Kate Pearse, one of the top runners on the Barrington High School track and field team, recently thanked Frazier Bell and TJ Peck for their service on the Barrington School Committee.

She was not alone. 

During the meeting on Thursday night, Nov. 12, a handful of people recognized Bell and Peck, as it was their final school committee meeting. Peck and Bell were elected to the Barrington School Committee in 2022, and did not run for re-election this fall.

Pearse, a senior at Barrington High School, was the first to thank the school committee members on Thursday night. During the first public comment portion of the meeting, Pearse approached the microphone. 

“I want to thank Mr. Peck and Mr. Bell for all the work they did to advocate and get the new track and turf facility,” she said. 

Peck and Bell played key roles in the creation of the renovated Victory Field athletic complex at Barrington High School. They led the effort to use money from the school district’s capital reserve account to pay for the renovation. The official vote to renovate the stadium field and track took place in July 2024. 

“I’m sure I can speak for everyone on the track team when I say we greatly appreciate it, and it makes the biggest difference,” Pearse said. 

For years, athletes and coaches and parents had complained about the condition of the track and athletic field at BHS. Dozens of students crowded into the school committee meeting in July 2024 when the project was approved.  

Maura McCrann also spoke during public comment. The wife of former Barrington School Committee Chairman Patrick McCrann spoke about some of the issues Peck and Bell had been involved with: diversity of classes at the high school; school safety; the effort to preserve the neighborhood school model. 

“It’s really been amazing for our community,” she said. 

McCrann, with help from Neile Hartman, shared small gifts and hugs with Peck and Bell. (Hartman, who recently earned a seat on the Barrington Town Council, played a key role in Bell’s and Peck’s campaigns for school committee.)

Barrington Superintendent of Schools Dr. Holly Hageman also recognized the outgoing school committee members. She read a statement acknowledging Peck’s and Bell’s work with the district, including the $250 million school construction project — the largest facilities investment in Barrington’s history, she said. 

Hageman also handed out to Peck and Bell commendations from the Rep. Jennifer Boylan and Rep. Jason Knight. 

The seats vacated by Peck and Bell will be filled by Adam Stearnbourne and Sarah Whiting. The two Democrats ran unopposed this fall.