To the editor:

Recent census data states that 2,635 seniors live in Barrington (65+). Among this demographic, it's difficult to find anyone who has ever opposed the betterment of our cherished schools. Most of us, who have had the privilege of residing here for four or more decades, are proud graduates of Barrington High School, as are our children. Our deep-rooted love for our schools is unwavering, and we wholeheartedly acknowledge the incredible benefits they bring to the entire community.

However, seniors now find themselves in a heart-wrenching dilemma. We are being asked to support the current bond issue at a time when a vast majority of us are already struggling to bear the significant tax burden imposed upon us. 

Moreover, we've patiently listened to the promises of the last five town councils, each one offering mere lip service to the cause of senior housing. While we've observed the construction of affordable housing units at Palmer Pointe and Sweetbriar, and the seemingly endless saga of the Monastery and the enigmatic project at Zion, there is still no sign of any senior housing in the works.

If you're a newcomer to Barrington, I implore you to try and understand the reality we face. We genuinely wish to support this initiative, but the current estimates make it nearly impossible to do so. Just put yourself in our shoes for a moment, and you'll begin to see what we see - a community that is being stretched to its limits.

Contrary to the often-repeated suburban lore, the school committees in our town have indeed invested thousands of dollars in maintaining the district's buildings. While there are undoubtedly space needs, some of these were exacerbated by previous school committees choosing to incorporate Pre-K into schools rather than partnering with local early childcare providers. The proposed 8.5 percent increase, at best, amounts to an educated guess by N.E.S.D.E.C (we would do well to recall past estimates). Rhode Island Department of Education (R.I.D.E.) benchmarks, let us not forget, are guidelines, not laws. Barrington has, in my view, leaned far too heavily on the advice of "state experts," including those who brought us Common Core and recent COVID guidelines. Furthermore, it appears that Barrington High School, the town’s educational flagship, is receiving insufficient attention from the current School Committee. I firmly believe that the primary focus should be reversed, with the high school rightfully taking center stage.

This entire process has left me crestfallen, and I stand in opposition to the project on both moral and meritorious grounds. The request is, in all honesty, nothing short of outrageous. The plans presented to us are scant, and though there has been some improvement in transparency, the most critical fact (and ignored in the mailer), as emphasized by the C.O.A., cannot be ignored - the average homeowner will be assessed an additional $1,000 annually.

Considering these challenges, I cannot be swayed by the allure of a "shiny object" while the future of our seniors in this town remains more uncertain than ever. I plead for a more considerate and pragmatic approach to addressing the needs of our community while ensuring that the burden placed upon our seniors is both reasonable and fair.

Scott Fuller

Barrington