In an attempt to revamp the often contentious process of school selection, Boston School Committee officials met with parents and students Monday to discuss possibly improving the current school assignment process.

“The school department understands that they can’t move forward without learning from the people who are most affected,” said Ted Landsmark, chairman of the newly created Student Assignment Review Task Force, speaking to the nearly 25 people who gathered in a small gymnasium at the Oak Square YMCA Monday morning.

Landsmark said the committee is looking for the broadest possible input and assured attendees that everything said will be taken into consideration.

“We are your ears and eyes,” he said, before instructing everyone to break up into four smaller groups. Each group included members of the community-based task force Mayor Thomas Menino appointed to oversee the series of eight city-wide community forums that are being held in January and February.

Students at the meeting differed on reasons for selecting a school to attend.

“Extracurricular activities are important,” said Katrina Williams, a senior at Boston Community Leadership Academy.

Keith Love, a representative of the Boston Student Advisory Council, suggested tightening the current school zones so students will no longer be required to travel long distances to attend school.

“What time do you have to get up in the morning if you live in Roxbury and have to go to school in East Boston?” Love asked his group.

Boston currently has three school zones – east, west and north – and students are allowed to apply to any school within their zone of residence. Half of all seats in a school are reserved for students who live within walking distance, but the rest may not have access to nearby schools and may be required to travel long distances each day.

“Location was most important to me,” Trisha Muse said of her choice of her children’s schools. Muse, a mother of four, has two children in elementary school, one in pre-school and a one-year-old. She is one of the mothers invited to join the task force. Although she said she was happy to participate in the initiative, she added that revising the school assignment process will not necessarily improve education.

“Overall, people just want good quality schools,” she said.

School Superintendent Thomas Payzant said Boston Public Schools will be given a $57 million budget to accommodate future changes. He said that the issue of school assignment has come up periodically over the years and new public dialogue will help parents understand the school selection process. Payzant also said he wants more people to be involved.

Community members suggested providing parents with school performance data and beginning a marketing effort so schools will be able to advertise their accomplishments.

After the series of forums is completed, the school district will analyze suggestions and create a new student assignment proposal based on the community input. The task force and school committee expect to complete the process in May.