To the editor:

It is time for the debate to end and for the school committee to implement the schedule change to 8:30 for BMS and BHS that it committed to complete in 2016, which was unnecessarily deferred to 2017. 

The extended time has permitted divisive rhetoric to proliferate. The constant conflict around the topic is undermining the school administration, dividing our community, silencing teachers who support the change, and permitting bullying and stress for students who support the change. The undermining of the school committee and the health and wellness committee as a result of the change of heart has been relentless, divisive and disappointing. We are a community that is better than this and now is the time to stop this debate and heal our divisions.

This is not the first time Barrington has had trouble executing on its decisions — you’ll recall that the town for years teased families with the possibility of all-day kindergarten. We’re planning a new middle school building project that has been needed for so long that rumors of it attracted home-buyers for years whose window of opportunity for their children to attend a renovated middle school building is long past.

The process for the start time change involved many stakeholders and was complete, democratic and deliberate, informed by facts, and aligned with the 5-year strategic plan. Solely due to public pressure, including unfounded accusations that the process excluded teachers’ and students’ voices — the school committee supported a one year delay to assure an implementation plan was in place. An implementation plan is now in place. Stopping the process now is a failure to fulfill a commitment. Period.

Our high school and middle school students, current and future, should not have to continue to pay for the lack of follow-through on this commitment.

This year’s higher than average tax increase reflects a variety of investments in our town's future and infrastructure. These costs are no surprise to taxpayers as there have been numerous opportunities to understand the financial commitments the town needs to make to maintain the current services and fulfill its commitments. The additional costs in the budget are an inadequate justification to dismiss the work and the importance of adjusting schedules to improve students' health and academic outcomes. As we review the costs let’s not forget to look at the expenditures in this venture already made over the past six years for which taxpayers have received nothing. 

Property values, children's health and public services all benefit from the right choices and right investments. I ask the school committee to follow through and show leadership on this issue. For those citizens who did not engage during the six years of opportunity, now is the time to help find a solution, show faith in your community and your families to weather change and to stop sowing division. We are neighbors, we have chosen a wonderful community to live in and let's keep it that way.

Liana Cassar

Barrington