Seekonk School Committee Split on Budget

The Seekonk School Committee adopted the FY’24 budget of $36 million by a vote of 3 to 2. Chair Meaghan Mahoney, Noah Escaler, and Kyle Juckett voted in favor, with Kim Sluter and Emily Field in opposition.

“I feel strongly that we’re not doing right by all the (students) to vote for the budget as it currently stands,” Sluter said Monday.

“We need to try to figure this out for now in the hope that moving forward we have to try to make sure we have a budget that is sustainable,” Mahoney said.

The majority of the budget, $23.9 million, is for instruction. $1.7 million is for administration. $4 million is for pupil services and $2.3 million is to pay for maintenance and utilities. There will be a projected increase in state aid of $578, 354 for a total of $7, 754,874.

Teachers and parents had expressed their anger about proposed cuts to the arts programs at Seekonk High School. One of the speakers said it would be a “devastating loss” for the students.

Superintendent Rich Drolet explained some positions were being eliminated in order to make up for a $320,000 shortfall. Drolet suggested removing a second school resource officer from the budget in order to keep the second art teacher position at the high school. Positions which were also cut included a district wide administrative assistant, a Hurley Middle School library specialist, and part-time school nurses.

“We’re open to feedback on lines in the budget,” Drolet said. Sluter encourages parents to attend the spring town meeting to voice their concerns on the budget. “I’m hoping that we could all work together,” Sluter added.