Seekonk Public Schools is a school district that serves Seekonk, Massachusetts. It currently operates four schools, and serves Pre-K to 12th grade. The superintendent of schools is Ms Madeline Meyer.
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One of the school district's oldest schools was Anne C. Greene Elementary school, which opened in the late 19th or early 20th century. This school served the town's southern student population. North Elementary School was opened in 1916, and served the North section of town. Also around this time, Pleasant Street Elementary School was opened in the South end. In the 1930s, the district opened Monroe Corners school in the south end and the Newman Avenue school in the center part of town. The Seekonk Junior High school opened in 1952. A second building was opened at the Newman Avenue School in 1959. Some time after, it was named after its longtime principal, Mildred H. Aitken. In the mid 1960s, the high school students who attended school at East Providence High School in nearby East Providence, Rhode Island were moved to the newly opened Seekonk High School.
By 1968, the elementary schools in the south end were crowded, and the students were incorporated into George R. Martin Elementary school. An addition to Martin School was added soon after construction, along with small expansions to the Junior High School and North School. The school administration was moved to the closed Monroe Corners school.
By the 1990s, the district's schools had fallen into disrepair and a district-wide renovation project was started, with North School the first to be completed in 1993. In 1997, the Junior High School (then renamed Seekonk Middle School) and Aitken School were renovated and expanded. To make room for Aitken School's addition, the original 1930s building was torn down. Martin School and the High School were the last to be completed, in 2001.
In 2004, the town's longtime superintendent, Dr. Kevin Hurley, died from cancer at age 52. The Middle School was renamed in his honor. He was succeeded by the Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Raleigh Buchanan. In 2006, the town of Seekonk ran into a budget crisis and, after a town vote, the school department laid off many staff and was forced to close North Elementary School and the Administration Building. Superintendent Buchanan then left, and was temporarily replaced with former Middle School principal, Dr. Peter Andreozzi and then the High School's disciplinarian, Dr. Emile Chevrette. However, in August 2009, Cheverette retired and was succeeded by Ms. Madeline Meyer of New Jersey.
The Seekonk Public School department operates a fleet of 22 buses, currently 14 of these are 77 passenger (full-size). Starting in the 1980s, mini passenger buses were used to transport special education students out of the district. Buses equipped with wheel chair lifts are also used. From the 2004 to 2006 school years, transportation fees were required, however in 2007, extra money was allocated to provide free transportation again, most sports fees were also dropped. Starting with the 2011-2012 school year, transportation for the school district will be provided by Tremblay's Bus Co. LLC.
Full-Sized buses:
| Years In Service |
Fleet Number(s) |
MY/Make/Model | Capacity | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986-1995 | 21, 22 | 1986 Wayne Lifeguard/1986 International S-1700 | 70 Passenger | 7.3L 8 Cylinder Diesel |
| 1987-2002 | 4 | 1987 Wayne Lifeguard/1987 International S-1700 | 70 Passenger | 7.3L 8 Cylinder Diesel |
| 1988-2007 | 1, 5, 12, 19 | 1988 Wayne Lifeguard/1989 International 3700 | 70 Passenger | 7.3L 8 Cylinder Diesel |
| 1989-2001 | 6, 7, 8, 14, 17 | 1989 Ward Volunteer/1988 International S-1700 | 70 Passenger | 7.3L 8 Cylinder Diesel |
| 1994-2009 | 10, 11 | 1994 Thomas Conventional/1994 Ford B-700 | 77 Passenger | 5.9L 6 Cylinder Diesel |
| 1995-2009 | 2, 3 | 1994 Thomas Conventional/1994 Ford B-700 | 77 Passenger | 5.9L 6 Cylinder Diesel |
| 1996-Present | 9, 17 | 1996 AmTran Volunteer/1996 Ford B-800 | 77 Passenger | 5.9L 6 Cylinder Diesel |
| 2001-2011 | 6, 7, 8, 14 | 2002 Blue Bird All American FE | 77 Passenger | 5.9L 6 Cylinder Diesel |
| 2002-2011 | 1, 4, 5, 12 | 2003 Blue Bird All American FE | 77 Passenger | 5.9L 6 Cylinder Diesel |
| 2008-2011 | 3 | 2009 Blue Bird All American FE | 77 Passenger | 6.7L 6 Cylinder Diesel |
| 2009-2011 | 2, 10, 11 | 2009 Blue Bird All American FE | 77 Passenger | 6.7L 6 Cylinder Diesel |
As of the summer of 2011, Tremblay's Bus Co, LLC has possession of all the school buses used in the 2010-2011 school year. The buses are now replaced with 2011 Amtran IC CE models.
Mini Passenger buses:
| Years In Service |
Fleet Number(s) |
MY/Make/Model | Capacity | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989-2001 | M3 | 1989 Ward Vanguard/1989 GMC V30 | 16 | 6.2L 6 Cylinder Diesel |
| 1992-2001 | M1, M2, M4 | 1992 Carpenter Classmate/1992 Chevrolet V30 | 16 Passenger | 6.2L 6 Cylinder Diesel |
| 1996-2002 | M6, M7 | 1996 Mid Bus Guide/1996 GMC V30 | 16 Passenger | |
| 1997-2002 | M8 | 1997 Mid Bus Guide/1997 GMC V30 | 16 Passenger | |
| 1999-2007 | M2, M4 | 1999 Thomas Minotour/1999 GMC 3500 | ||
| 2001-Present | M1, M3 | 2002 Blue Bird Micro Bird/2002 GMC 3500 | ||
| 2002-Present | M6, M7, M8 | 2003 Blue Bird Micro Bird/2003 Chevrolet 3500 | ||
| 2007-Present | M2 | 2007 Blue Bird Micro Bird/2007 GMC 3500 | 23 Passenger | |
| 2011-Present | V1 | Ford E-Series | 15 passenger van |
Handicap buses
| Years In Service |
Fleet Number(s) |
MY/Make/Model | Capacity | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992-2001 | M5 | 1992 Carpenter Classmate/1992 Chevrolet V30 | 6.2L 6 Cylinder Diesel | |
| 2001-Present | M5 | 2002 Blue Bird Micro Bird Handy Bus/2002 GMC 3500 | 13 Passenger | |
| 2007-Present | M4 | 2007 Blue Bird Micro Bird Handy Bus/2007 Chevrolet 3500 | ||
| 2008-Present | M9 | 2004 Blue Bird Micro Bird Handy Bus/2004 Chevrolet 3500 | ||
| 2009-Present | M10 | 2009 Girardin G5/2009 GMC 3500 |