To the editor:

The following is a joint statement issued by TJ Peck and Frazier Bell who are running a coordinated campaign as independent candidates for the Barrington School Committee.

We are running to ensure transparency and community partnership in both the Barrington School Committee and the Barrington School System. We believe the politicization of School Committee decisions and public discourse has had a harmful effect on our school system, caused unnecessary division within our community and has set a poor example for students. We believe that the School Committee should be working for all members of the Barrington Community and that this should be done with an open mind and the desire and ability to hear all parents, students, educators, and citizens that bring their ideas and concerns before the committee, and we believe this is best accomplished by removing political affiliation from the committee.

While many in the community have valid concerns about the lack of community partnership and accountability that we have seen from members of the current Barrington School Committee, we are concerned that the personal attacks and vitriol we sometimes see on the national political landscape have begun to invade our neighbor-centric community. We can disagree on policy, but those that volunteer their time to serve on public boards and committees should be treated with neighborly respect and dignity. We are listening closely as people throughout Barrington share their thoughts about our schools, and we see so much common ground that we can build upon. A letter to the editor regarding Barrington Public Schools was printed in the Barrington Times on April 12 and was signed by over 500 Barrington residents from diverse backgrounds. We believe this confirms and illustrates that more unites us than divides us.  

The Barrington School Committee oversees the Barrington educational system and is entrusted by Barrington residents to provide oversight and strategic guidance on the education of Barrington Students. Learning by example is part of the educational process, and as a community we must always be mindful of the example we set for students as we navigate a better path forward for Barrington Public Schools. Let’s focus on making this positive change happen at the ballot box in November.

TJ Peck 

Barrington

Frazier Bell

Barrington