I attended a school committee meeting in Dorchester last Tuesday, as part of a METCO event, and it was a transformative experience.

I was impressed by METCO families—their strong commitment to education and their willingness to ask tough questions and expect clear answers. Just as notable was the response from Lexington Public Schools leadership, which showed a genuine openness to parent feedback. The final slide before small group discussions asked plainly: “What suggestions do families have about particular focus areas? What could we do differently?” That question set the tone.

I joined a middle school discussion on high academic expectations. The group included three LPS administrators and program leads, two School Committee members (Eileen Jay and Kathleen Lenihan), and three parents (two METCO parents and me). For about 30 minutes, we discussed topics such as the transition from elementary to middle school and teacher-parent communication. It was a productive, back-and-forth exchange—parents asked questions, and district officials responded on the spot and took notes.

As a Lexington parent, I’m glad I made the 45-minute drive. The experience was not just informative—it was inclusive. Parents’ questions were answered, concerns were heard, and I felt that I belong.

At the same time, it raised a broader question: how often do the more than 6,000 Lexington families have access to this kind of open, small-group dialogue with district leadership?

After the meeting, I spoke with School Committee members Eileen Jay and Larry Freeman and suggested offering a similar format of outreach for Lexington families before the end of the school year—especially this year. There was agreement that this kind of engagement is valuable.

I hope Lexington families will soon have the opportunity to experience the same level of open discussion and partnership.

Because strong schools depend on it—and because we all belong, don’t we?

Zhechun Zhang

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