To the editor:

Barrington is an idyllic town with many offerings, but at the heart of its delicate ecosystem is the aspiration for high-functioning public schools­­—it is what makes Barrington most desirable. 

Prior to the election of Independents Peck and Bell two years ago, we had an all-Democrat committee that was plagued by so much community frustration and outrage that 100+ parents were on school committee Zoom meetings past midnight waiting for their 3 minutes to express frustration over a range of issues including the removal of honors classes, plans to eliminate neighborhood schools, a myriad of lawsuits, Covid restrictions that were more stringent than CDC guidelines, and inadequate planning/oversight that caused overcrowding at Primrose.   Tension with the teachers was also high as educators spoke out, citing a growing divide between them and the administration and school committee.  At the heart of these problems was a high-handed arrogance by many on the committee.

As a Democrat, I am a proud supporter of Independent candidates Liz Singh and Karen Rasnick who champion many of the things I support such as academic choice (AP, honors, special ed.), building construction that best suits our student/community needs, and turf at the high school. 

However, the most compelling reason to vote for Singh & Rasnick is their commitment to collaboration and sensible decision-making that is knitted to the best interests of Barrington!  Their most distinguishing factor is that they come with the humility to acknowledge that they don’t have all of the answers, but the wisdom to understand that it takes partnership—with the community, teachers, administrators, and students—to achieve excellence and for our kids to flourish!

Shelli Edgar

Barrington