Below is a summarized version of the School Committee meeting, organized by timestamps and speakers, focusing on key points raised during the discussion in Reading, Massachusetts. This summary condenses the discussion into major themes, speaker contributions, and decisions, avoiding excessive detail while retaining the essence of the conversation. Timestamps correspond to the video linked at the bottom.
Contents
Meeting Overview
Date and Time: May 12, 2025, 7:00 PM EDT
Location: METCO Headquarters, Boston (virtual via Zoom)
Chair: Tom Wise
Attendees Present: Erin, Carla, Lara, Tom
Regrets: Shawn, Sarah
Key Staff and Guests: Dr. Thomas Milaschewski (Superintendent of Schools), Dr. Hardy (Assistant Superintendent), Jerica Santiago (METCO Co-Director), Cindy Marte (METCO Co-Director), Sonia Lumba (METCO Coordinator, Killam), Shaquanda Brown (METCO Coordinator, Barrows), Mike Kell (METCO Coordinator, Parker), Luke Ulissi (METCO Coordinator, Reading High), Tamia Jones (student representative), Ryan Johnstone (ACE Committee), Leanda Abs (Friends of Reading METCO Co-Chair), Darnell Billings (METCO Inc. Board Chair), Tracy Gamble (Boston parent and METCO Board member), Curtis Martin (former staff), Millie (outgoing METCO CEO, referenced), various parents and community members via Zoom.
Call to Order
1. Call to Order and Roll Call (2:12–2:33)
- Speaker: Tom (Chair)
- Details: Meeting called to order at 7:01 PM. Roll call confirmed attendance: Erin, Carla, Lara, Tom present; Sean and Sarah absent with regrets.
- Outcome: Meeting officially commenced.
Public Comment
2. Public Comment (2:55–5:04)
- Speaker: Tom
- Details: Opportunity for public comment on non-agenda items (2–3 minutes per speaker, requiring name, address, and topic). No comments were raised.
- Outcome: No public comments received; proceeded to next agenda item.
Consent Agenda
3. Consent Agenda (5:14–6:32)
- Speakers: Tom, Carla, Dr. Hardy
- Details:
- Motion to approve consent agenda by Tom, seconded by Carla (5:20).
- Dr. Hardy highlighted item #6: acceptance of funding transfer from the opioid settlement revolving fund to support a full-time health teacher position (previously part-time) for three years, shared across two middle schools, thanking the Reading Coalition and Erica McNamara (5:30–6:05).
- No further discussion or concerns raised.
- Roll call vote: Erin (Yes), Carla (Yes), Lara (Yes), Tom (Yes); passed 4–0 (6:24–6:32).
- Outcome: Consent agenda approved unanimously, including opioid fund transfer for health teacher position.
Student Report
4. Student Report (6:32–7:18)
- Speaker: Tamia Jones (student representative)
- Details:
- Reported upcoming events at Reading Memorial High School (RMHS):
- Dance team tryouts: June 4 and 6, 3:30–5:00 PM at Coolidge (6:48).
- Cheerleading tryouts: June 3–5, 6:00–8:00 PM at Coolidge (6:55–7:00).
- Reported upcoming events at Reading Memorial High School (RMHS):
- Outcome: Student activities updated; no action required.
Superintendent Report
5. Superintendent Report (7:35–9:48)
- Speaker: Dr. Hardy
- Details:
- Discussed focus on Boston resident students, particularly early literacy support.
- Announced a grant from Echo Inc. for online tutoring via Ignite, targeting early literacy for K–2 Boston resident students (8:01–8:08).
- Ignite’s model includes 15-minute daily online tutoring, pairing students with tutors who speak their languages (instruction in English) and align with their identities to foster engagement (8:20–9:03).
- Six Boston resident students currently participating; initial data showed half making significant progress, with a data update meeting scheduled for the next day (9:16–9:27).
- Noted a Johns Hopkins Ignite study showing positive impacts of online tutoring nationwide (10:00–10:06).
- Outcome: Highlighted ongoing literacy support initiative; no formal action taken.
Subcommittee/Liaison Reports
6. Subcommittee/Liaison Reports (10:50–13:49)
- Speakers: Erin, Carla, Tom
- Details:
- Erin: No report (10:50).
- Carla: Updated on Killam School project vote scheduled for May 15, 2025. Described a three-story, efficient, durable building with ample parking and a $44M+ state grant. If the vote fails, the district risks losing MSBA funding and program participation (11:10–12:41).
- Tom: Reported two town meeting outcomes:
- Approved financing for Killam project (158–1 vote), aligning with the upcoming vote (13:08–13:20).
- Unanimous approval of FY26 budget, effective July 2025 (13:27–13:34).
- Outcome: Updates provided on Killam project and town meeting decisions; no immediate actions.
ACE Committee Update
7. ACE Committee Update (14:01–30:31)
- Speaker: Ryan Johnstone (ACE Committee representative)
- Details:
- ACE (Ad Hoc Commemoration Establishment) Committee, known as the Bill Russell Committee, aims to honor Bill Russell’s legacy and address his mistreatment in Reading (14:07–15:43).
- Formed under the Select Board post-Russell’s death (August 2022), tasked with developing a long-term action plan, securing funding, identifying barriers for Black and Brown residents, and fostering inclusivity (14:32–15:50).
- Held four monthly meetings (January–April 2025); planned two meetings each in May and June, with events at Reading Friends and Family Day and Juneteenth (16:25–16:44).
- Developed a timeline of Russell’s life, highlighting racism faced and his basketball innovations (e.g., defensive jumping) and leadership as the first Black NBA coach (16:52–18:38).
- Proposed library collaboration for Russell-related media (documentaries, books) and a mixed media club to spark civil rights discussions (18:50–19:22).
- Sought community input for school-based art projects and broader engagement (20:17–20:34).
- Addressed funding concerns, noting the committee recommends funding to the Select Board, with a 12-month sunset from January 2025 (21:52–23:00).
- Community feedback included:
- Tom suggested a permanent exhibit room similar to METCO’s timeline display (23:25–24:29).
- A community member emphasized the need for open conversations about Russell’s treatment, citing a “deliberate silence” in Reading, and cautioned against premature statements without community buy-in (25:50–27:18).
- Lara noted many residents’ lack of awareness about Russell’s history, suggesting a general education campaign (28:58–29:38).
- Suggestions included student-written newspaper articles to engage youth (30:14–30:20).
- Outcome: ACE Committee outlined goals and sought input; no formal actions taken, but brainstorming encouraged.
Friends of Reading METCO
8. Friends of Reading METCO Discussion (30:39–1:13:09)
- Speakers: Leanda Abs (Friends of Reading METCO Co-Chair), Carla, Erin, Lara, Tom, Shaquanda Brown, Ellie (parent), others
- Details:
- Leanda Abs introduced the discussion, thanking the committee for accommodating a rescheduled date and noting increased Zoom participation (31:07–31:37).
- Responded to pre-submitted questions, aiming for a concise discussion (31:52–32:05).
- Carla (33:01–35:48):
- Credited Curtis Martin for defining a model METCO program.
- Shared a success story of a Boston resident student attending team pasta parties, emphasizing organic friendships.
- Advocated for coach and parent awareness to ensure inclusion in extracurriculars.
- Noted a decline in METCO visibility post-video campaign and urged continued promotion, especially for graduating seniors and balanced school representation.
- Erin (36:08–37:17):
- Proud of program growth and integration of a larger Boston resident population.
- Highlighted Curtis Martin’s contributions and the addition of METCO coordinators in each school as a “monumental” step for student support and staff diversification.
- Lara (37:17–39:44):
- As a new committee member, emphasized educating the broader community about METCO’s importance, noting her own learning curve.
- Observed limited integration in younger grades, suggesting efforts to foster connections early to maximize program benefits (e.g., diversity exposure).
- Tom (39:55–45:06):
- Praised growth from 40 to 100 students, positioning Reading as a model METCO program.
- Expressed ambition to be the state’s top program, not just by numbers but quality, noting 100/3,800 students is too small for true integration.
- Called for increased state funding and advocacy (noting a modest rise expected).
- Stressed academic success as critical, citing a 40–50% MCAS gap between populations as a failure until closed.
- Suggested social alignment to break physical barriers (e.g., distance) via events like kite festivals or roller skating.
- Shaquanda Brown (51:14–54:18):
- As a SOA club advisor, noted student feedback that little has changed despite increased numbers and staff.
- Raised concerns about staff diversity, questioning whether non-METCO staff of color would remain if METCO funding ceased, as students lack exposure to diverse role models.
- Highlighted delayed communication for Boston resident families, impacting extracurricular participation.
- Ellie (parent) (1:12:14–1:12:56):
- Proposed sharing job opportunity links with Boston communities (e.g., her church) to recruit diverse staff, addressing the diversity gap.
- Other Comments:
- Discussion on student feedback mechanisms, with coordinators engaging Boston residents but less with all students (47:12–50:11).
- Dr. Hardy noted a mandatory METCO orientation for new staff to address student challenges and foster support (50:31–51:07).
- Community member suggested systemic curriculum integration to engage all students in METCO discussions (48:48–49:00).
- Outcome:
- Identified successes (growth, coordinators, events) and challenges (integration, academic gaps, staff diversity, communication).
- Committed to exploring community education, student engagement, and diverse hiring via networks like Ellie’s proposal.
- No formal votes; discussion to inform future actions.
State of the METCO Program
9. State of the METCO Program (1:17:06–1:50:05)
- Speakers: Dr. Hardy, Jerica Santiago, Cindy Marte
- Details:
- Staff Introductions (1:17:56–1:18:43):
- Dr. Hardy (Superintendent), Jerica Santiago (METCO Co-Director, Coolidge), Cindy Marte (METCO Co-Director, Birch), Sonia Lumba (Killam), Shaquanda Brown (Barrows), Mike Kell (Parker), Luke Ulissi (Reading High).
- Program Enrollment (1:20:54–1:21:33):
- Current enrollment capped at 106 students due to METCO funding limits; efforts to balance across schools, with advocacy for expansion ongoing but currently stalled.
- Senior Spotlight (1:21:39–1:23:34):
- Highlighted graduating seniors: Deja Grant (Framingham State, Air Force Reserve), Kamia (Bunker Hill, ultrasound tech), Jeremiah (Wentworth, football captain), Tamia Jones (HBCU, cheer captain), Jamal Palmer Jr. (Dean College), Devon Mercy (Indico), Tavon (Wentworth, scholarship), Sydney Smiley (undecided).
- Program Updates (1:23:47–1:31:14):
- Fall Event: Hosted in Roslindale with 50+ families, arts/crafts, and soul food catering (1:23:58–1:24:32).
- Skating Night: March event in Woburn with 120+ attendees (elementary to high school), fostering staff-student engagement (1:24:53–1:25:26).
- Honor Lunches: Middle/high school recognition for effort (1:25:42–1:26:00).
- METCO Advocacy Day: Strong turnout recognized with a promised pizza party (1:26:07–1:26:34).
- Ignite Tutoring: Visuals of K–2 tutoring; middle school after-school tutoring with teacher stipends (1:26:49–1:27:26).
- End-of-Year Bash: Planned for June, with food and bouncy house for elementary/middle school students (1:27:32–1:28:04).
- Extracurricular Support: Staff attended games, dance competitions, and supported injured students (1:28:19–1:29:04).
- Code Switching Documentary: Partnered with Friends of Reading METCO, sparking community conversations (1:29:46–1:30:07).
- Family Interviews: Included Friends of METCO parents for warm handoffs to new families (1:30:34–1:31:08).
- Video Presentation (1:31:20–1:41:48):
- Featured students and staff discussing METCO’s impact, emphasizing coordinators’ support, diversity benefits, and challenges (e.g., early bus schedules).
- Teachers noted METCO’s role in broadening perspectives and building relationships.
- METCO Coordinators/SACs Impact (1:41:55–1:47:06):
- Expanded from one director to six SACs and two coordinators, funded half by district, half by METCO.
- Quotes highlighted coordinators’ roles in inclusivity, emotional support, family connections, and reducing absenteeism (e.g., Birch Meadow from 10% to 5% chronic absenteeism) (1:43:11–1:46:11).
- Acknowledged challenges of leading in a predominantly white community.
- Future Announcements (1:47:14–1:50:00):
- Cindy Marte and Jerica Santiago appointed full-time METCO Co-Directors, with stipends (Jerica at Coolidge, Cindy at Birch).
- Additional METCO SAC for middle school, ensuring all K–8 schools have full-time SACs.
- Mike Kell to support all district schools, enhancing flexibility.
- Staff Introductions (1:17:56–1:18:43):
- Outcome:
- Celebrated student achievements and program growth.
- Confirmed leadership structure with Marte and Santiago as Co-Directors and expanded SAC roles.
- Noted enrollment cap constraints; advocacy to continue.
METCO CEO Search Update
10. METCO CEO Search Update (1:50:26–1:54:43)
- Speaker: Dr. Hardy
- Details:
- Thanked Millie for her service as METCO CEO since 2018, stepping down in March 2025 (1:50:38).
- Dr. Hardy, a screening committee member, outlined the process:
- Met twice: first to plan, second to compile stakeholder feedback for job description (1:50:55–1:51:08).
- Job posted May 9, 2025; interviews from June to July, with 2–3 candidates recommended to the METCO Board by late July/early August for a September start (1:51:25–1:51:49).
- Tom praised Millie’s advocacy and community connections, e.g., during the “Right to Read” film panel (1:52:02–1:52:33).
- Dr. Hardy addressed concerns about METCO 2.0 vision continuity, confirming ongoing work with 13 commitments defining a high-quality METCO program, including a spectrum of practice (1.0 to 2.0) to guide improvements (1:52:47–1:54:07).
- Reading METCO team to select focus areas for 2025–26 to advance practices (1:54:13–1:54:27).
- Outcome:
- CEO search on track for September 2025 start.
- METCO 2.0 commitments to guide program enhancements.
School Choice Update
11. School Choice Update (1:54:50–2:01:46)
- Speakers: Dr. Hardy, Tom, Lara
- Details:
- School choice allows non-resident students to enroll via lottery, opted into since FY23 (1:55:02–1:55:16).
- Benefits: $5,000/student revenue, increased diversity, and staff children enrollment (1:55:35–1:56:00).
- 27 students enrolled for 2025–26; proposed adding four kindergarten seats (down from six) to reach 14 total, ensuring class sizes remain below 22 without additional staff (1:56:12–1:59:50).
- Tom noted financial benefits amid budget challenges and alignment with class size guidelines (18–22 for K–2, 25 for 3–5) (1:57:16–1:58:03).
- Lara sought clarification on numbers, confirming support (1:58:55–2:01:15).
- Motion to approve chart with four kindergarten seats by Tom, seconded by Carla; roll call vote: Erin (Yes), Carla (Yes), Lara (Yes), Tom (Yes); passed 4–0 (2:01:26–2:01:38).
- Outcome: Approved four additional kindergarten school choice seats, increasing total to 14.
Closing and Adjournment
12. Closing and Adjournment (2:01:46–2:04:09)
- Speakers: Dr. Hardy, Tom
- Details:
- Dr. Hardy thanked staff and families for their partnership (2:01:52–2:02:30).
- Tom addressed a Zoom question about funding a consultant, noting it’s possible but requires clear goals, scope, and funding source (2:02:35–2:03:20).
- Motion to adjourn by Tom, seconded by Carla; roll call vote: Erin (Yes), Carla (Yes), Lara (Yes), Tom (Yes); passed 4–0 (2:03:40–2:04:09).
- Outcome: Meeting adjourned at approximately 9:05 PM EDT.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda Approved: Unanimous approval (4–0) for items, including opioid settlement funds for a full-time health teacher.
- METCO Program Advancements:
- Celebrated growth to 106 students, senior achievements, and community events.
- Appointed Cindy Marte and Jerica Santiago as full-time METCO Co-Directors, added a middle school SAC, and expanded Mike Kell’s role district-wide.
- Identified challenges: academic gaps (40–50% MCAS disparity), integration, staff diversity, and communication delays.
- Committed to community education, student engagement, and diverse hiring (e.g., via parent networks).
- ACE Committee: Outlined plans to honor Bill Russell, seeking community input for educational and art initiatives; no formal actions.
- METCO CEO Search: On track for September 2025 start; METCO 2.0 vision to guide program quality with 13 commitments.
- School Choice Expansion: Approved four additional kindergarten seats (total 14), enhancing revenue and diversity (4–0 vote).
- Meeting Adjournment: Concluded with appreciation for staff and family partnerships.
