METCO Director Leslie Smart presents FY26 report, highlights mentoring, family engagement

METCO Director Leslie Smart presented the Sudbury Public Schools METCO FY26 report on March 31, outlining priorities to strengthen student belonging and family engagement. She described the establishment of elementary-level mentoring groups, recruitment of METCO parent and family ambassadors to support engagement, expansion of cultural-competency and responsiveness training for staff, and continued collaboration with district leadership on strategic resource allocation and data-driven program evaluation.

Smart thanked parents and colleagues for attending the presentation and highlighted recent enrollment updates, grant awards, and student achievements. During a Q&A, METCO families expressed gratitude for program advisors and transportation staff, asked for more parent engagement opportunities, and requested additional summer programming for METCO students. Committee members asked how METCO student selections are determined, how transportation is funded and operated, and about student success rates and transition to Lincoln‑Sudbury regional high school.

Committee discussion touched on operational questions and possible next steps: clarifying transportation logistics and funding sources, exploring ways to increase family engagement (including the possibility of including a METCO parent as a non‑voting School Committee member), and continuing to monitor program outcomes through data and evaluation. No formal votes were taken on METCO program changes at the March 31 meeting. The Committee received METCO materials and will consider any follow-up requests or proposals in future meetings.