The Rochester City School District’s 2018-2019 graduation rate is 58 percent. Though it is still low, it’s an increase of approximately 4.5 percentage points over last year, continuing the rate’s upward trajectory. But an even larger jump at East Upper and Lower School has exceeded some district officials’ expectations. East’s graduation rate for its first […]
Tim Louis Macaluso
I was born and raised in the Rochester area, but I lived in California and Florida before returning home about 12 years ago. I'm a vegetarian and live with my husband and our three pugs. I cover education, health care, and local politics for City.
Posted inNews & Opinion
City files appeal on RCSD referendum
The city filed an appeal today seeking to reverse the recent decision by Justice Odorisi, which sided with the district concerning a referendum that calls for a state takeover of the Rochester school district.
Posted inNews & Opinion
Judge strikes down city’s RCSD referendum
[ UPDATED ] State Supreme Court Justice Scott Odorisi has ruled that a city-backed referendum on a state takeover of the Rochester City School District should not appear on the November ballot. Odorisi issued his decision this morning on a school district lawsuit aimed at stopping the referendum, and he sided with the district. He […]
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New York renters get new protections
Rochesterians who rent their homes, like renters throughout the state, now have important new protections, thanks to action last month by the state legislature and the governor. A group of new laws – described by industry analysts as the toughest of any state in the country – increase legal protections for the state’s 8.2 million […]
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Warren’s letter pushes vote on school district
Continuing her push for a temporary state takeover of the Rochester school district, Mayor Lovely Warren sent city residents a letter last week urging them to vote on the issue in November. In June, at Warren’s request, City Council approved a November 5 referendum calling for a state takeover. But the takeover issue is highly […]
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Dade takes over
It’s reasonable to wonder whether Terry Dade knows what he’s gotten himself into as the new superintendent of Rochester’s schools. But Dade, who is days into a job that is certain to test him, is hardly naive. He’s keenly aware of the public’s skepticism, frustration, and disillusionment about the district. And in a recent interview […]
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RIT scientists using technology to fight invasive plants
Purple loosestrife, with its innocent-looking flares of hot magenta flowers, pops up along roadsides and ditches. Common reed grass, with its tough green spears that can reach 15 feet in height, has made marshes and watersheds its home. Both are invasive plants that can be found throughout New York, and they’re spreading faster than state […]
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Colgate’s south lawn will remain undeveloped, revised plan says
Developer Angelo Ingrassia, who hopes to buy and develop the former Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity school campus, has promised not to ever develop the sweeping south lawn on South Goodman Street and Highland Avenue. Ingrassia has agreed to a “preservation easement in perpetuity,” according to a statement today from his spokesperson. Ingrassia has been meeting with […]
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Tackling Rochester’s affordable housing issue
City Roots Community Land Trust has reached a milestone that’s been long in coming: creating a way for low-income people to buy their own homes. Although the non-profit was formed in 2017, the catalyst for City Roots was a protracted battle that began about five years earlier between Liz McGriff, a homeowner on Cedarwood Terrace […]
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Primary night results
The unofficial results are in: there were a few upsets, some seasoned incumbents also pulled through, and for one City Council seat and one city school board seat, the results are too close to call.
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Islamic Center president calls for unity
The Dome Arena, that round white button-looking building off East Henrietta Road that seats more than 4,000 people, was nearly filled to capacity by 9 a.m. on Tuesday, June 4. Muslims from all over the Rochester region gathered there to celebrate Eid al-Fitr. The lively ceremony marks the end of Ramadan, a month of fasting […]
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Giving deaf refugees a voice
The number of deaf refugees in Rochester is small, but the problems they face can be huge without proper support. Deaf Refugee Advocacy of Rochester, a non-profit agency, helps service providers work more effectively with this vulnerable group of people. DRA serves about 35 deaf refugees at this time, most of whom have come from […]
