To the editor:

I would like to thank all that supported the motion made at the recent Financial Town Meeting to reduce the school budget by $246,000. I fully comprehend that the school budget is a bottom line budget and $246,000 represents the cost of the new buses being added for the new 8:35 HS/MS start time initiative.

We all need to start attending the school committee meetings to recommend the school committee do the right thing and cut the money from new buses and leave the scheduling alone.

This cut made some people very unhappy, especially the people who are calling me a bully or accusing me of being part of a special interest group. If I am part of a special interest group, Mrs. Lauria, what does that make you? Wouldn’t pushing for later start times be a special interest? As for me, my personal agenda is to reduce taxes and support youth and high school sports. Science has proven high school athletics increase academic performance, reduces teen stress and helps create well rounded students.

As for a response to Mrs. Crain about how I could cut money from the school budget being a member of the boosters and the turf field ad hoc committee. Those two boards have nothing to do with the school budget as you suggest in your post on social media. In the future please get your facts straight before you post. Also, you failed to mention to your audience that in addition to those two boards I am also a member of the trails ad hoc committee.

As for being called a bully. I feel far from a bully. How about the SST supporter at the FTM yelling at Mr. Bickford regarding a recent letter to the editor from the teachers union published by the Barrington Times?

The people voted by almost a 2 to 1 margin that they feel enough is enough, leave our school schedule the same. We are a blue ribbon school. We rank 189th out of 23,000 high schools per the recent report by US News. Our teachers do amazing things with our children and spend countless hours before and after school. Our teachers need to be heard regarding the start time project.

In my opinion if the school committee follows through with the SST time it will further divide our town. As for the FTM vote, I feel the majority ruled and came out to support the cut because they don’t want the School Committee to move forward with this costly initiative. If they do not believe me then put it on a town wide referendum and put this to rest once and for all.

This town has spent countless monies the past few years on new buildings and state mandates. It is time for once to consider the taxpayers. 

I know you will come back and say it is medically recommended, but so is diet and exercise. Maybe you should not try to dictate to parents what their kids can eat or drink (as in removing chocolate milk from the schools) or telling the town what time our kids should go to school. 

The last I knew this is a free country not a dictatorship led by a minority of individuals in this town, four of whom have taken over the School Committee.

So people of Barrington please attend the school committee meetings and email the school committee regarding what you think should be cut for $246,000.  

The next meeting is Thursday, May 30 at 7 p.m. 

Thomas Rimoshytus

Barrington