Schools that embraced a change

Andrea Leonard signed up her son for first grade before he could even walk. The Boston mom didn't want to waste time, as she'd heard about the lengthy waiting list for Metco, a voluntary integration program that buses children from Boston to schools in the suburbs. She yearned to give her son a quality education, and stories of overcrowding and lack of safety at inner-city schools concerned her.

That was 13 years ago. The Metco waiting list has since ballooned from hundreds of students to 16,500, and her son, Sean, is now finishing up his seventh year at school in Lexington, Mass. Like the other 3,500 students enrolled in the Metco program, Sean gets on the bus a little after 6 in the morning and returns about 4:30. If he stays for sports, he arrives home just in time for dinner. "It's a long day," says Ms. Leonard. "But it's been completely worth it."

Although Lexington is only 11 miles northwest of Boston, its verdant fields and sprawling estates give the feeling that this historic town of shot-heard-'round-the-world fame is a world away from the inner city.

It's that very contrast that inspired leaders of Lexington to pioneer the program with seven other communities back in 1966. While the city of Boston - and much of the entire country - remained embroiled in an ugly fight over the forced desegregation of public schools - this group dreamed up a voluntary plan they hoped would foster greater understanding and cooperation, bring desperately needed diversity to largely white, affluent towns, and also provide urban children with the education they deserve.

The result was Metco - a program considered by many to be a win-win situation for all involved. Over the years, the number of towns that participate has swelled to 38, and the program still enjoys strong support from many parents, teachers, administrators, and legislators.

But today, budget-tightening on the state level is forcing many communities to take a hard look at their own bottom line, including their share of the Metco budget, asking citizens to consider whether school desegregation is something they want to continue to spend tax dollars to promote. Metco currently receives $13.6 million in funding through the state Racial Imbalance Act. But the Metco budget for the 2005 school year is now uncertain.

Gov. Mitt Romney (R) wants to fund the program at the same rate - a decision that could mean cuts in many Metco services. The proposed increase by the House Ways and Means Committee would boost the Metco rate to about $3,000 per student. For the moment, participating towns continue to make up the difference between the $2,456 allotted for each Metco student and the $7,322 state standard set for all Massachusetts students. Often, the shortfall is even greater, as individual districts might have a higher per-pupil rate.

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