Kids Go Back to School in Barrington

There were plenty of smiles to go around -- and a couple of tears -- when the Barrington schools opened their doors this morning, Aug. 26, for the 2013-2014 academic year.

Pupils and hundreds of parents at Sowams and Hampden Meadows Elementary schools, for instance, were greeted by principals and staff when they reached the front doors. In all cases, the parents were allowed to escort their children to their classrooms or to a waiting area in the playground for at least this first day.

Motorists are being asked by Barrington Police Chief John LaCross to lower their speeds as they approach all of the schools.

"All this week," LaCross said, "I will have our patrols posted near the school zones running radar as it is reduced to 20 mph.  For the safety of our students -- hundreds of kids will be walking or riding their bicycles to and from school this fall -- residents should drive slowly as they approach our schools as the posted speed limit drops to 20 mph while schools are in session.”