are these types of charges grounds for automatic expulsion?

Is this why I spend 12,000.00 in property taxes.

Don't let the actions of one determine the way you feel about an entire group

Well said spirit.

Anonymous01776,
I agree with you. Unfortunately, this is NOT an isolated incident. In fact, it seems to be happening more and more frequently. Do you recall last year when the student from Boston got thrown out of school for drugs and yet was able to attend graduation? Remember, these students are supposed to be guests in our school system and they are not entitled to anything. We cry all year long about too many students in our schools yet we continue to "invite" METCO students into the community.

Trust me, plenty of your own kids are dealing and buying marijuana within LS. This incident is not specific to Metco Students, I graduated last year and saw this happen everyday. Lincoln Sudbury has been involved in an open drug trade with framingham and other towns for years. This. Will. Not. Stop. It does not matter if METCO is taken away or not, suburban kids will still find a way to buy drugs. If you don't want them to buy pot, stop giving them so much money! stupid, stupid, stupid.

The last time there was a major METCO incident was in October 2009 I believe. At that time a METCO student was arrested for selling 1.5 oz of pot to a Lincoln student ON LS PROPERTY. LS did the easiest thing possible. They asked the student not to come back to the school but allowed him to get his diploma AND ATTEND GRADUATION CEREMONIES at LS if he continued and completed his education elsewhere. The student did attend graduation and he and his family made quite a scene when he got his diploma. It was disgraceful and insulting to all the other LS students that he was allowed to get an LS diploma. I expect the same to happen here.

Messiah, at least if we dump METCO we won't be using our tax money to transport the drugs from Boston to LS.

Please messiah harassing a black student.

Boston is the source of a small amount of the drugs in LS. I know it may seem hard to believe, but as a former student I would estimate that 75% of the drugs in the school were purchased during lunch breaks from SUDBURY RESIDENTS or from dealers in the nearby towns... Sudbury parents would be amazed by the amount of weed grown and sold in the metro west.... It was not right for him to react in the way he did, but I'm sure he's had to deal with enough racial injustice and discrimination in LS.

I'll tell you from experience, I knew of white kids caught with this same amount that did not receive any charges....however, they also did not beat an undercover cop.... this story is sad to me. Just another METCO kid trying to make the money that his white counterpart seems to receive as a birthright. Stop giving your kids so much money...and the drug trade at LS would surely stop..

Then you should attend school in your district.

Hopefully they will expel him as immediately as possible so he can start earning money full time. Maybe he can write a book about injustice at LS.

Messiah,
I disagree, Khalils rights went out the window once he broke the law. End METCO, it doesn't work. Maybe he just wasn't connected with an adult at the special LS place.

Why don't you read the police reports and find out what your hero did.

The Magna Carta does state that the Man must allow a drug dealer to complete his urination before hassling him. I hope the dummy washes hands before fighting with the female cop.

Did you lose a fight with a woman, too?

Swear on the site and your account will be suspended. No mulligans on this.

This isn't right. Yes, when it comes down to it selling drugs is illegal and that part cannot be changed. The ways of which they caught Mr. Chambers are very wrong. It is not ok to break someones rights in order to gain evidence of them committing a crime. Especially someone who was attending a public high school. The aspect of being a law enforcement officer should not be taken into consideration they unjustly put there hands on him. The school is capable of making kids go crazy. As a former student of Lincoln Sudbury i am well aware of what goes on, and also that the administration handles it through profiling and targeting students. They place tags on said students and ruin there high school career. I wish Mr. Chambers all the best in this matter. What the public does not realize is that this is just another instance of the Lincoln Sudbury administration taking their power to far. (None of these so called "events happened when Dr. Richie was in power.)
On another note the fact that the METCO program is even in question is just plain stupid. All the people commenting on this should be ashamed of themselves. You think that 1 students choice should put a very successful program in jeopardy? Saying there wouldnt be marijuana in that school if METCO wasnt there is a lie. Marijuana does not come in from Boston. There will always be someone that fills those shoes because this is high school, it happens. If you are blaming METCO you are close minded and racist.

Perhaps if school employees were not following and harassing Mr. Chambers he would not have been yelling at them and the police would not have been involved int the first place.

A violation of his rights?????WHAT?????? When you break the law you get arrested- when you resist arrest - you get tackled. He assaulted a police officer who was simply doing her job! Where does it state in the article that he was urinating? Perhaps if he didnt bring drugs to school.... none of this would have happened?!

The drug and theft incidents have led me to conclude that METCO is not a good thing. It is bad enough to have our own kids doing that stuff but why should we import this nonsense?

Anonymous,
Take it easy sipping that LS kool aid.

The LS civil rights lawyers and drug experts are a hoot. Keep the comments coming! Stick it to the Man!! Free to pee, you and me!!!

With all due respect- there were plenty of "events" that happened under Ritchies reign of power-
If you think this "profiling " of students is new to L-S, you are very wrong. Its been going on for many , many years! I dont care if this was a METCO student, or a student from Lincoln or Sudbury. He broke the law-

I am taking it plenty easy. I am not going to let a bunch of stuck up Sudbury parents attempt to scapegoat all the bad things that occur in this town and blame the METCO program. Get off your high horse. Your children are the ones supplying the METCO students.

Another Ritchie supporter. Enough said! No rules, just right!

No one is scapegoating the METCO kids. We are only blaming them for the stuff they do and asking ourselves if we want to keep paying to have their part of the LS nonsense here. This dope's behavior makes me think that he received little benefit from being at LS.

My biggest issue here isn't with the kid selling pot. Not to say that it's right but it's not that hard to get your hands on drugs these days. Kids would be able to buy pot regardless if this kid was selling it or not. He most likely needed the money and instead of getting a part time job like most he took the easy way out. He should be taught a hard lesson and hopefully he would chose other legal ways to make a buck moving forward. My issue here lays with his violence toward the staff member and police officer, thats a no no. The worst part of this whole thing is that this kid is going to be expelled (as he should) and will be given the choice to be home schooled on our taxpayer dime. That's a state mandate problem that has to be addressed ASAP. As for METCO I don't agree with it for one simple reason: rather than providing a better education for a select few, our lawmakers should try and figure out how to fix the school systems that are broken so that all of the children have a crack at a solid education.

METCO is a K through 12 program that kids have to wait to get on before they are born. Khalil is a good kid who made a bad choice. He will be punished and will move on with his life. The fact that people are legitimately making remarks about a program is rediculous. Pure idiocy.

Honestly getting rid of METCO will do nothing. LS students do the same and police choose not to harass that group of students just METCO

Every last one of you speaking bad about METCO should be ashamed of yourselves. Granted, he broke the law, but do you know how many of your children are dealing drugs FAR more dangerous that marijuana? Ridiculous. I'm a proud METCO graduate and I've witnessed more drug trafficking by students of that suburb. If it wasn't for the METCO program, half of your children wouldn't even be able to survive because they wouldn't know how to accept diversity. Complaining about the tax money you spend? Sad. Don't forget about the expensive car insurance paid in the city because YOUR children drink and drive. Oh yea, you forgot about that. You should acknowledge the fact that most METCO students are seeking better opportunity, but then again, a lot of you hate to see the minority advance. Extremely pitiful.

Sudbury parents need to realize the amount of drugs (NOT JUST WEED) flowing through the town. It's much higher than you would ever imagine, and its NOT coming from boston.

THANK YOU The truth978 and BSM1017 it's redicculous how we put the blame on these Metcos. Just because on messes up, does not mean that all should be punished and don't deserve a great education. It's ignorant to take ones action and say that all Metcos bring in drugs. My daughter attends Ls and is not a METCO, she stated that most of the drugs that is sold in the school are from Sudbury / Lincoln natives.

Boston needs to get their act together so they can give all of the city's kids the chance to get a quality education without having to sit on a bus for three hours every day.

Clearly a few incidents have occured dealing with the METCO program but what people are failing to realize is that its usually only the METCO program that is publicly written about and/or exposed. Resident kids are just as bad, have you all forgotten all the wrong they've done? Eliminating the METCO program won't solve anything, drugs will still be passed around the school by your own kids. You'll be paying the same amount of tax money for your kids to do the same exact things your ASSUMING the METCO program does. You'll be taking away a chance of a life time for many kids, don't think getting rid of such a positive program will change anything at LS except a lack of diversity. Stop over looking whats right in front of you becuase you want to think your kids would never do such a thing because the fact of the matter is they are. Stop thinking Sudbury and Lincoln are these perfect little towns because they're not. Open your eyes and excuse your ignorance for one second please

I am currently as student at LS and want to tell everyone what actually happens. drugs are absolutely every where. weed, alcohol, perks and plenty more. Khalil is just one of many drug dealers at the school and this very easily could have been a white kid from lincoln or sudbury. theres nothing fun to do in sudbury so unfortunately most kids feel like going under the influence is the only fun thing to do.

as far as race and the metco program this is all unbelievably racist. doesn't anyone remember all of the football game instances with drinking? several times WHITE kids were overdosing on alcohol to the point where they pass out. ive seen personally how the METCO program has benefited particular students that i've shared class with. the METCO program gives opportunities to people that in other worlds would not have the chance to attend such an amazing high school. if you want to get rid of drugs at LS then you either need to close the school to every kid in the nation, because kids do drugs. black, white, latino, asian. kids will always do drugs and just cause were in a quite suburban town does change a thing from the big bad city where all the SCARY BLACK kids live. all you snotty, close minded, sudbury parents should be ashamed of your ignorance.

ahhaah thank you hank... that is so true. i am as well a student, drugs are absolutely everywhere, even within just the freshmen class, probably at least 100 kids have tried marijuana/use it regularly. when i heard someone was busted, i didn't at all think that it would be a metco student. i was waiting to hear which sudbury seller had been caught, and i was surprised to hear it was a metco student. as it has been stated, the metco questioning IS very racist. i have friends who take full advantage of the program, and its good for us too, it evolves plenty of white students who havent seen as much as all of us.
i couldnt second hanks post more.
i have heard of a student of every race at ls abusing drugs.
this all is ridiculous.
weed is going to happen. its a suburb. sudbury is known as drugsbury to students from other towns. drugs are known to happen more in suburbs than in the city, because kids in the suburbs find themselves bored more often.
i encourage anyone and everyone (particularly those with derogatory views towards anyone group afflicted in this situation) to go to the race to nowhere showing at the high school.
it might enlighten you all a bit.
and then get some education on drugs within the town, and ask your kids who they know that uses. an honest answer will consist of all types of kids, and many of our schools biggest dealers reside in sudbury.
good day,
current ls student

Im a student at LS. A metco student actually and all the comments from kids and parents no less blows my mind. I've been in metco since I was in the 4th grade and because a "select few" choose to make mistakes, I'm being subjected to the generalizations of you ignorant people. At this point I'm ashamed, not to be a metco student, but to be in a community with people who are racists, hurtful, ad show no sympathy or regards to those of us who are innocent and hard working students. Thanks for opening my eyes and letting me see how you guys really feel. Thank god it's my last year at this school. Meanwhile your kids will continue to buy and sell drugs to and from eachother an I'm sure you'll find another black student to pin it on.

Well..... I am a Sudbury parent, I dont consider myself snotty! Nor do I or my husband drive expensive cars. I do not throw money at my children, I make them earn it! I have NO issue with the METCO program what so ever> I still to this day have alot of friends who went through the program.My sons best friend is a METCO student. L-S has had drugs flowing through the hallways for a LONG time. This is not a news flash. How do you think the school got its nickname??? Do not characterize all Sudbury parents as snotty, close minded and ignorant!!

Yet another incident that has nothing to do with the use of marijuana. Just the enforcement of prohibition. Legalize it.

My commebt wasnt drected towards ALL sudbury parents. I was addressing those voicing their opinions on metco and metco students.

But to clarify to anyone who feels I am characterizing, it's not a nice feeling is it? Being put in a group based off te actions of one person or a 'select' few. is the shoe on the other foot?

I am a current student at Lincoln Sudbury. I hate to ruin your high views of the towns of lincoln and sudbury but it isn't just METCO students that are providing drugs. I dont have any hate for the program. I think it's great that the Boston students are getting a better chance at an education, especially at such a good school as lincoln sudbury. Why should they have to suffer education wise because of the area they live in? It's not their fault that they can't live in 2 billion dollar homes like 90% of lincoln and sudbury. privileged kids and stuck up parents, get off of your high horse and open your eyes. there is more than your sheltered lives. there is the real world out there. i think it's horrible that a great program is being questioned because some of the kids in it are doing the wrong thing. if you're going to have that kind of attitude, have it towards the other kids too. I can list a whole bunch of white suburban kids that deal drugs even worse than weed. and why are we writing essays and learning about the legalization of marijuana in classes such as law if weed is so terrible? if you ask me its a complete double standard. Also, from past experience I can tell you what a horrible support system lincoln sudbury is no matter how much they push down your throat that they're "think of yourself but think of others." its bull. lincoln sudbury can ruin you if you don't do every little thing perfectly. even though he did something wrong, poor kid

L-S has ruined students lives through harassment and continues too everyday.

Honestly if your a stuck up sudbury parent and think you know anything about what happens at L-S you should go back to burying your head in the bar at Lavender, dont run your mouth over an anonymous forum about a good kid who made a bad mistake. Respect him because right now the parents in Sudbury are not respectable.

I have two questions. If a LS supervisor sees a black student go into the bathroom, what makes them think he's going to sell drugs? That teacher was LOOKING for something bad, I think that is the wrong way to approach things. You should be looking for the good things someone is doing.. I understand it is illegal, and It sucks. But that is the law. What also is the law is to have a warrant or probably cause... NIETHER OF THOSE WERE PRESENT. Also, why did the supervisor follow that particular student? Why not a white kid? An Asian? Latino? Etc. To me, they assumed this: "oh he looks like hes up to no good, I'm going to follow him and call the cops!... That is insane to me, outrageous, and a violation of his privacy... On another note, teachers aren't allowed in the students bathrooms.. It's against the rules! That's why they have faculty bathrooms! Shouldn't the supervisor be in trouble? I feel bad for the kid. It sucks, and is unlucky. Unrelated, the Sudbury police racial profiles ALL THE TIME. 7 or 8 time out of 10 I see someone pulled over it is a mexican, latino, or black. And the past couple days 2 or 3 police cars pull over a single car. Is that REALLY nesscary? the sudbury police have too much free time on their hands and try to fill up that time with looking or bad things happening. That, to me, is extremely unfair. I understand it's their job to "protect" our perfect affluent town, but let's all take a step back and realize that the Sudbury police are over aggressive.

I am proud of what Khalil did. We need more people like him to stand up against this bs system at LS.

Ok, I am not coming on here saying that selling Marijuana in school is ok, nor am I even coming close to saying that using physical force on a police officer (or anyone really) is an ok thing to do. When you look at the broad picture Khalil Chambers was provoked into his actions by school administration and law enforcement. If they had evidence that Mr. Chambers was up to something then they would have searched his person in a house office. This is L-S policy and that is how they handle drug related incidents. The fact that the school employee took matters into his own hands, well he was wrong. Mr chambers felt like his privacy was being invaded and that he was being pushed into a corner. The bigger issue is how the school handled the issue, regardless of what Mr. Chambers was up to.

If Mr. Chambers has charges pressed then the school should have some pressed on them as well.

As a Current LS student in the METCO program im beside my self with frustration from all of the racist and closed minded people within Sudbury. That is not to say that all of Sudbury is looking to blame METCO program. I began the METCO program as a freshmen at LS, within my first week of being there i had been offered percocet from a resident student. The boy who approached me responded to my "no, im not trying to kill myself" with; "i thought you boston kids had guns, smoked weed all day, and sold drugs". Those were his actual words, i remember this incident so vividly because of the rather convinced emotions he was displaying. From that day on i knew as long as i went to LS that i would have to deal with the fact that i was a minority and that everyone weather they mean to or not has per-concieved notions about me. Not because they didnt know me, but because i was a black male in the METCO program from Boston. I am currently a senior at LS and through-out my years i have been offered Herion, weed, percocet, oxycodone, vicodine, cocaine, steriods(yes its true), alcohol, and adderal from resident student. The whole point of me doing this rant is to capitalize! on the fact that the drug trade/influence is and will always be there with or without the METCO program. Resident student do get caught/suspended and or even expelled due to drug possession, use, or distribution but the difference is that when a student in METCO is involved the event never leaves the gossip circles.

click clack pow officer down

My name says it all.

i am totally on the side that pities kahlil, and i understand that things can be very racist, but i happen to know the rules of drugs at ls very well. it basically boils down to this: if a kid has an illegal substance on him in school, (or at a school event, on the school's property, or on the bus) uses an illegal substance, or does or intends to distribute an illegal substance, the teachers are required by law to call the cops (this is if there was reason to believe one of these things is true.)
there was strong evidence that khalil was involved in drugs, and im not sure but i heard thru a mutual friend he even expected this to happen the day it did, therefor im not sure why he had marijuana on him.
the teacher didnt pick on khalil for his race, a parent tipped off the school with kahlil's name, and the school was following through with what was expected of them.
the cops did not arrest khalil without reason, remember, he dropped marijuana before being arrested.
im not saying at all i support what happened. wether or not arresting him was right, the way the cops/ls faculty went about it was correct according to guidelines i just reviewed.

Comments are closed ... a few select have chosen to abuse the this service with vulgarity and a possible threat.

This is Karla Vallance, Patch regional editor for an area that includes Sudbury Patch. Clearly there are intense opinions on several sides of this important Sudbury story; we want to re-open the forum for comments. But we want to remind everyone of our Terms of Use, which include the following: We understand that everyone has different opinions, but Patch will make the sole determination as to whether Content is acceptable for the Service. (Someone has to be in charge, right?) Without limitation, you agree that you will not post or transmit to other users anything that contains content that is defamatory, abusive, obscene, profane or offensive...is threatening, harassing or that promotes racism, bigotry, hatred or physical harm of any kind against any group or individual; promotes or encourages violence... For our full Terms of Use: http://sudbury.patch.com/terms. So we are warning now: your account will be suspended if you don't abide by our Terms of Use. And fellow Patch readers, you are welcome to both correct misleading comments by commenting yourself, and to flag comments that violate the above terms. Above all, we trust that Sudbury is able to discuss these issues in a constructive manner. Show us it can be done.

I have to say that having grown up in Sudbury, it's usually not the METCO kids who cause trouble...yet unfortunately they are always the first to get blamed. I am not saying Chambers should not have been arrested, but I do believe it's wrong to blame the entire program and say it should be removed from town. I was always proud to have my town as a METCO town. It taught me that diversity was a good thing and should be the norm. I had many friends from this program and think overall it is a great benefit to the town and the students—both Sudbury and METCO.

First and foremost this is the most interesting thread the Patch has had...don't anyone go ruin it my swearing or threatening others. Many people are missing the boat on METCO. METCO only helps a select few and not the greater good of all students. We should stop wasting money and efforts on METCO and work on making ALL school systems better. What good is it to bus a few dozen kids out to an affluent town for a better education? What about those left behind? Those METCO kids who defend METCO as a great program should really take a look at and think through this angle.

Well the kids who use metco for what they should are off bettering themselves through the oppurtunitys that schools such as L-S has offered them. Are you really going to take that oppurtinity away from those kids because of your close minded opinions and money problems?

LOBTTG-
i hear what you are saying, and if fixing boston schools were that easy, i think they would be fixed. not only are the schools hard to change because of the teacher's union and tenure, but also our schools are safer, if only because we have more safe playspaces. ive been to some of the schools kids dont go to because their parents enroll them in metco, and the heartbreaking thing is that those kids cant always play outside at some schools because of the location; it's a city, and a publicly funded school, the areas in which they play in are sometimes close to big high ways, and such.
back to tenure, go see the viewing of race to nowhere at ls. it will open your eyes big time.
and we are benefited by these kids. we learn about diversity, and the metco program helps us to sometimes break racial barriers, and we learn that these kids arent what they are said to be. i have many metco friends and ive learned that they arent as dangerous or rough as they are rumoured to be, and that is why i was shocked to hear a metco student was arrested, i thought for sure it would be a sudbury student.
but to even things out, even though this one hasn't gone as viral, there was another drug bust at ls on friday, in which im pretty sure a caucasian sudbury student got in trouble for marijuana.
there you go. SUDBURY DOES IT TOO.

"Thetruth978 according to 3rd party students who I know personally, and who witnessed the whole thing, this article is EXAGGERATING a lot. It was not a punch, and no one was harmed. Typical journalism, overwriting and not really telling the truth" -In regards to this comment, said by TheTruth978, the only people in the bathroom were the cops, the school official, and Kahlil. It was also said, that other school officials had to block the hallway off so nobody was around the bathroom. So obviously your friend is a liar, and you should get the details correct before you go making an unnecessary comment. Also not in regards to Thetruth978 people keep saying that the race card was pulled, it was not. Khalil has had many strikes when it came to possession of marijuana on school property, and it was made very clear to him that if it happened again there would be more disciplinary actions taken. Kahlil had way more then 3 strikes, was given many chances at LS, and the fact that he was caught again just shows that he obviously didn't care about the rules at LS, and didn't care what happened to him. Therefore LS and the police department DID NOT put the race card, if they did he would have been gone the very first time he was caught with weed on campus. So ENOUGH with the whole "Its cuz hes black" deal. LS gives these students the best opportunity that they can but when a student, black white etc, come in and break the rules that are set there has to be discipline, no matter the race.

A user was just suspended for breaking one of the terms mentioned above ... we're not kidding about this.

Rober Fucci, stop deleting my comments that are perfectly relevant. I should not be banned for swearing. swearing doesn't exist. It is just a matter of perspective if you find words offensive or not. I find not using offensive words to be stupid because you cannot effectively express yourself if you are used to doing so. for all who get banned, make a new account. the system fails on here because they don't have anyone who can effectively and efficiently program a website to block users. they can only suspend accounts. use a different email, and poof. a new account

and let me reiterate my points, legalize weed! its a medicine and has many more pros than cons. watch any documentary or read any articles on marijuana not made by the government and you with just shake your head at society for not keeping it legal in the first place. also, Khalil is a G, and we should support him for standing up to the horrible policies and people who run LS

The 1st amendment protects freedom of speech and freedom to petition. this site is unconstitutional and unjust, just like the policies at LS and the actions of the sudbury police

Some of these comments are so ridiculous! I am a current junior at LS and I live in Sudbury. I know of many more kids from Lincoln and Sudbury who are smoking pot then METCO students, some of you parents need to open your eyes to the fact that your kids aren't perfect. Theres no reason why METCO should be taken away at LS. What about all the good things METCO students have done for LS, like the kid on the varsity basketball team who's the first freshman to make varsity in a good amount of years. And the senior who read her amazing poem at the assembly on Friday. Honestly, the parents who are saying METCO needs to go, get over yourself, just because one kid caused some trouble doesn't mean the whole program is the same way. If I remember correctly when the drug dogs were brought in my freshman year only 2 students were caught, both of them from Sudbury. Khalil is only one of the MANY students at LS who are selling drugs, most of the other students are from Sudbury!!

Sometimes it helps to look at a situation by breaking it down into the most basic parts in order to understand it. ACTION/REACTION. Take away all the color and fluff and subjectivity and try to be as objective and analytical as possible. Objectivity is like perfection--perhaps impossible to achieve. I will learn from these comments one important thing and that is to try to open up even more the channels of communication with my son attending LS.

I'm a senior student at LS (live in Sudbury) and I think it is ridiculous of all the close-minded and racist parents I'm seeing commenting on this post. There are far more kids from Sudbury who are doing things much worse then any METCO student. If the METCO program goes, LS will be losing an amazing thing that has changed my life as well as many others. Shame on all you parents blaming the METCO program for this.

Having just read through this thread, including many posts from people who are clearly students at LS, my question is WHERE IS THE ENGLISH DEPARTMENT? We are spending all these tax dollars and yet there is clearly not enough attention being paid to punctuation or grammar .... What a waste.

Mr. Fucci, what is the Patch policy on releasing minor suspects names? Does the Patch make that decision or is the same of a a minor suspect only used when the arresting agency provides it? I've read many articles on this site in which the name of a minor was not cited. Just looking for some clarification. Thank you.

@Grumpy
Yes. If at the end of this thread we could take one "lesson learned" it would be not to spell "ridiculous" as "rediculous". It makes the poster look really dumb. What are they teaching over there? I have noticed this mistake on virtually every thread involving controversy at LS.

@Bill
Another question that always comes up as fall-out to every reported drug bust is the one about "seventeen year old minors names appearing in the newspaper".

First, there is no such thing legally in Massachusetts as a seventeen-year old minor. One you hit that seventeenth birthday, you become an adult (by statute). You may still act like a child forever as we have seen here.

Please consider your friend extremely lucky that his name has appeared only on "Patch". No mention of these alleged crimes anywhere else (Sudbury Town Crier, Lincoln Journal, Metrowest Daily News, LS Forum). Almost a complete coverup.

The threats made hear but subsequently taken down were extremely serious and troubling. In an of themselves, they rise to the level of separate crimes worthy of further investigation.

The Blue Hill Avenue/Morton Street area is a tough place and witness intimidation there is well known and documented. This student lives in that area.

First of all, it is a shame people are blaming METCO. They shouldn't be at all because this issue, as we have discussed is not isolated to METCO. Secondly, it is a shame that people are pulling the, "it's because he's black card"

It is not a fault of METCO, that is a great program. But it is also not a fault of the police or some corrupt system. I have attended LS recently and know the system very well. Its High school, get over it, if you bring Drugs to school to sell, your rights go right out the window. Also for those who were saying the school officials violated his rights, those are rights that apply to when the police are invesitigating, and they are not police. Once a student enters a school, alot changes, and it should. He chose to sell illegal drugs on school property more than once, stop whining about how bad you feel for these kids AND stop being unfair to the METCO program. The fact that this is even a debate makes me sad to live in Sudbury. Grow up, the law is the law, our programs are successful, this kid made a bad mistake. Win.

It's not because of the METCO program kids are getting drugs, its due to the prohibition of marijuana. Trust me, it's at least 3 or 4 times easier for these highschoolers to get pot than it is for them to get alcohol.

I find it hilarious that all you parents care about is what the METCO kids are doing. You all comment like crazy on this article, but on the article about the Non-METCO kids getting in trouble for drugs and getting arrested there is not ONE comment. Is there some type of racial issue going on here? If you all took more time to focus on your own children (Non-METCO kids) , you would find that most of them are addicted to Perk 30s or other drugs that are far more harmful then marijuana. Stop being ignorant citizens and acting like the METCO kids are ruining LS. Everybody makes mistakes.

Based on data I found online and my calculations, Sudbury taxpayers supported the METCO program with $1,720,612.00 of Sudbury tax dollars in 2010.

The amount paid by the state (still our tax dollars) for 2010;

SPS:
Students: 60
Student allocation: $187,920 ($3,132 per student)
Transportation cost: $170,559 ($2,842 per student)
Total Grant: $358,479 ($5,974 per student)

LS;
Students: 91
Student allocation: $285,012 ($3,132 per student)
Transportation cost: $ 141,733 ($1,557 per student)
Total Grant: $ 426,745 ($4,689 per student)

This does not include the cost for specific Sudbury METCO administrative staff.

The cost per student in Sudbury (2010) is as follows;

Sudbury Public Schools: $11,801
Lincoln Sudbury Regional High School $16,324

Based on the above data, the cost paid by Sudbury residents to support METCO is as follows;

$11,801 - $3,132 = $8,669 per SPS METCO student
$16,324 - $3,132 = $13,192 per LS METCO student

$8,669 X 60 = $520,140 for all SPS METCO students
$13,192 X 91 = $1,200,472 for all LS METCO students

$520,140 + $1,200,472 = $1,720,612 for all Sudbury METCO students

Cost to State and Sudbury for METCO students;

$11,801 X 60 = $708,060 for all SPS METCO students
$16,324 X 91 = $1,485,484 for all LS METCO students

$708,060 + $1,485,484 = $2,193,544

With all the financial problems our town is faced with year after year, why is it the option of cutting the voluntary METCO program never on the table?

Diversity is an incredible asset to a community. To lose the METCO program and the many wonderful, intelligent, spirited human beings that come with it would be a huge detriment to this town.

This is ridiculous. METCO students shouldn't lose the opportunity to be a part of our school just because one kid made a mistake. I'm ashamed to go to a school where the people are such snobs they can't have their kids in the presence of a student from Boston. My friends in the METCO program have stronger values than any of you clearly do and I wouldn't be the same person if I wasn't friends with my METCO peers.

To Pmotw,
Your data, though perhaps accurate, attempts to mask the fact that you and some others here are taking an incident with one or two students over the years and attempting to beat the drum to eliminate an entire program and tar all METCO students with the same brush. Fail. Lets assume that 1 or 2 % of all students, resident, or METCO, deal drugs and get caught, there is no statistical difference, and as some have noted here, there's plenty of dealing and buying going on with resident kids. If you are so concerned about eliminating METCO and what it costs the towns, mount a campaign to eliminate METCO, write an article with your real name, hold a community meeting, and see how much support you would have. It looks like not a whole lot judging from the many here who have spoken about how the long running program enriches both those who come here from Boston and those who live here and get something very rich that they would not otherwise have. Yes we have to pay for it, and those working families in Boston who pay state taxes also pay for it. Thankfully many who live in this community and pay taxes understand that the price is worth it. It might have something to do with the high property values in these towns as well.

This thread is evidence that racism still exist! It's embarrassing and many of you should be ashamed. I am a METCO parent and proud that my child was selected and given the opportunity to attend a suburban school. I have been proud until today! I've never been faced with racism, nor has my child but some of you have showed your true colors. I would like to recommend all of the Sudbury taxpayers that have a problem with the program to form an alliance, get your picket signs and march! It worked for us, perhaps you will get your way. Let it be known that whether or not you support the program your kids, family and neighbors will still be faced with substance abuse problems, drug dealing, violence and many other countless acts that go unreported. Remember, METCO students did not sign themselves up to attend, this choice was made by their parents! So please stop blaming the program for a mistake made by a troubled kid. How many kids do you know appreciate or openly embrace opportunities. We teach our kids this behaviors and still, at the end of the day the decision is theirs. As I remember, there was murder committed at this school, so how dare you torment someone selling weed. Again, this tread is disappointing, embarrassing and I'm ashamed!

Reading through all the posts, I have a few comments.
a) It is not racist to question a program that is paid for by others if there are disturbances. Bringing illegal substances into a school is a choice. Participating in the METCO program is a choice - whether through the parent or participant. Selling illegal substances is an additional choice. Choices have consequences and risks that you accept when you engage in the behavior.
b) There is no doubt that the pupils who are residents participate in the same behavior, however, they are residents. The METCO program is an opportunity given to those outside the district that should not be taken lightly.
c) I support the METCO program but not on a lottery basis. I think opportunities should be given to those who show the desire to want it not because they were born into a registration by a parent. However, I would do the same if I was a METCO parent in it's current structure. We all want the best for our children and if I was in deficient school district, I would certainly sign my children into the METCO program.
c) I am a little shocked that student bathrooms aren't regularly monitored after the stabbing. It is, in my opinion, a safety issue considering what was lost.
d) the student took the risk, and when caught, should have surrendered calmly
e) You do not need a warrant - it is a public school and it appears from the comments above that there was prior knowledge as well as other instances with this student

This student put everyone in the METCO program at risk. It's a shame that there hasn't been any comment from a student or parent in the program, comment about this. Defending someone who brings a stigma to your own participation, certainly requires some dissappointment - no?
The program is beneficial to both sides, in my opinion, and this student has put a dramatic and unfortunate black mark on the totality of it's participants. The taxpayers are not to blame. The administration is not to blame. The police are not to blame. The METCO program is not to blame.
THIS STUDENT IS TO BLAME.
He took the risk. He made the choice.

This program comes at great financial cost to the state taxpayer and Lincoln & Sudbury taxpayers. Many people on this thread and in town government and in the METCO program like to say the program has "great benefits". What are the measurable benefits to the students and people of Lincoln & Sudbury?

Joe The Plumber,
There is no measurable benefits. This is a "feel good" program which is extremely costly to the taxpayers. Also, it compounds the problem of already overcrowded classrooms yet we "invite" out ot town students into the school system. It makes no sense, which is why the overrides continue to get shot down year after year.

You guys are so close minded the weed came from sudbury from your rich kids I know exactly who you are so racist he didn't even get caught with a one hundreth of how much these other kids are holding that are white people who play sports its profiling he was harassed the past year and finally couldn't handle the racsism its disgusting your kids are the ones doing prescription pankillers and other stuff worse every single one of your kids too no matter what you think your kid has probably either gotten pot for the metco students because we supply them you idiots

Re: Samantha Hammel
"the METCO program enriches the lives, broadens the “world view,”
Samantha,
I asked for MEASURABLE benefits. If I walked into my boss and told him the project I wanted approved for the cost of the METCO program would "enrich lives and broaden the world view" he would have me committed for insanity.

Re: Gary Cole
Sudbury kids have no idea what racism is. They haven't been taught it. They haven't grown up with it. There is no racism at LS. Get off the race card. A METCO student got caught. It wasn't the first time a METCO student was caught DEALING DRUGS on the LS campus. The last time a METCO student got caught he was thrown out of the school in October but was allowed to graduate and attend the graduation ceremony. Doesn't sound like racism to me.

Can you just imagine how the METCO students at LS must feel reading all of these comments? Every person who is protesting against the METCO program is extremely close minded and selfish. You are providing opportunities for kids to receive a better education and be successful. There are METCO students who take advantage of it, but many METCO students who do not. Resident students take advantage of their opportunities that they receive at LS. They are the ones who leave campus during school to smoke weed and drive around in their cars. I see it happen everyday.
Everyone who wants the METCO program to end is terrible. You are all attempting to stop a program that is so beneficial to many kids! Don't you feel good about yourself that you are helping kids get a better education and allowing them to receive such amazing opportunities? There are many METCO students who go to college and receive scholarships because of the sports programs and music programs at LS. Why be selfish and just help your own children succeed? METCO is a thriving program that is needed and makes a huge difference. So please don't be so close minded and think the METCO program is a waste, because you have no idea. It is amazing and you should be proud to be helping kids succeed and learn to better themselves and make better choices. Most of the METCO students are incredible people.

-An LS student who is not from METCO

Joe (if that is your real name): Why do we need "measurable benefits" for the program? You obviously didn't understand that I wasn't attempting to answer your question but merely giving you a kinder perspective.

@Joe: How dare you say "Sudbury kids have no idea what racism is." While Sudbury is a relatively ethnically homogeneous town there are some who have indeed experienced racism first hand. Just because you haven't been discriminated against for the color of your skin does not mean others in this town have not.

Re: Samantha
"Kinder perspective" is just another liberal term for it makes you feel good to help other people. Why have a program if you cannot measure its success? Especially at the cost of the program to taxpayers. If there is no benefit to me in Lincoln/Sudbury why would I want it to remain? I'm sorry, Samantha, for wanting my children to benefit from a program that I am paying for.

And please stop playing the race card. The towns of Lincoln & Sudbury are two of the most liberal towns in the state and don't have many issues with racism.