Modular Units Only Temporary, Sluter Says

Seekonk School committee chair Kim Sluter explained the installation of two modular units at Martin and Aitken elementary schools was intended to be temporary. “Seekonk families have been advocating for lowering class sizes which is what's best for students,” Sluter explained. “Over the last several years we've added additional teachers and classrooms at the elementary level. The school committee considered the option to extend the lease or purchase the Martin school modular unit during meetings held in November and December of 2021. It ultimately passed (by) a four to one vote.”

The 10 classroom addition to Aitken School opened last September. The project cost $11 million.

During a discussion with the committee Wednesday, Selectman David Andrade said a modular unit had been paid for with the school district's operating budget which had resulted in an erosion of trust.

Selectmen Chairman Justin Sullivan said Thursday that the two boards are working well together.

“The discussion of the modulars last night was a rare lapse in communication and alignment between the BOS and School Department's capital needs,” Sullivan noted. “There is no reason to expect this matter impairing the hard work in recent years between the BOS and School Committee. If anything, we are confident that it will serve as a learning experience to help improve our communication and working relationship going forward.”

Superintendent Rich Drolet meets with Town Administrator Shawn Cadime on a quarterly basis and will “begin to meet more frequently to discuss school department capital improvement needs,” Sluter added.