now and cut our losses,” Viera said. “I don’t want to put the (students) in jeopardy.”

Selectmen chairman Justin Sullivan urged caution in how the town approaches the repairs of the aging school buildings. “There needs to be a careful study to it and make sure we’re taking the right course,” Sullivan said. “It’s a roll of the dice whether or not we’re going to get (the state funding) in five years and the system’s not going to make it that long.”  

"Long term planning needs continue to be a priority,” said school committee chair Kim Sluter. “We satisfied short term and long term elementary building needs with the modulars and the Aitken Expansion project.  As the Town evaluates large capital improvement items (HMS Heating system) we will need to consider the long term plan for HMS and SHS.  It is likely that the first step will be to form some type of School Building Feasibility committee this fall and I encourage representation from other Town Boards and community members.”

Drolet said the 2022 school budget is $30 million, a three percent increase over the 2021 budget of $29.2 million. A vote on the budget will be held at Monday’s school committee meeting.