State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia’s much anticipated response to the Rochester school board about its plan for improving the district was tough and direct: Redo it. She’ll be sending a more detailed response, she said in a letter to board President Van White, but she added: “After my review of the RCSD Plan, I want […]
improving Rochester’s schools
Posted inNews & Opinion
Urban Action 1/30
This week’s calls to action include the following events and activities. (All are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted.) Symbiosis and climate change ColorBrightonGreen.org will show the documentary film “Symbiotic Earth.” The film explores the 1960’s work of scientist Lynn Margulis and her theory that symbiosis – organisms living and working together […]
Posted inNews & Opinion
Change is coming to the city school district, one way or another
At a forum hosted by state education officials, members of the public sounded off on their concerns about the Rochester school district. And the officials made it clear that they’re not going to stop pushing the district to change.
Posted inNews & Opinion
White reelected school board president amid serious tensions
Rochester school board members reelected Van White as president yesterday in a 4 to 2 vote. Cynthia Elliott replaces Willa Powell as vice president, marking her second partnership with White in leadership roles. New board member Beatriz LeBron nominated Natalie Sheppard, who is also serving her first term on the board, but Sheppard received only […]
Posted inNews & Opinion
Can City Hall help fix the school district?
What is City Hall’s role in the education of Rochester’s students? That was the question Warren put to community leaders who packed the City Hall atrium yesterday. Warren has held three forums in response to Distinguished Educator Jaime Aquino’s report on the district’s long-standing problems. Warren said she’s been approached by numerous businesses and community […]
Posted inNews & Opinion
Rochester parents: we’d be more engaged, if we could
At a forum on the problems of the Rochester school district last night, parents discussed a wide range of issues, from the need to understand parents’ own challenges to the importance of the city-operated recreation centers. The event was the first of three forums that Mayor Lovely Warren is holding in the wake of Distinguished […]
Posted inNews & Opinion
The city school district must change, state commissioner says
About 200 educators, parents, community leaders, and Rochester school district administrators turned out this morning for a public forum held by State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia, Regent Wade Norwood, and Distinguished Educator Jaime Aquino to discuss Aquino’s report about the district’s problems. The report, which was released last month, gives a frank and disturbing description […]
Posted inNews & Opinion
Commissioner Elia reviewing report on Rochester school district
Jaime Aquino, the consultant that state education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia sent to examine the Rochester school district, sent his report to her earlier this week. School board members haven’t seen the report, board vice president Willa Powell says, but they’re bracing for a tough assessment. “He told board members, ‘My report is going to be […]
Posted inNews & Opinion
Recommendations for improving city schools: What now?
Last week, about 60 city students got a preview of recommendations to improve city schools. And as anyone who was there can tell you, the students responded with incredible enthusiasm and insight. The recommendations are the culmination of more than a month’s work by committees of teachers, parents, and community leaders. Rochester school board President Van […]
