Two large excavators framed the podium — a fitting backdrop for the official groundbreaking of the Barrington Public Schools construction project.

In front of a large crowd gathered outside Barrington High School on Wednesday morning, June 10, Barrington School Committee Chairman TJ Peck said the project was a milestone for the school district and the community. 

"Today is far bigger than simply the start of construction. It reflects our community's commitment to preserving what makes Barrington special while preparing our schools for the future,” Peck said.

During an interview shortly after officials took their ceremonial first shovels full of dirt, Peck explained how the multi-school construction project was a “handoff between generations.”

“You reflect on the last sizable investment being in the 1950s, and that Barrington Public Schools was the engine that created Barrington as we know it today,” Peck said. “And taking those buildings, preserving them, because we know the neighborhood schools are the fabric and heart and soul of Barrington, and then moving forward and bringing the buildings into 21st century learning to position for the next 75 years. It’s this crossroads, pivotal moment in time, and I think that the groundbreaking today allowed us all to reflect on that — that passing the torch through the generations.”

Peck was one of the local and state officials to speak during the groundbreaking. He thanked all the people who helped make the project possible — the construction partners, school officials, superintendents, the state education commissioner, school committee members, and more. 

He also praised and thanked Barrington residents for their support, including their overwhelming support of the $250 million school construction bond. 

For Peck, the opportunity to play a role in the school construction project was humbling. 

“For me, my children are going to be fourth generation Barrington Public School students, and Barrington Public Schools is really a big part of my family realizing the American Dream,” he said. “To kind of pay that forward is something that I think I’m really proud of, everyone involved in the project and candidly the entire community of Barrington should be really proud of as well.”

The project includes the renovation and expansion of Barrington High School, Primrose Hill Elementary School, Nayatt Elementary School, and Sowams Elementary School. When the construction is completed, the three elementary schools will host students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, preserving the neighborhood schools model.

The $250 million project is the largest school facilities investment in the district's history and follows years of planning, community engagement, and collaboration among local and state partners. The project partners include LeftField Project Management, Shawmut Design and Construction, and Tecton Architects. 

A press release from the district detailed some of the improvements included in the plan: Secure entrances and modernized safety systems, enhanced accessibility, state-of-the-art science and technology learning spaces, flexible classrooms designed to support collaboration and innovation, expanded special education and intervention spaces, larger cafeterias and gymnasiums, modern playgrounds, and additional classroom capacity to accommodate future enrollment needs. 

“The project also includes upgraded heating, cooling, and clean-air systems that will create healthier learning environments while significantly reducing energy consumption and operating costs,” stated the release. 

Excitement building

Rhode Island Commissioner of Education Angélica Infante-Green shared in the building excitement for the Barrington School construction project. Infante-Green said her first-ever school construction ground-breaking event in Rhode Island was for the Barrington Middle School project. She said she was happy to be back in town for another exciting district improvement. 

“We’re proud to join Barrington for the official groundbreaking of its new high school. We know that when construction is aligned with high-quality instruction, both students and educators benefit. This new high school will bring 21st-century design to life, preparing students to thrive in the classroom and beyond,” she said. 

Barrington Town Councilor Kerry O’Neill attended the groundbreaking as well. 

“I am the parent of a rising freshman. I’ll proudly say I’m very excited to be here, and I’ll echo everything that people said here. Somebody said the schools are the lifeblood of Barrington. It’s true. Many of us are here for our children,” O’Neill said. “My wife had a job at Brown University and we were looking around the state of Rhode Island for where to live. Barrington’s the crown jewel of the education system here. On top of it, it looks like this! It’s a beautiful place. 

“I’m excited for everyone here and selfishly happy that my son will get to benefit from the school in his final two years.”

Barrington High School Principal Chris Ashley said the early staging work on the campus has made it feel like the construction project has already started. 

“I am so, so excited, obviously for our students, but also for our teachers. And then, as you heard today, just the community. It makes me feel proud that I’m part of the community. We couldn’t have done it without the community, without our parents and community support. Just to make the level of investment is really impressive,” Ashley said. 

“You heard it today — the paying it forward, it’s just so true. This is a once in a generation investment. Think about the thousands of kids who are going to benefit. It’s just very, very exciting.”

Ashley was spotted carrying one of the ceremonial shovels back to the high school office following the event. 

“So, we’re going to memorialize it. I’m going to see if the wood shop can engrave the date (on the handle),” he said, adding that he was recently given a ceremonial shovel from the previous high school addition project from the late 1990s. He hopes to display both shovels inside the school. 

One of the many people to attend Wednesday’s event was the district’s new superintendent, Dr. Holly Hageman. Her first official day as Barrington superintendent is July 20. She said it is an exciting time to be joining the school district. 

“It is overwhelming. And at the same time it’s overwhelmingly wonderful,” Dr. Hageman said. “And I’m just so impressed with the commitment and the effort, the community spirit looking forward to the future, and coming in at this juncture, to be part of helping to plan to bring all that’s possible to fruition. It is overwhelming, but it’s overwhelmingly good.”

Other voices

Barrington High School sophomores Grace Lunardelli and John Merkel served as emcees for the groundbreaking ceremony, which also featured the singing of the National Anthem by the BHS Choral Ensemble. 

Interim Superintendent Bob Mitchell, former Barrington School Committee Chair and School Building Committee Chair Patrick McCrann, Sowams Elementary School parent Alyssa Coffey, Primrose Hill teacher Jessika Garcia, and Nayatt School Principal Melissa Moniz offered speeches during the event. 

Coffey said it was difficult to express how much it means to families like hers for the Barrington community to invest in her children’s education through new and innovative spaces. 

“My husband and I share an immense amount of excitement and pride for not only our three children, but also for future generations of Barrington students to come,” she said.