Leticia Winslow, METCO director for Walpole Public Schools, reported that the districts METCO program currently serves 37 students in grades K through 12 and described recent and planned activities intended to build cross-community relationships.

"Currently, our program consists of 37 students in grades k through 12," Winslow said. She gave a school-by-school breakdown: nine students at Boyden Elementary, four at Fisher Elementary, 10 at Walpole Middle School and 14 at Walpole High School.

Winslow described recent social events funded by a Boston Bridges Initiative (BBI) grant, including a bowling event for elementary students and a middle/high-school skating event at a Dorchester rink that brought 50 students by bus. The grant provided transportation and activity costs. Winslow also described a Multicultural Alliance mentoring program that paired high-school METCO students with elementary students for weekly STEM or literacy activities.

The METCO team has also introduced late transportation for high-school students during the spring and plans to provide late buses in December for winter activities. Winslow said late transportation is funded through the METCO budget and helps families whose children participate in after-school sports and activities but cannot use existing public transit or other routes. "It helps that we have the transportation so that the parents are able to stay," she said, describing parents meeting students at a single stop.

Winslow cited the HBCU college fair partnership with guidance that resulted in on-the-spot acceptances for at least one senior and emphasized efforts to increase program visibility and family engagement, including a revived METCO director position and additional academic liaisons for elementary and middle school.

Committee members asked about intake practices and whether METCO admits students at multiple grades; Winslow and district staff said the district primarily focuses on kindergarten through second grade for initial placements but does accept students at later grades when space allows and DESE caps permit. Committee members thanked Winslow and encouraged continued advocacy for METCO funding and transportation support.