To the editor:

The proposed 2022-2023 school budget was presented to the Barrington School Committee on Thursday, April 28. While I am certain much time and planning went into developing this budget, the current version removes funding for a much needed additional eighth grade math teacher. As many Barrington Middle School parents are already aware, an eighth grade cluster has spent much of this school year without a math teacher. The cluster’s other teachers have been asked to pitch in and teach a subject that is not their specialty.  

The Committee on Appropriations recommended that over $533,415 be removed from the school budget. I am submitting an amendment to the town to add $118,994 back for this eighth grade math teacher. As a candidate for the school committee, I have heard personally and at school committee meetings from parents of eighth-graders about the challenges of this past year without a dedicated math teacher and the difficulty in ensuring that these students will be properly prepared for the rigors of high school mathematics. To ensure that we foster the highest quality education for our students in their journey toward high school and beyond, I would strongly urge that we include funding for this teacher as originally proposed in the 2022-2023 school budget. Per town charter, this amendment will be presented for a town vote on May 25. I would respectfully request that all concerned citizens consider attending this vote and supporting this amendment so that all students are given every opportunity to succeed.

I do want to recognize that the Committee on Appropriations made these recommendations specifically due to the impact of the pandemic on people who live in our town with fixed budgets and are trying to be very conscious of how we spend our money. I agree that we need to be fiscally responsible, and for this reason, I am not submitting an amendment to replace the entire amount. Instead, I believe we need to be strategic and support our schools, and this is the approach I will bring to the School Committee if elected this November.

Frazier Bell

Barrington