METCO Update
METCO Director Rosa Inniss gave an annual update on Belmont’s METCO program.
Belmont currently has 99 students enrolled in the program from many Boston neighborhoods. Inniss shared her goals for the coming year, along with responses from a student survey.
Inniss said she wants to increase student awareness of post-high school education, create robust transition programs for students entering the Belmont school system, and increase METCO student enrollment in extracurricular programs. About 40% of former Belmont METCO students are currently enrolled in a post-secondary program, Inniss said.
“We want to really target and really better support students with that, so come graduation day, there is a strong plan in place,” she said.
According to Inniss, students reported facing academic pressure, as well as microaggressions from other students.
“Yes, there’s a lot of things we need to continue to work on, but generally, they appreciate being here in Belmont and value the education and are happy to be here,” she said.
New High School Bus
The district added an additional bus for the high school. The wait-list seats on the buses had risen to 90 students, Superintendent Jill Geiser said. With the addition of the bus, which recently started service, the number has dropped to 35 on the waiting list — smaller than it was last year, Geiser added.
Seven buses now operate at the high school.
The bus, which costs $90,000 to operate, will be funded using Chapter 70 funds, which need to be approved by Town Meeting later this month. Another $88,772 in Chapter 70 funds is planned for security upgrades for the school district, pending approval at Town Meeting.
E-Bikes Update
The district plans to put up signs at the high school to deter students from riding e-bikes at high speeds on the sidewalk, Superintendent Jill Geiser said. She added that the schools are working closely with the police department and the town to stay updated on changing regulations around e-bikes and scooters.
“I share the concern about the e-bikes and also e-scooters. Accidents are happening with kids on bikes and scooters, and a lot of them are happening without helmets,” Geiser said.
School Start and End Time Survey
The School Committee Start/End Time Subcommittee will be putting out a survey for the community to gather feedback, said member Matthew Kraft.
The subcommittee was first formed last year and tasked with assessing the start and end times of the Belmont schools.
Kraft said the survey would be available “in the coming days.”