To the editor:

We agree that our neighborhood schools need to be updated and potentially even rebuilt. Yet, we hope we can keep just that - our neighborhood schools. One of the most important factors in real estate and home valuation is location. Many of the new homebuyers in Barrington are drawn to our incredible community for our renowned school system. What sets Barrington apart from other communities is our small neighborhood elementary schools. It is a direct driver for home valuation and why people choose Barrington over other similar towns. 

It is an amazing sight to see many children biking to school and young families walking to school each day. But, we also agree with many that it is not as much about being close enough to walk to school, but more about the early sense of community that these smaller schools offer our younger children and their families in town. They serve our children well and they offer young learners and families the connectedness that only a small school can foster. As well, the community events from the Nayatt 5K to the Sowams Oktoberfest to the Primrose Pumpkin Stroll are beloved and important building blocks for our neighborhoods and the sense of community pride we feel living here - no matter which neighborhood we call home. 

That all said, the primary reason we want to maintain our neighborhood schools is much simpler. They work. Our small elementary schools are the fabric of this community and have a direct impact on our property values. We want to see building plans that invest in our schools, without removing what makes Barrington a town so many want to call home.

We began to investigate more deeply into the process that led our current School Committee to support Plan 2B which replaces our four neighborhood schools with two much larger schools. To say that we have been shocked by the lack of community engagement and needed analysis that led to the current selection of Option 2B is an understatement. 

So, along with a small group of fellow concerned residents, neighbors and friends we organized all the relevant research which you can see by visiting the website, www.OurSchools2022.com. We implore everyone to understand what Plan 2B means and what can be done on Election Day (November 8th) to hit pause and further investigate. TJ Peck and Frazier Bell - candidates for Barrington School Committee - along with current member Patrick McCrann are committed to hitting pause and gathering more community input and re-evaluating the options before moving forward. Together, this team of three will make a case for much needed school infrastructure investment and do so in a way that takes into account all associated costs and trade offs that impact the future of our beautiful town.

Elizabeth Kirk

Barrington

Lisa Schryver

Barrington