Seekonk Schools Approve School Choice

The Seekonk School Committee approved the district’s entry into the state’s School Choice program by a vote of 3 to 2 Monday.

Chairman Bob Gerardi, Lisa Rizzo, and Alicia MacManus voted in the affirmative with Kyle Juckett and Emily Field in opposition.

MacManus amended her initial motion to designate five open seats for each grade level at Seekonk High School through the 2028-2029 school year.

Superintendent Rebecca Kidwell said each student accepted under School Choice is accompanied by a $5000 yearly tuition revenue from the state. Additional special education costs can also be reimbursed by the state.

Students who are admitted under School Choice have the same rights as local residents in remaining with the district through graduation.

Opponents of School Choice spoke during a Public Hearing at the May 19 committee meeting.

“By enabling School Choice, you are setting the district at a deficit,” said David Andrade. “Every student that goes through our school system costs us $18,000 a year.”

Gerardi believes School Choice is necessary: “It’s declining enrollment at the high school which does reduce opportunities for our students. Not all of our programs are full.”

Kidwell said three programs will not be run in the fall due to lack of enrollment. Only five students enrolled in Project Lead the Way medical interventions. Only 12 students enrolled in Economics. Only three students enrolled in Accounting.

The vote will recur during the 2025-2026 school year in preparation for 2026-2027. By law, the committee must hold a public hearing and vote each year.

Opponents of School Choice took to social media to urge the committee to rescind their vote.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) states:

“If the new vote of the school committee occurs before June 1, it overrides the previous vote. Students who are already participating in the school choice program, or who were admitted prior to the new vote, have a right to continue attending school in the receiving district. If the new vote of the school committee occurs on or after June 1, it is ineffective and the district remains a school choice district for the upcoming school year.”

“If there are more applicants than seats available, the receiving district must conduct a random selection process prior to July 1 and again, assuming there are seats available, prior to November 1. Once names are selected during a random process, the district can maintain a waitlist of those names and admit students from that list during the year should seats become available.”