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[Hilary]

March 22nd: Board Listening Tour to obtain public input regarding the proposed 2010-11 RCSD budget; hosted by CAFEE at the Central Church of Christ at 101 South Plymouth. 7-9 p.m.


March 24th: Board Listening Tour to obtain public input regarding the proposed 2010-11 RCSD budget; hosted by the PTA of the School of the Arts at 45 Prince Street. 6-8 p.m.

[beanqueen]

Rochester Board of Education
Budget Listening Tour

YOUR INPUT IS WANTED!
HELP DETERMINE BUDGET PRIORITIES
FOR OUR CITY SCHOOLS

You are invited…to share your views on how the District’s resources could be used to better serve our students.

The Board would like to hear from you on topics such as:
•   School Operations
•   Academic Programs and Support
•   Special Education
•   Programs for English Language Learners
•   School Safety
•   Food Service
•   Transportation

Please come out to share your views and opinions at a stop on the 2010-11 Budget Listening Tour.

Community Meetings will be held at the following locations:

   Monday, March 22nd    Central Church of Christ
   7:00 to 9:00 PM              101 South Plymouth Avenue

         Hosted by CAFEE
           -------------------------------------------
   Wednesday, March 24th    School of the Arts - Ensemble Theater
   6:00 to 8:00 PM                      45 Prince Street
               
   Hosted by the PTA of the School of the Arts

       --------------------------------------------

Rochester Board of Education
131 West Broad Street   Rochester, NY  14614    Phone:  (585) 262-8525

[Hilary]

The board has put out this "Meeting Guide" for the two meetings next week. Copies will also be available at the meetings. The meetings will begin with a video of last night's budget presentation by the Superintendent, and then open up for questions based on the structure in this guide.  A member of the administration will be in attendance to answer questions.

LISTENING TOUR ON THE PROPOSED 2010-11 BUDGET FOR THE ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

March 22
7:00-9:00PM     
Central Church of Christ
101 South Plymouth Avenue 
   
March 24     
6:00-8:00PM Ensemble Theater
School of the Arts
45 Prince Street
 
1.  General Questions about Budget Information and Process:  
      First half hour
 
a.  Going forward, what would be a useful way to present budget information?
b.  What questions do you have about the way this information is organized?
c.  What questions do you have about the budget process? 
 
 
2.  Priorities for Funding:    
                                         Remaining hour and a half
 
a.  Considering current economic conditions and significant cuts in State aid, what specific areas would you absolutely NOT want to see cut in the District?
b.  In what areas do you see potential to reduce costs? 
c.  Of all of the programs, services, and supports offered by the District now, which do you think could be cut back or even eliminated?
 
     Concerns raised over the last year:
·      Music and Art education
·      Libraries
·      Robotics
·      Class size
·      ELL
·      Social workers and psychologists
·      Staffing and funding for Student and Family Support Services (Adult & Career Education, Parent Engagement, Student Placement & Equity, Youth & Family Support)
·      Funding for the African and African American curriculum
·      Food Services and Renovation of the Central Kitchen
     

[Hilary]

I went to this tonight. It was not heavily attended -- and only one board member, Willa Powell, was there.  But as a result, we were able to have a real dialogue, which I thought was very interesting and worthwhile. I would recommend going Wednesday if you have the chance and are interested.

One of the comments that really struck me was a speaker who said that most of the cuts in the Central Office are actually of BENTE workers in food services and transportation -- which is not what I think of when I hear "Central Office cuts." I'd say there was a strong consensus among those there that there should be more cuts - and real, verifiable cuts - at Central Office before classrooms are touched.

There was an eloquent speaker against teacher raises in this time of recession, as well as for cuts in professional development funding, however Willa noted that the contract is on a different cycle from the budget, and that professional development is also contractual.

I brought up music and the arts -- also social workers, psychologists and librarians! -- and didn't get any disagreement from Willa; she is a fan of arts education and said she doesn't think just keeping kids in their seats for more math and ELA is the way to go.  Which I was glad to hear.

Go Wednesday and speak up for what's important to you!

[lbryce]

D&C article this morning covering the meeting last night:

District officials should cut administrators' jobs in order to spare music and English Language Learners programs, parents said Monday.

As the district begins to wrestle with a projected $61.1 million deficit, Monday night's public budget hearing at Central Church of Christ on Plymouth Avenue was the first of two opportunities to ask questions and raise concerns. Willa Powell was the only board member present.

Last week, in unveiling his budget proposals to board members and the public, Superintendent Jean-Claude Brizard proposed a 5 percent reduction in district staffing.

"I don't think it goes far enough," said parent Mazi Bakari, who has children at School 58 and Wilson Magnet High School. He said that while private-sector workers are forgoing raises and even enduring pay cuts, district workers continue to get raises — in part due to state legislation that guarantees them.

Also, he said, "we're spending too much money on administration" — a sentiment echoed by many Monday night and confirmed by the district's own figures, which show Rochester has the fewest students per administrator of any comparable state district.

Vicki Robertson asked Powell to fight for more and better programs for students whose first language is not English. At School 12's HOLA program, native English speakers like her children are taught alongside Spanish speakers.

Christina Malone and her son Randy, a second-grader at School 57, came to the meeting to listen.

Malone said she plans to attend more meetings to better understand the budget, "but I did find out a lot tonight," she said.

Another meeting has been scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday at School of the Arts, 45 Prince St.

NRAMOS@DemocratandChronicle.com

Link to the story if you're interested in reading the comments:  www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20100323/NEWS01/3230330/1003/Rochester-parents-voice-concerns-on-school-budget

[beanqueen]

The SOTA PTSA hosted the Board Budget Listening Tour last night.

Willa Powell and Van White were there from the Board*, and a fairly small 'crowd': two students, about 25  parents, mostly  from SOTA, I'd guess, plus a couple of teachers and an administrator. Dan DiClemente, BENTE** president, also attended, with several union members.

However those of us who were there were rewarded with a rare opportunity for an extended  exchange with board members. 

We managed to keep off Mayoral Control and stick to budget items. 

At SOTA, we've heard there is a district-wide move to reduce building level administrators to a ratio of 1:450 students.  This will likely impact high schools more than elementary, and no an elementary under 450 enrollment won't not have a principal, but likely won't have a VP. Van and Willa had not heard of this move, and from the parent end, it is from " a good source" but unconfirmed.

This brought up concerns from several parents that these vice principals, at both HS and Elem level, spend a lot of their time on discipline. At an unrelated point a younger student - I think 6th grade - spoke very briefly that what he wanted was "no fights".

A number of people spoke about music, and art ( which was not as 'saved' as music last year).

One parent who works in the non-profit world asked the board to work more with community partners and PENCIL partners to help supplement needs.

Another parent suggested that SOTA is trying to do too much and should perhaps consider eliminating one major (not specified).

There was a question about combining two under-enrolled elementary schools and  closing a building. Willa agreed, but said that they need to keep that space as temporary housing for schools as the Capitol Building Modernization Program (finally) gets  going. They will need to move schools while their building is overhauled.

There was a question about closing and opening schools, with what seems a not uncommon misunderstanding: they will not board up closed schools and build new facilities. The new schools will be housed on existing campuses.

Dan DiClemente of BENTE had really interesting information, more detail than appears in Rachel Barnhart's blog on wham13.com.

He had figures that show that the 169 cuts at Central Office (CO) actually include many BENTE workers who work directly with students.  Budget centers for Food Service, Transportation and Facilities / Custodial fall under the CO budget. 

According to Dan, BENTE cuts are
  35 bus drivers / monitors
  50 food service workers
  16 Custodial staff
------------
101 employees  IN ADDITION to the vacancies (50-100) that will not be filled.

The budget says a 4% reduction in BENTE after Vacancies, but according to Dan,  including vacancies brings it closer to 10%  (Her said over 10% but looking at the numbers, I'm correcting a bit for rhetoric...) 

And Willa pointed out that tho our District may be top heavy in administration:student ratio, we are very short in others.  Before any new cuts, we are already at 50% below the industry standard for custodian staffing per square foot (college, school, office type buildings).

Another parent asked about the "600 pound gorilla in the room": the question of the Unions making some gesture - a pay freeze or other concession to save jobs.  Willa said we can't count on anything like that at this point - it seemes unlikely,  I think she said.

I know I have left some out - I didn't take notes, these are from memory. If anyone who was there wants to add in, please do!

What I did take away is Willa and Van's clear intention to ask more questions and  sooner, so to not get 'burned twice' in the Budget Process. They will request the detailed listings by building of eliminated FTEs (Full Time Equivalents) so they can make sure that no school completely eliminates art or music, and other programs.

Meanwhile parents should keep their ears open and e-mail board members with cuts that they hear about that concern them.  And especially any suggestions you have on where costs could be reduced.  If you haven't already,  I highly recommend that you look at the Superintendent's presentation on the RCSD website: http://www.rcsdk12.org/19731052083627623/blank/browse.asp?a=383&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&c=56461

-Elaine

*It was never anticipated that all board members would be in attendance, and we knew from the beginning that several had other commitments. Acting on a suggestion from a member of the board staff, Willa Powell sought hosts just a little over a week ago. Arranged on very short notice, it's not surprising that more Commissioners couldn't make it.

** BENTE is the non-teaching staff union, including food service workers, custodial staff, bus drivers, plus, I believe, clerical and secretarial personnel.