To the editor: Opposition to the change in school start times has been surprising to many of us.

It is surprising to my family, because we’ve been watching the school committee consider this change for years. We have been happily, passively, hoping it would happen. We were grateful and relieved when the committee voted for the new schedule to begin this fall. Our town elects people who make decisions based on science and the public good. Progress! Hooray!

But now, so many people are speaking out against the new schedule. At school committee meetings, it is painful to witness their indignation and shock. But let’s remember the folks speaking out against the change are, by definition, the people most highly motivated to keep the old schedule. It works for them. They are thriving! They don’t want it to be ruined.

This is an admirable group of students, teachers, and parents. They are doing incredibly well with the current schedule: their hard work, their championships, their AP classes, their leadership, their meals together, and their professional achievements are mind-boggling. Meanwhile, students and parents of students who are struggling with the current schedule are, understandably, less likely to speak up about it. For them, there’s not much material to share on the town hall microphone.

The desire of the outspoken opponents to keep the old schedule does not outweigh the common good. And we should have no doubt that these high-achievers will continue to be awesome, at any and every o’clock.

Katy Killilea

Barrington