To the editor:

As a multigenerational Democrat, I have usually been a reliable Democratic voter. I voted for all 5 Democratic members of the current school committee and I regret four of those votes (Patrick McCrann being the exception). Here is a review of what the Gina Bae/Megan Douglas led school committee has “accomplished” in their efforts to “fix” the #1 school district in the state:

1. Removal of conceptual classes, impacting those most at risk, during the early days of COVID.

2. Removal of honors debacle that will negatively impact over 100 kids when applying for colleges and merit scholarships, relative to prior years.

3. Reduced busing capacity without proper notice, negatively impacting families and the safety of our kids.

4. The pursuit of a myriad of lawsuits costing taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars.

5. Record number of teacher resignations.

6. Inadequate response to hiring an 8th grade Purple Cluster math teacher, resulting in months of lost math instruction.  

7. Plans to eliminate Nayatt and Sowams as neighborhood schools without community input.

8. A large group of teachers attending a school committee meeting to voice their frustrations with the administration and school committee.

9. Plans to build an Early Learning Center (for pre-K and K), only recently hearing from RIDE that mixed modality (private and public options) is actually best practice.

10. Purposeful overcrowding of Primrose Hill School through optional pre-K expansion, at the expense of K-3 students.

11. Misrepresenting information relating to universal pre-K, which is still a proposed bill at the state house. 

This is a shocking amount of chaos for our school district to absorb!   

In the two years I have been regularly attending school committee meetings, rarely has the focus been on actually educating our students. And, the pattern of rubber stamping anything that comes from the administration must stop.

It is past time for new leadership. I have looked at the four candidates running and I am supporting Independents Frazier Bell and TJ Peck. They speak of transparency, community input, and accountability. Rather than dismantle things that have worked well in our schools, they want to bring needed improvements like affordable (budget-neutral) afterschool care, common-sense investment in our buildings, and the addition of a non-voting teacher representative to the school committee.

Our town does not need more of the current failed policies of this school committee and it appears that Democratic candidates Margaret Reid and Rudy Seder will continue these failed policies. Both candidates support the elimination of neighborhood schools (despite the acknowledged “flaws”) and continuing to fight the myriad of lawsuits. Additionally, Margaret Reid supports the administration’s decision to prioritize optional pre-K expansion over a classroom for third-graders. She was also the only parent to speak at a school committee meeting in favor of the removal of honors classes. Rudy Seber is an unknown candidate, and I wonder if he is aware of the issues and I have never seen him attend a school committee meeting.

We need informed candidates with good ideas. I am a Democrat voting for change; vote for Independents Peck and Bell.

Devyn Smith

Barrington