Weston School Committee receives METCO program review, adopts literacy resolution

WESTON — March 25, 2024 — Weston School Committee receives sweeping METCO review documenting belonging gap and special-education disparities. METCO Director Teresa and DEI Coordinator Shannon Sheldon told members that Weston's 172-family program shows strong outcomes by many metrics but confirmed disproportionate special-education placement, MCAS and AP enrollment gaps, and widespread reports from older students of microaggressions, racist incidents and cafeteria avoidance. A liaison work-log analysis found METCO staff spend nearly half their time on social-emotional support, prompting a request that the external review under Dr. People Zama of Emmanuel College consider adding a dedicated social worker. Member Kenneth Newberg called it "the best either internal or external review ever." The committee separately voted 4-0 to adopt a third-read early literacy resolution and approved its three-year Student Opportunity Act Plan, which Assistant Superintendent Kima said focuses on MTSS and literacy against roughly $60,000 in incremental Chapter 70 funding.