By Dakota Antelman — [email protected]
The leader of the organization overseeing METCO programs across Greater Boston praised Concord and acknowledged ongoing efforts to make improvements, even as some parents continue to raise concerns about issues involving race.
Speaking before the School Committee on January 21, METCO Inc. president and CEO Milly Arbaje-Thomas said she often cites Concord programs as an example for other districts.
She said there is still “work to be done,” but warned additional change will take time. “We can’t just turn an educational system around overnight, and I think people also need to see that,” she said.
Despite Arbaje-Thomas’ praise, some parents of Boston students who attend or recently attended Concord schools have maintained their complaints. Town residents with children of color have some similar concerns.
“Every day, I have to send my children to a place that is harmful,” parent Megan Denis told The Concord Bridge.
Parent concerns
The voluntary METCO program buses Boston students to suburban schools to expand educational opportunities by increasing diversity.
Arbaje-Thomas spoke roughly two months after the Concord-Carlisle METCO Parent Teacher Group disbanded amid frustration with district leaders. Concerned parents have cited gaps in standardized test performance, uneven participation in high-level courses, and racist incidents.
School officials have acknowledged achievement gaps and efforts to close them. On January 21, Hunter told the School Committee “there’s still things that go wrong,” but said officials are always working to address issues.
Beyond the PTG, Arbaje-Thomas’ visit also followed incidents in November and December where officials documented hateful graffiti in Concord-Carlisle High School bathrooms.
School leaders condemned the graffiti and promised disciplinary action against the culprits.
Denis said she feels officials often “sweep things under the rug.” When administrators send messages home, as they did about the graffiti, Denis said the response often falls short of properly supporting targeted students and their families.
As for METCO, she said administrators should do more for the students who help diversify Concord’s predominantly white classrooms. “We’re not rewarding [students] for the service they are doing,” she said.
Joyce DeGreeff said sending her adopted daughters through Concord schools has been an eye-opener after first experiencing the schools with her white sons. She said the girls, who are Black, have dealt with issues including classmates touching their hair and asking inappropriate questions.
DeGreeff said school staff “will listen in the moment and seem to align with you.”
But then, she said, many school officials fail to properly follow up with families. “My premise is that white people have a really hard time talking to other white people about race,” DeGreef said.
‘Celebrate our wins’
Arbaje-Thomas said Concord took a big step by creating a dedicated diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging director post. She called a Saturday bus for Boston students who participate in sports another success.
Arbaje-Thomas said fewer than a third of METCO districts have parent representatives on their school committees, as Concord does. Where others had criticism, she lauded district communication, saying Superintendent Laurie Hunter has been “very vocal” after troubling situations.
“This is not to say to you that everything is perfect,” she said.
Like other districts, Arbaje-Thomas said Concord should:
- Use a “targeted approach” to close achievement gaps.
- Continue professional development programs to improve cultural competency.
- Review curricula for insensitive or outdated materials.
School Committee K-8 METCO representative Ayesha Lawton said she is concerned about the practice of centralizing elementary school students from Boston at the Alcott School.
Arbaje-Thomas said she sees the downside of that, but doing otherwise could risk isolating children from their peers. Clustering students also lets the district bolster its dedicated METCO staffing.
DEIB director Andrew Nyamekye outlined his recent work, including professional development programs, after Arbaje-Thomas’s main presentation.
As the conversation wound down, school leaders also said Concord needs to do more to “celebrate our wins” for DEIB.
Seeking a METCO rep
METCO PTG chair Domingos DaRosa resigned as the non-voting CCHS METCO School Committee representative after the PTG shut down.
Lawton started representing CCHS after DaRosa left, leaving the K-8 seat empty. Officials have asked interested Boston parents to contact Lawton about filling that seat. Three days before an initial January 24 deadline, Lawton said she hadn’t received any parent inquiries. “We will continue to share the opportunity with families,” Hunter said in an email to The Bridge.
DaRosa’s daughter attends CCHS. He follows school happenings and said he got texts from fellow parents after Arbaje-Thomas met with the School Committee. He criticized her approach and said METCO headquarters should push harder for change.
“I’m not my ancestors,” he said. “You’re not going to tell me that because you allow us to sit in the front of the bus, that means what you’re doing is OK.”
