Good News for Seekonk Schools

The Seekonk Public Schools may be receiving more state aid this year, according to Superintendent Rebecca Kidwell.

“The preliminary Governor’s local aid proposal for Chapter 70 is about $100-150,000 higher than what we received last year,” Kidwell said at the February 2 school committee meeting.

“Additionally, unrestricted government aid and exemptions related to aid for elderly groups have also gone up, so overall, aid to the Town of Seekonk in the preliminary estimate is almost $250,000 higher than what it was this time last year. That’s a really good sign. It’s not the end of the process. We have to go through the House budget, the Senate budget, the conference committee. For me, this number is a cause for optimism.”

Kidwell said the school department would be meeting to discuss the Fy’27 budget with both the Select Board and the Finance Committee.

Kidwell explained the final FY’26 Chapter 70 award to the town was $8,276,778. 

“The current preliminary amount in the FY27 Governor's Local Aid Proposal is $8,428,128.  The town determines how Chapter 70 funds are expended within the realm of education budgeting, so some may go to TriCounty or other educational expenses.”

In addition, the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) will be accepting a proposal for Seekonk High School. The 2026 Core program application process is now open with the MSBA.

“In accepting us with the opportunity to explore high school grades in a joint campus. That will have undergone all the appropriate funding and vetting so we will doing that over the coming months,” Kidwell noted. “We will be bringing that to you and to the Select Board for a vote.”

“We do not presently have any plans to reconfigure Seekonk High to include an additional grade,” Kidwell said on Wednesday. “We look forward to starting our work with the MSBA and exploring options to meet our community's space needs.”