2005-02-03 Human Relations Advisory Committee Minutes

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CQ4 HUMAN RELATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES February 3, 2005 at Police Station First Floor Community Room Present: Margaret Soli, Chair, C. McDonald, P. Kelley, Nancy Najmi members and among guests Representative Patrick Natale, Selectman Rick Schubert, , School Committee members Pete Dahl, John Carpenter and Elaine Webb, Terry Jones, Bob Brown, Dennis Johnson, METCO parent, Ben Tafoya and wife Maureen, Lorraine Louanis, Jack Goldberg, Anne Mark, Emily Maughan, Carolyn Whiting, Barbara Kelley, Bob Soli and invited speakers Wilma Fraser, Reading METCO coordinator and Jean McGuire METCO Executive Director - a good sized group was present for the program, METCO Update. Terry Jones, Reading resident, former member of the committee and a former METCO student spoke first to inform those present of his experience as a METC student, subsequent history and the importance he placed on the program. He attended through METCO Walpole schools graduating in 1977 and later graduated from Brown in 1982. He later taught for 10 years and later attended the Sloan School of MIT and now is employed as a Consultant. It all started with METCO. There was a lot of chaos at the start. He would have to arise early and drive 40 miles. He later was an athlete and in high school rose at 5:30 and work until midnight. He had the benefit of a great host in Walpole, an attorney Tom Powers who allowed him to stay with his family and gave him rides. He described the different levels of ambition in his home neighborhood and how school helped him to set his goals of attending college and playing football. He feels strongly the importance of METCO. The kids he met in Walpole he believes are better off from knowing him. They came to Boston, his neighborhood and met his people. He made friends with white, middle class kids. His skills improved and this enabled him to have high expectations. Boston schools are still not what they could be. The long term success of METCO is favorable and his success started with METCO. Wilma Fraser, the METCO has been the METCO coordinator since 1991. Then there were 91 students; now there are 41, only 2 in the elementary grades. The reduction has been largely due to growing town enrollment. Since the new elementary school ha s been built, it may be possible to introduce students at grade 1. It was traditional to take students starting at grade lbut later they have introduced students at grade 6, 7, 8 and 9. She will be speaking to the Superintendent, Pat Schetttini who has told her he supports the program and has gone to lunch with the METCO students and heard their concerns. She hopes soon that they will be able to increase the number above 41. This year 3 seniors will be going on the college. Last year 5 went on to colleges including U. Mass., Lowell, U. Mass Amherst, Bunker Hill, Bowdoin and Keene. Reading has done a good job but will do a disservice to its students if the program declines and the students are deprived of knowledge of other cultures. She called attention to METCO Lobby Day on March 15 when supporter speak to their representatives to seek support for the METCO budget. A number of METCO communities are in the same situation as Reading. John Carpenter and Pete Dahl expressed support on behalf of the School Committee by comments. Parents have to sign their children up early. There are 4000 on the rolls. There is no income requirement just the desire for a better education. It is a hard road for them having to rise early and drive a distance to school. They have to live in two worlds. It is particularly difficult if they wish take part in activities such as sports. Some girls have been unable to take part in track because it would compel them to get home too late. Dennis Johnson, a METCO parent spoke. He has two daughters in the program. The older, Leanne has graduated and is now at Keene. She did do track. They have to be up at 5:00