Seekonk High School Expansion Possible       

The expansion of Seekonk High School is one of the possibilities being shared with the Massachusetts School Building Authority.

The School Committee voted 4 – 0 Monday to send three options to the MSBA.

In one scenario for exploration, the high school could be expanded to serve Grades 6 – 12, with clear separation between the middle grades and the upper grades.

Another option is a renovated or new middle school serving Grades 6 through 8.

The final option for exploration, if the Town is invited to the MSBA program this winter, is a Grades 5 through 8 middle school.

Last month, the committee opted not to vote on proposed grade reconfigurations for the 2026-2027 academic year. One proposal involved moving fifth grade students to Hurley Middle School and eighth grade students at Hurley Middle School to Seekonk High School. Another proposal would have designated Aitken Elementary School for students in pre-kindergarten through Grade 2 and Martin Elementary School for students in Grades three through five. Listening sessions for parents were held at the district’s four schools.

The school committee applied to the MSBA (Massachusetts School Building Authority) last April to address building needs. The MSBA requested additional information about the community’s hopes for this project to meet identified needs, such as overcrowding at the elementary level and the outdated heating system at Hurley Middle School. A survey regarding the use of Hurley was sent out to the community with a deadline of October 2.

Results of the survey were summarized at Monday’s meeting, along with the results of the three public meetings of the Buildings and Facilities Subcommittee. The community survey and meetings both yielded a preference for a traditional elementary/middle/high structure, as well as the suggestion for a campus that serves upper and middle grades while keeping them separated.

One proposal that the MSBA will not support right now is the district moving the middle grades into the existing high school and work towards a new facility for Grades 9 through 12. “I would be really reluctant to withdraw from the process right now,” Superintendent Rebecca Kidwell said. “I think we do have other good options still on the table to explore with them based on our existing application and how far they’ve accepted us so far.”

Kidwell noted plans for a reconfiguration of the high school would be “a separate Statement of Interest down the road, if the district is not selected this year.”

“The options that the district shared with the MSBA reflect what we would like to explore if invited to the Core Program,” Kidwell explained. “The MSBA will decide whether or not to invite Seekonk to the program between now and December.  If we receive an invitation, it will be for the Hurley Middle School with additional consideration for any other grades that the MSBA's budget would allow.  The MSBA will not choose an option for us, but they may issue an invitation that narrows the project that could be completed and reimbursed with them.”

“The cost of any option highly dependent upon choices that the Building Committee will make during the project, especially with information from the Feasibility Study that the MSBA will assist us with administering.  The information we learn during that process will ensure that the Building Committee, School Committee, Select Board, Finance Committee, and Town voters can make the most informed decision possible about what is best for our community, both educationally and fiscally. The total timeline to complete an MSBA project is generally five to seven years from the time we accept the invitation to completion and opening of the updated school.”

Both Kidwell and the School Committee are looking forward to community, staff, and student feedback on future decisions.

“We’ve got to make sure that’s what the town wants to do and that the town sees the value in that,” Kidwell added.