Board Work Session | November 4, 2025

001Good evening. Today is November 4th and uh to we are entering the Rochester Board of Education work session. Um at this time I would like to entertain a motion. Um the board may exit, excuse me, into executive session um to recess to discuss proposed pending or current litigation matters leading to the appointment or removal of a particular corporation andor to receive the advice of general counsel as permitted by section 105 of the open meeting law. May I entertain a motion for executive session at this time? >> Moved by Vice President Malloy, seconded by Commissioner Griffin. All in favor? >> I. Any opposed? At this time, the board will temporarily move into executive session. Thank you for your patience and welcome back to the Rochester City School District Board of Education November 4th work session. We

002are uh continuing with the meeting at this time. We are considering resolutions. Um, at this time I would like to entertain a motion with the board um to amend resolutions 205 and 206 as you'll see noted there and um amend them to read as 205A and 206A. And the reason for this amendment is that these two uh the resolutions 205 and 206 were previously used in a uh prior meeting under those numbers for different pieces. So we want to make sure we delineate the numbers by going by 205A and 2056. May I have a mo uh entertain that motion? >> So moved. >> Moved by Vice President Mallaloy, seconded by Commissioner Patterson. All in favor? >> I. Any opposed? Okay. Eyes have it. And resolutions 205 and 206 are now 205A and 206. Um, also

003you'll see noted here under the uh resolution D, this is resolution 254, should I say? I'd like to entertain a motion to wave the 48 hour rule for resolution 254. >> Um, where is that one here? >> Motion by Commissioner Patterson, >> seconded by Commissioner Griffin. All in favor of of uh waving the 48 hour rule for resolution 254. I Any opposed? Okay, motion carries. Resol uh 48 hour rule has been uh waved. And so at this time, I'd like to entertain a motion for resolutions 205 >> 205A. Thank you. And 205 and 206A. >> Um we w we waved to call them 205 and 206A, but we didn't vote on we we don't need to vote on them. there from the >> you were waving for 254, >> right? Um so let me get

004some clarity. Give me one moment and and I appreciate the patience. Um I want to get some clarity from the clerk. So for 205A and 206A, they um have already been voted on. This has been found as well. So the actual resolutions were voted on. We just needed to rename them. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Understood. So that is already been taken care of. Um that was my misunderstanding. And so at this time, I'd like to entertain a motion for resolution 254. >> Second. >> Motion by Commissioner Patterson, seconded by Vice President Malloy. All in favor of resolution 254? >> I. Any opposed? Okay, resolution 254 carries. >> Okay, we're going to refresh our screen at this time. >> That's fine. Okay, thank you. I'm just bringing our technical screen back up. Uh oh, did it

005work? Here we go. Okay, we're going to be moving into the board discussion items. And at this time, I'm going to turn the mic over to our board clerk for the res uh policy 2325 video conferencing. >> Good evening. Thank you, President Simmons. So just really quickly as a recap before we get into the final two items. Um at this time the attached policies you all at least four commissioners has agreed to move forward the preamble the ex extra extraordinary circumstances regarding the caregiving section notifying the district clerk via the board's email of the need to video conference and the accountability and review section. So if you look at the two attachments, both track changes and clean copies that are on board docs, you'll see highlighted yellow what I'm referring to in this slide. And

006then items not added due to lack of consensus were the number of commissioners allowed to video conference at one time and the number of meetings a commissioner is allowed to video conference. And so tonight, the next two sections are items that need further discussion. The first one is section two, video conferencing under extraorary circumstances. Location is not open to the public. So I won't read the left side, but for the right side, as of August 12th work session, um when it comes to disability, there were mixed recommendations from commissioners. Commissioners should be in person. Some felt some felt that this accommodation is similar to how staff with disabilities could have work flexibility. At the time, general counsel had advised that there could be implications. Um, and so the question here tonight is, do the board

007want to move forward with this section on disability? >> Okay, thank you. Um so as I look at slide five and I consider uh what general counsel advised us around um I do align and so I would reject adopting the the language from NISBA. I think it does take us into a space. Um I would like to um be more distinct around what extraordinary circumstances are. So when I'm when I'm thinking about it and I don't know if we as a board would agree or not but I'm thinking of being ill. There is a some form of disability be be it temporary but I don't want to adopt the disability um language. Um there could be these emergency caregiving things. I think it's about for me it's more around um using it as a regular

008nuanced without it being um documented understood like for example video conferencing should not be used because you're on personal vacation and you're you're um deciding to uh chime into a board meeting um you have work schedule conflicts you got to make some adjustments um personal preference I just choose to leave early I don't I think um th those are qualifying indicators for video conferencing. Um and so I'd like to maybe list those things that uh as far as language for extraordinary circumstances versus adopting the NISBA policy as it is. So, personal illness or medical condition, um disability or related accommodation is needed, caregiving responsibilities, and again, these are things that um would be constituted and as we go on, this will make sense. Um significant unexpected event or emergency because we cannot qualify for that.

009Um maybe there's severe weather or travel and that's, you know, so that's what I think it it um or government mandated. We had COVID before, right? So, it was government mandated. there are other things that we're seeing in today's day and time that may constitute the need for some things. So, I think that language kind of leaves us loose, but I'd like to hear from my other board colleagues on on their thoughts around that. >> Okay. >> I'd like you hear me? I'd like more clarification from council, you know, relative to um the second bullet on the right hand side, general counsel advisor could be implications. Could you clarify that a little bit more for me? What's below that? What the implications could be? >> So the the issue [clears throat] is that the commissioner

010of education could overturn decisions made by fewer than four members present. Uh so any decisions that were made during the board would be null and void uh at the time that those decisions are made. So to avoid having to repeat uh any decisions that are made in a meeting where there is not a sufficient number of members u this suggested language would ameliate that. >> Yeah. So thank you for that general counsel commissioner Patterson if I may address you that. Yes. So for example right now there's literally just four of us here. So we just made quorum by us four being here. if we adopted this language and uh I fell under the uh disability and we said, "Hey, well, Commissioner Simmons is on uh Zoom, she has a disability, she qualifies, and it's just

011three folks at the DEIS." And we then make a decision um and that decision is is challenged. You can guide me and that decision gets challenged and they say, "You know what? That disability that she said doesn't really even qualify." That can get overturned. And so instead of having us go down that road, >> I would I think that it might be prudent for us to maintain being in person like we expect. Okay, >> Commissioner Griffin. >> Yes. Um I might have missed something, but I just wanted to say to in reference to this video thing, it to me is it's clearly a waste of time and I say it for this reason. Before COVID, we had strict uh rules where people had to be present. the school board is the only uh elected officials

012that are having a problem with video conferencing. Everybody else shows up and when they don't show up, they they have they they um they are addressed, but we put we're putting too much time in things that should go back to the way they were before co I mean they're making everything a co issue when I think that if everybody else in as an elected official can come back in and be present, why can't we? We are we are adults here. We took we took oath of office. We know we what our what our um what we're supposed to do. Why are we treating hand we're holding handholding people and we shouldn't do this. It wasn't there before. Everybody else got rid of it. But we still we're still dealing with video conferencing. It's a clear

013waste of time for me. For me, I think that it's something that if other other elected officials that meet don't have a problem with that this then why are we still beating a dead horse on this? For me, that's just for me. >> I appreciate your comments. General counsel, are you able to give a bit of the history as to why video conferencing still exists for multiple school boards across the nation? >> Uh I can't speak to other school districts. >> That's okay. we'll do some research and so yeah it is unfortunate that we are visiting it but this is where we are and so something that we should do to be prudent um and so not a waste of time in my opinion but I do appreciate yours at this time um I do

014want to um pro promote that language and so again u for the clerk's purpose um I think those are some of the things that qualify as extraordinary circumstances we can put language in that may allow for breathing but vacations personal travel personal preference conference and um scheduling conflicts don't necessarily um qualify for regular video conferencing. It it just shouldn't be a regular thing. You had a question. >> So what I was going to suggest the policy based on some of the examples you gave that you feel should be extra organized circumstance already listed based on the language you all agreed upon at the last meeting. Disability is not one of them. What what we could do is I can come up with a sentence just like the other examples to add in here so that

015when you all get to your second reading it's there for you to consider the language um because other stuff is already listed. >> Okay. Okay. So I think that might be something to just um know that we have it in there so that we can um reference it. Now I know that you mentioned that the board clerk piece um was something that we agreed upon. I would like to revisit that, but I can wait till the to the end so that you can continue with this piece. Sorry, >> Commissioner Griffin. >> I just wanted to clarify for the listening public and for the record. When I say a waste of time, it's a waste of time that we putting so much time into this. I know there there has to be clearly some parameters around

016the video conferencing, but basically I'm saying let's the way it was it should it should be, you know, be prior to co. I just want to be clear on that for the listening public for the record. I agree with what you're saying to put the parameters on it, but I think we spent too much time on it. >> That's wonderful and I appreciate your comments. Uh, clerk or well Travis, go ahead. >> So, the next section is section three, temporary mutant board members utilize a video conference. >> Say that again. Section. Okay. >> So, this will be a brand new section that isn't currently in there. Gotcha. Um so again feedback from August 12th. Uh people have the right to share their views but not disrespect each other. Would like the decision to be made

017regarding the proposed policy language with thinking of oneself in mind. Do not want to be a trigger or weaponized mechanism. Take the conversation to CGCS for advisement. Um general counsel explained the potential of viewpoint discrimination instead of decorum which is unlawful and highlighted that the proposed policy language has an automatic appeal. So there's technically three paragraphs so we can take it one paragraph at a time that would be helpful or you can discuss it all together. >> Okay. So the first paragraph I I tend to agree with as far as um I think there should be a warning you know that you know I don't think we automatically do it that that's the one thing um and I think that we have to be explicit about not having viewpointbased um so this needs to be

018content so the only purpose in which a commissioner would be um potentially muted is based on decorum which are things that we already have per our policy. Um and so that um interruption of quorum being um speaking out of turn right where our general counsel has to say you haven't been called on um disrupting the meeting using abusive or threatening language or excessively loud language like we've had examples and this is not to personalize I'm just speaking factually at this point so I I'm hoping that it is taken in the spirit of this discussion where we've had folks literally arguing through the zoom and So these are things that are just not um things I'd like to visit long term. I'd like to to have something in place so that that those are those are

019pieces that are um cont or behavior based and not viewpoint based. So if someone is talking about the sky um is green versus blue. I don't agree. I don't have the right no one has the right to mute that person from their viewpoint. Um but behavior-based is the context in which I'm referring to this policy. And so if we could be explicit around behavior-based and using those examples that I did uh shared disrupting meetings, abusive language, threatening and screaming, that will constitute that you should be muted. And the second piece to that is um if we can't get that under control, we may have to take a brief recess to to figure that out. Um hold on one second. I see your hand, Commissioner Santiago. Um are you did you get that? Okay. Commissioner Santiago.

020>> Yeah. My my recommendation is that it be a vote instead of just a decision on the chair of the meeting um to possibly um prevent a situation as you just explained from happening. So instead, it should be four members of the board who agrees to mute or disconnect a member, which I I see some conflicts in. And I don't know if that's if it's true or not, but I mean at the same time being muted and kicked off of a meeting that we were duly elected to be in, right? And I'm not saying, you know, for for decorum or for not, but it sounds like there might be issues with that individually, too. But I do believe that it should be a vote um instead of just a chair's decision. >> Well, let me

021be explicitly clear. This did not indicate that you would be kicked out of the meeting. You would still have the opportunity to vote and be part of the meeting. But however, if one cannot conduct themselves during that meeting without interrupting, yelling, screaming or disrespecting their colleagues, then they will be muted. But to your point, Commissioner Santiago, there's no um appetite to have that person remove. I mean, unless they just can't, you know, continue. And that's where the recess would come in, but um >> is well then my recommendation would be to remove the end of this sentence because at the end it says disconnect the members connection, which means disconnect the member's connection from the meeting. So it says exactly what you're saying. It doesn't say. >> Yeah. No, I'm I'm not in agreement with

022that. So yeah, I agree with not disconnecting them out of there. I'm not talking about that policy. I'm proposing um some some different thoughts. So I have like my own notes here. Um and so no, I would not want them. So what I do agree with is the first paragraph on that piece that you're looking at, but I said the rest of it I don't necessarily align with. And then I proposed what I do think might be more beneficial, which is the muting only under behavior-based things like we're, you know, we're not aligned or following Robert's rules. Um, and so yeah, we wouldn't be disconnecting anyone necessarily. >> So, if I can make the recommendation for that part to be removed because it says clear and date, disconnect the members connection. So, I can only

023guess that that's from the meeting. So, that's my recommendation. Thank you. Yeah. >> Do we have any other comments there? >> Yes, we do. >> Yes. Go >> ahead. Missed you. Go ahead. >> Thank you. Um, I would agree with that. I think the language to disconnect a member's connection is uh not appropriate. Um, we're all elected and should be here u making decisions. So, I wouldn't support that. But I do support temporarily muting people so that we can facilitate the meeting. >> Right. That that's exactly what I'm saying. So, we're all in agreement to strike that second part of the piece. Uh, as far as disconnecting, so we we see it. We're in align alignment with why and how a person should be muted. I think I would like what Commissioner Santiago suggested as

024far as maybe we go ahead and do a vote. So, it's it's kind of clear. Um, and I do want to say that muting shall not prevent a member from voting or participating when recognized. So, >> in other words, we'll we'll mute when we need to. um if we ever need to and then but um that person will remain on video conferencing. It will not dictate that they they're removed. Yes, >> I'm just seeking clarity on the suggestion to take a vote. >> Are we would we be taking a vote to mute the person? I'm just thinking to actual circumstances and uh the speed that sometimes our chair has to move. um if we have to take the time to motion a vote to mute someone, there's a lot that can happen um in that

025amount of time. So, I'm wondering is that what we're asking for is to take a vote to mute someone or I'm not >> You know what? I think the chair should just go ahead and make that decision and it can be appealed if need be, but let's keep it at the chair. But I do think when when it's time to go to recess, we can um vote for that. But, Commissioner Santiago, go ahead. >> Yeah. So it it says on here direct the board staff um to to do that and the board staff isn't an individual board members staff. Um so that includes for the chair like the staff the board staff is staff for the entire board or the majority of the board at least minimum. >> Okay. I just didn't see you passing.

026>> And so to direct the board staff it shouldn't just be one board member's decision. It should be a collective decision from the board. And I know it's fast moving situations. >> Um but if you can recess the meeting, you can also call a vote to mute one of one of the board members >> possibly. And so um Commissioner Patterson, did you need me? >> Yes. I just want to weigh in. So again, um I think that again to as uh the vice president said to keep things moving along, the president should be allowed to u mute that individual and keep the meeting moving. And then we go to paragraph number two. if you can't resolve the issue. But I don't think we have to have a vote personally, you know, just to mute an

027individual when they're being very disruptive as we've seen in um other meetings. >> So, so I think the part of the pieces so in real time like right here we we are in a physical meeting, we cannot mute any member um but we have had meetings where um passions get very high, right? uh we have a strong position on something and we may um not follow decorum and so we're talking out of turn and and I don't have we don't have the ability to mute in that instance but we do have the ability to recess um what I don't want to experience is the Wizard of Oz I call it which is folks um it's very glaring to hear people talking and imagine someone yelling over this this piece is just that's that's but I

028respect the um position. So that's where I am with that. That's language and we we do have the authority and the right to vote um where we don't agree and this is not a resolute um piece right now. There is still room to have further discussion and I still agree with us maybe consulting CGCS for some of the pieces that we may not agree on. And I'm going to take one final piece on this on this. Um >> I would just argue that as um when we elect a board chair, you know, the role of the board chair is in our policy manual very clearly laid out and the responsibilities during meetings for whoever is facilitating the meeting at that time. So I think that delegation of responsibility is already clearly laid out by the

029board. Our board president speaks on ha behalf of the board after gathering input um from all board members, but their their literal job is to facilitate uh meetings. And I think that this propores this proposed um policy language change is going to help us facilitate our meetings uh as laid out in our policies. >> Thanks. >> So for now again this is what does this consider the first or second readings? the second, right? >> This is the first reading. >> First reading. So, there's still time if if we need to go to it, but we need to get through this. And at this time, um, yes, that's how I would like it to read if if the board is amanable to it. And also, I'd like to make sure there's language around recess is the

030next piece if if we can't do that. Um, did you have anything else on here, Miss uh, Clerk Travis? >> Um, the last the last paragraph really, I mean, I'm pretty sure you all are okay with it. the technical difficulties that that last one. [clears throat] >> Oh, like that like you hear talking in the background and things like that. Yes. I mean, yeah. Uh yeah, that I think that's happened before and I think for the privacy of the individual who may be having connectivity issues and um you know, we we I certainly would like to protect people in that regard. So, I support that >> final paragraph. Anyone else? I agree. >> Okay. And then lastly, um there was a piece where we had the piece around um if you're going to be absent

031that we would uh let the clerk know that type of thing. Oh, wait a minute. We didn't do the online um how many times we missed meetings, right? Or how many times we're on here. >> So, at the um my recap was based on that conversation you all had last time. Okay. There wasn't a consensus of everyone agreeing upon one thing. So we you all moved on from it, but of course you can come bring it back up, but that's where you left off at. >> Yeah. So, you know, again, I think to Commissioner Griffin's point, the commissioners are really expected to be here. We have the video conferencing policy as many school boards do across the nation. Um but ideally we should be here in person. Um the policy again that's why it states

032extenduating circumstances. So it was giving some grace. It was not um designed for uh regular use. Um and so um I do want to take a look at the number of times if we can get some um understanding around that. I think that for me I suggest no more than five meetings. >> I think that's >> Commissioner Griffin. >> I I think that's really excessive. I think that uh um five meetings is a lot. >> I think that I can see two, but I can't see five. I I I just don't think I mean for the most part most of us are here at the meetings. So I don't think that's that's um I think that's a disservice to the community to people that that put you in the seat. >> Yeah. So and and

033I respect that. Um just to give some um understanding of the thought process. One thing I was considering is that if we look at our two scheduled meetings, we have work session each month and we have a board meeting each month. We have some other meetings, but those are the two standing meetings that we know we're going to have. And if you're multiplying that by 12, that's about 24 meetings. So, out of those 24 meetings, um somewhere along the line, you could get sick, you could break your your hip, whatever could happen. Um and I think that sporadically throughout that year with 24 meetings, a meeting here, maybe there's another meeting somewhere else. five meetings might not be that, but um do you have a number that you would suggest? You said two. Um Commissioner

034Patterson, any thoughts on that? >> Yeah, thoughts. I think we ought to look at other school districts because I know of one that has 80,000 students and they only have uh I think it's two meetings a month. So, I think we ought to, you know, do our research behind why we're having so many meetings if we have a smaller school district, you know, less than 20,000 students. >> Yeah. >> So, I think we should look into that. And so I I do appreciate that and for the purpose of this and I don't think anyone wants to talk about video conferencing when we have so many uh things. We have budget coming up. We have federal threats in front of us and very important things that we need to visit. But if we're not here to

035do it and if it is causing quorum issues. We barely made quorum tonight. So as I stated in our last meeting, there's no reason we have an active attendance campaign asking students to be here for five days a week. Um and and and we can't be here as commissioners. Um, at the end of the day, we have a policy, right? We we're all about policy. This policy exists as it is. And so, as it exists, we need to discuss this policy that is impacting us from being here the way we need to. So, that is why this time is being dedicated to it because it it has to happen. Um, I I I am thinking no more than five. I can I >> And then did you have anything, Vice President Malloy or Commissioner Santiago?

036Uh, I guess I would argue that it's no more than two times. >> Any other thoughts? >> Meet in the middle. Three. >> Well, I can I say this? I I guess I'm looking at the dynamics of our district and I'm looking at the teachers and I'm looking at the I'm looking at the custodians. I'm looking at everything that comes together in school and people if they weren't there. So I think that when they have to come, they have so many more days to be present and we have teachers and custodians and pair professionals that don't miss a day. >> And we talking about 24 meetings when they don't miss a day and they go to school every day to serve our kids and we sitting here going back and forth about how many days

037somebody can't be here to a meeting that people elected them for. I don't I don't I I think it's it's really speaks for itself. If you can't if you don't want this job, then don't don't don't want to be elected. I think two is sufficient. That's my opinion. But because we have to serve this community. We are we are in a state of emergency with our district. And right now it's us that have to make hard decision hard decisions sometimes to make sure that the district is going in the right direction. So for me, if the teacher and the custodian, the pair professional, everybody else can get there, we should be able to get there too. I agree with that and I appreciate it and I think the majority of commissioners do um like that.

038Um and so you know what we can do the two um commissioners may not attend more than two scheduled meetings annually or they you know uh through video conferencing um unless extraordinary circumstances are verified. So I think having that clause in there will allow for um if if something comes up. So you may need three, you may need five, and and if you have that extraordinary circumstance taking place, that that will be allowable, but you you just don't get to use it willy-nilly. >> That was going to be my question because the whole point of of this policy is exactly for that. So this entire section is specific to extraordinary circumstances. So that's really when it should be used. >> Um and so I just wanted clarity on that. are are we are you all

039saying to meetings even if extraordinary circumstances happen because that's what they're >> qualify someone's extraordinary circumstances but you know um so that's why I gave that other language um earlier clerk Travis around it's not personal vacation it's not personal preference it's not just because you feel like it tomorrow or yesterday it's it's for extraordinary circumstances and that's why I'm trying to be careful because extraordinary circumstances are just that and it's not necessarily for us to dict dictate how often that happens, but I think we need to put a number on that. So, um, we can we're only in the first reading, so we can always revisit that. Right now, for the purpose of this conversation moving forward, we're going to go with the the two. It might turn into more. Um, but we're going to

040go with two as as that is stated, but I'd like to have the clause unless extraordinary circumstances are verified. Commissioner Santiago, I saw your hand. You could Okay. And was there anything else? Um, clerk Travis, was that it? >> You mentioned the district clerk and I put it up on the screen. >> Yeah, that's the last thing and I'm done with this conversation as far as um just maintaining. So we we recognize that we'll report to the the district clerk. Um I do want it to be explicit that the clerk will maintain a record of video conferencing requests and approvals um because that may be part of audit and compliance pieces. Um and um they'll also maintain record of extraordinary circumstances or early departure that must be documented in the meeting minutes which is something

041I think you already do but we do need to start having some kind of um accountability around that. comments. >> And so that's going to be the last of it. I'm going to give one last moment uh minute and I'll give that last to yourself, Commissioner Patterson. >> Yep. >> Did Yeah. >> I I I for the life of me, I I don't understand why, and I'm not even the the president here, but why you wouldn't want to also be in on a CC to that. I don't know why anyone any commissioner would want you or a president will say removed from that uh communication. So, you know, >> I'm not in agreement with that. I'm sorry. >> Okay. >> I have to >> Can we Can we allow Commissioner Patterson to finish his thought

042and then and then we >> Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt you. >> And then that's going to be it. >> Actually, I lost it. So, I'm sorry. >> Okay. Well, we're going to conclude because I said that was the last remark on that. So, you you suggest you'd like to have that in there. go ahead and put it in cuz we're only at the first reading and we can revisit that at the CCN um the president. What because what we're finding is before meeting we're counting commissioners to see if we're going to be able to have a physical meeting. So if there's a question around why we're having this conversation, it's because it is very very difficult to have the meeting around the important conversations that we need to be conducting as far as

043business in this district if we don't have commissioners here to do it. Is that shameful? I I don't think it needs to happen and I'm I u as I said last meeting I think we have the ability to do better. Um I know I haven't missed a meeting. I think I've left one meeting early this year but everyone doesn't have the same circumstances. So we do need to recognize that but we need protocols in place. So with that said do you have everything uh uh Miss Travis I was going to call you Commissioner Travis. Um so does that conclude the conversation for this? Do we need to motion to move it forward um to the out of the work session um and this would move toward the business meeting for second readings? >> Correct. And

044then about the business meeting all the language as you all said will be some um recommendations or moving forward. >> Okay. So with that I'd like to entertain a motion move policy 2325 from the board work session to the business meeting. So moved. >> Moved by Vice President Malloy second by Commissioner Patterson. All in favor? >> I. Any opposed? Okay. What happened to my paper? Okay. We are going to move on to the multiple policies presentation. And so these are just opening this up here going to be policies. Um 4830.1 through policy 4772 it looks like there. >> 4765. >> Yeah, I was just reading the top to the to the last one. Okay. So, we have these policies. Um, were there any discussions on these policies? >> Do you want me to presentation? >>

045There is. Who's presenting this? Oh, you know what? I apologize. >> Miss Ramos. >> It is for your you to present on these presentations. Forgive me. I'm trying to look at two different things here. President Simmons, this is our pres the presentation for for me to do for the policies. >> I can't understand. >> This is for me to do for the policies. >> This is for you to do. You're doing that. >> Okay. >> Are you okay with me moving forward? >> Please do. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> All right. So, uh, as President Simmons mentioned, this presentation is for policies 4765, 4772, 4830.1, and 4850. And as always, the policies followed this the process and we're currently at step five, board work session. [snorts] At this time, the cabinet and board staff

046weighed in on the policies. It they were sent um as part of the standard operating procedure to our district um advisory [clears throat] groups as well. And so policy 4765 online learning and course correct. Nesba said that we have updated this policy to reflect state regulations on remote instruction during emergency school closures. As a result, our policy recommendations currently reflect Nesbas as well as updating the name to online and remote learning and course correct graduation ceremonies 4772. Nesba said that we are clarifying that the district's obligations to provide special education related services to students with disabilities until they turn 22 only applies to those students so classified under IDEA IDA and so um we have updated our policy clarify the superintendent's role in planning graduation ceremonies prevented conflicts with board meetings and affirm the board's

047authority to approve or adjust dates and then also added than NEZA's recommendation. The last two policies 4830.1 and 4850 do not have any NESBA um updates nor any significant um changes. And so these policies were moved forward out of this work session tonight. It will go through the readings per policy 2410 and scheduled to be voted on at the January business meeting. Thank you. >> Thank you, Clerk Travis. Okay. So, um I would like to at this time entertain a motion to forward the policies that were just visited. 47 uh65, 4772, 4803.1, and 48 I'm sorry. Yeah. 4850. Um move those forward to the board work session. >> Motion. And um were there any questions or discussion regarding those policies? I do like the graduation ceremony. I must say I'm excited about that. And I

048know that logistically it's probably a nightmare. Um but I I'm hoping I do know that it's hard being on the stage and you're celebrating some students and then there's another graduation happening simultaneously and you have to leave early. So if that's avoidable, that would be magnificent. Um with um these on the table, all in favor of moving them to the board um out of the board work session. >> Motion second. >> I you guys already motioned I >> I >> Thank you. Any opposed? These policies carry. >> Okay. And now um thank you. This we're going to turn the mic over for the legislative agenda priorities. Thank you very much. So, as we prepare for the 2627 budget, it's going to be important that we solidify what our legislative priorities are going to be. And

049I'm going to have um Chief Lopez lead the conversation. Chief Lopez. >> Thank you, Dr. Rosser. Good evening, commissioners. This year we're starting the process earlier. So I'm excited that we have this conversation. Now in the board docs document you have last year's legislative priorities, last fiscal year's legislative priorities. As you can see, there are quite a number of priorities listed. Uh we are looking at moving to a different format that focuses our legislative priorities specifically aligned to our strategic plan by adopting one high lever priority for each strategic area thereby resulting in five legislative priorities. The challenge with the priorities the way we've been presenting them is that we've had some items that have been rolled over for multiple years with no movement forward. And so what we are trying to do is ensure

050that our priorities are specific to the strategic plan. And I want to advise you as u many of you are aware with the uh big five organization there are legislative priorities that are created there that impact all big five items. So there's an opportunity to influence some of those um legislative priorities with that group to make sure that if there are any um larger issues specifically related to uh legislation or charter schools or even foundation aid that we have that group advocating for all big five districts. We are looking at having these finalized no later than January 13th, which is your work session for the month of January. And then we are looking at having a legislative breakfast on Friday, February 13th. Thank you very much for that information. Um, and thank you for that

051context. I'm hoping that we can have our priorities align in alignment and down to like I think three and five are great numbers and um they're they're they're realistic numbers and they demonstrate that there's actually priority um there. So, thank you. Did anyone have questions for Dr. Roser um regarding the legislative priorities? I'm going to start to my um right if you don't mind with Commissioner Patterson. Yeah, I don't know if it's uh specifically for the superintendent, but I maybe it's everyone in the room, but um for four years now, I've talked relative to um the uh charter schools and it says establish a moratorium and limit charter school expansion. I personally think that if I were a parent in the district that I would want that choice to be mine and not for the

052school district to make that choice for me. I've always indicated that if we do our job as educators, as schoolboard members, um, as a district, that the students will come back. You know, if we show increases in student, which we are showing students reading on grade level, students graduating on time, students being college or career ready, we're going to draw the students back. If we make all our schools equal and equitable, have sports programs and band programs and choir and competition between schools, um, uh, you know, our students will come back. But to force, you know, parents into coming back to the district, I don't think it paying taxes that any parent should be forced, you know, uh, to come back to the district. They should be given that option. And again, I'm for public

053schools, don't get me wrong, but um at the same time, I'm for parents having uh that right to make the decision, you know, for their kid. And I don't think that the district should be forcing them into making the decision. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you, Commissioner Patterson. Um and I do want to um I'm going to hear from Commissioner uh Santiago, and then I do want to just kind of share what we're looking to do here. So, we're not going to necessarily discuss these now, but um Commissioner, since I did open it up for a little discussion, Commissioner Santiago, >> no, I just wanted to say that I agree with uh cutting it down to five priorities. Um it gives us more of a chance of what to focus on. Um and I do

054like that it's going to be censored around our um strategic plan. So, just wanted to say I agree. Thank you, >> Vice President Malloy. >> Thank you. And I agree with that as well, pairing it down to five. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. And so, um, I do want to just state that I'd like all of us, and this is including me, we're just, um, I strongly encourage us to just look at these recommendations, um, and just come prepared to really prioritize. Maybe there's a different one that's not on this list, but um in the spirit of about five resolutions, come prepared to discuss what those five priority resolution, excuse me, not resolutions, but legislative um priorities would be, but this is a list from last year. Um and the reminder is that on

055Friday, February 13th, that is going to be our breakfast, legislative breakfast. So, we'll have that then. Okay, we're going to move forward to the academics here and we do have a presentation. >> Oh, well, there's a policy 6256 annual presentation administrative supports. Oh, academics. I'm sorry. I'm looking at I gotta figure out how to do something different between these two papers. Bear with me. It's 704 though. We're doing good. We'll we'll be okay. Okay. So, thank you um Commissioner Santiago. Academics, there is a resolution for review and these are um as I open it, resolutions 254 through 259. And so I'd like to um entertain a motion if I could bundle these through for 254 through 259. Um with the understanding that we're going to >> Oh, we're going to discuss these first before put

056these will go to the consent agenda that then after the discussion. Okay, gotcha. So let's open it for discussion and be with resolutions 254 through 259. Do we have any discussions at this time? Commissioner Santiago. >> Yeah. My my question is just uh clarifying and this might be to the to the clerk. Um but what is the reason that we've started uh going to the consent agenda or this might be to to you guys? Um I agree with it. I'm not saying anything against it, but I'm just wondering like what's our new reason why for going to this approach instead of how things used to be? >> Were you asking the >> whoever can ask? Yes. So, under the council for great city schools, they've worked with our um board on really when you watch

057some other board meetings, you'll see where there's not all this discussion and hi and welcome and congratulations and thank you. And there's more of a understanding of what those items are. And so, the work session allows us the opportunity to really work through the question and answer period, get clarity, and in between that time, we also have the board question log. We can submit submit things. So by the time we get to that board business meeting, we are actually handling the business of the board and we we have this stuff solidified. So still opportunity for discord uh and discussion. Um but that that is primarily the purpose. >> Yes. Any other discussion on resolutions 254 through 259 at this time? Yes. >> I'm sorry. So when you when you all decided to move it forward,

058I just want to clarify. >> Uh 254 tonight was a walk on resolution. So the number has been used. So what I would recommend is to make 254 in this current review packet 254A. >> Okay. >> And keep all the other numbers the same, but just make that one specifically to 254A. >> Do I need to motion all of that? >> When whenever you're done, at some point you do need a motion at first before you >> by the end of the discussion. remind me. >> Yeah, >> no problem. >> Okay, any other discussion for um resolution 254? I think that is regarding interpreters and um I did want to make sure I understood it right. I did look at the summary. This is for all language. I know that the Rochester City School District,

059we have tons of languages. Would this encompass all languages in the district or Dr. Wright, would you be able to because I my understanding that it is, but can you verify if that is correct? >> Okay. That is good. Thank you. Okay. With no further discussion or questions, um, resolutions 254 through 259. >> Yeah, we have to change that. >> I'm going to go. Thank you. So, do I change that? He said I I said I was going to forget and you're like, she forgot. Um, so I'll go ahead and and do that now for 254. I'd like to um amend that to that modify that resolution to read as 254A. A motion from Commissioner Santiago, seconded by Vice President Malloy. All in favor of modifying 254 to read as 254A. >> I Any opposed?

060Motion carries. And at this time, I'd like to entertain mo uh resolutions 254A through 259 to move forward to the consent agenda on the business meeting. >> So moved. >> Moved by Vice President Loy, seconded by Commissioner Patterson. All in favor? >> I. >> Motion carries. Any opposed? Motion carries. Okay. So now we're moving into the administrative supports and there is in fact a presentation for the administrative supports and at this time uh we have I'm going to turn it over to Dr. Roser. Thank you. >> So thank you very much. Um, as per our board policy 6256, um, the board of education in order to ensure better fiscal oversight directs the superintendent to submit a written report to the board of education on quarterly basis commencing on April 1st, 2021 of all newly awarded

061grants to the district. Um, this policy was passed and approved um and recently amended on the April 29th, 2025. So this evening to fulfill our requirements under this policy we have Miss Carrie Peor who will be providing a presentation for our annual grant report. Miss Peor. >> Thank you. Uh good evening and greetings commissioners. Thanks for having me tonight to present to you a summary of our grant administration in the 2425 school year and then a brief uh forecast of our grant administration for the 2526 school year. Next slide please. Yeah, you can go to the next one please Tom. Thank you. Okay. So, as you know, our district uses two KPIs or key performance indicators to measure grant performance um and administration of grants in the district. The first of those measures relates to

062the percentage of the district's budget that is comprised by grant dollars. The Council of Great City Schools suggests that grant funds comprise between 11 to 13% of the district's overall budget in any given fiscal year. And you can see that for the 2425 school year, we were right in that range. >> Next slide, please. [clears throat] >> Within that 12% of grants that were administered within the 2425 budget, the district held and administered 75 individual grants. Um, last year was the first year we started collecting this data. And as you can see, the large bulk of our grant funding was used to support supplemental academic programs in alignment with priority one of the district's strategic plan with provision of social emotional supports coming in second. Uh we intend to use this data moving forward as

063we um assess the feasibility of pursuing grants within the district. Um, it can be used to help inform our decision-making and to close funding gaps um and be considered while we take into consideration need in the district and their alignment to any grant um competitions that are open at any given time. Next slide, please. Thank you. Um, so within the Rochester City School District, we have the Office of Grants and Program Accountability. Um and within that department we have a comprehensive system of supports that's utilized to administer grant funding. So for each district leader um common nomenclature within our department is called the project lead who's responsible for programs that are grant funded. Uh the team in OGPA creates a grants portfolio associated implementation plans for programs that are funded with grants and then monitoring

064structures. So many times these project leads have multiple grants that uplift multiple programs at their schools or within their departments at the same time. The grant portfolio system lays out exactly which expenditures are funded in which grant. um aligns expenditures within the grant to program goals. And then the implementation plans are created to keep staff on top of internal deadlines that are required to be followed um for things such as purchasing, contracting or funding programs with additional hourly pay as well as external reporting deadlines including programmatic and fiscal reports that are required to be submitted to the funer. So this comprehensive system supports project leads and takes some of the administrative task tasks off of their plates so that they can really focus on the content um expertise that they have and administering the programs

065related to um the grants that they are required to implement. So as you can see on this slide last year the m the majority of grants that we administered here in the district fully or adequately met their programmatic and fiscal progress goals. So, um the color coding that you see within the chart, um for grants that fully met their programmatic and fiscal progress goals, they met um all of their deadlines. They met all of their uh program goals as well as having between 80 to 100% of spendown. Um yellow um took those uh different criteria into um adequately met. Um, and then they had spend down between 50 to 84% on track by the funding period end date. And then red were the grants that uh require a little bit more focus um and didn't

066have the programmatic or the fiscal spend that we were really looking for. Okay, next slide, please, Tom. So, we've used the data that we just shared um over the past several years to compare our grant administration to the two key performance indicators or KPIs that are suggested by the Council of Great City Schools. So, the first one is that um KPI that focuses on the percentage of grant funds within the budget that comprise um the district's overall budget. So, you can see year-over-year for the past six years, we've been right on right on par with what the council recommends, which is um for that percentage to be between 11 to 13% of the district's budget. And then the second KPI that we're looking at is associated with how um how much funding remains unspent at

067the end of a funding period per $100,000 of grant awards funded. Um there's a vast range when you look at the benchmark data in the managing for results that the uh council of great city schools puts out every year with some districts ranging from leaving $22 per 100,000 on the table all the way up to some districts um leaving $51,000 per $100,000 of grant funding available. So you can see our progress. We've made slow but steady progress throughout the past six years that this department has been um in existence with a slight dip in the 2425 school year last year. Um in looking into what could potentially have been a root cause of that dip um we've noted that a couple factors including the federal government funding freezes that we experienced last year um was

068a factor as well as the cut over and implementation of the district's new financial management system. Okay. >> Okay. Next slide, please, Tom. So, I wanted to share a couple notable highlights from our grant administration during the 24-25 school year. Um, with your support, we've really been able to deepen our program evaluation um department and repository within the district uh both internally and with our partnership with Gibson Consulting, which is our external program evaluation partner. So last year we were able to complete 12 formal program evaluation projects um of programs that were funded with grant dollars. So topics that were researched or evaluated include chronic absenteeism, provision of social emotional supports to students including uh research brief on help zones, a research brief on literacy programming in the district, and then an evaluation of the

069district's summer learning programs which will be coming forth in the upcoming months. Um the proposed research and evaluation agenda for 2526 includes 15 projects and topics are in the process of being finalized with the new administration in alignment with district district priority and the strategic plan priorities. [snorts] Um the second notable highlight I wanted to mention tonight is um has to do with the volatility of the federal funding streams that we've experienced in the past year. Um, our district has been actively monitoring federal policy and its impact on grant funding within the district. So, every quarter, our grant portfolio is reviewed against existing policy and information that we're receiving in technical assistance meetings with the Council of Great City Schools, NICED, as well as other uh state funding agencies. Um, we take that information and

070then we've been compiling it to inform some decision-making and to begin to develop and generate some draft contingency plans so that we can sustain programming or scale pro programming moving forward um in the event of funding cuts or freezes. Um, that being said, as we all know, uh, the current landscape at the federal level is quite fluid. So, we're making best decisions daily based on the information we have available and at hand at any given time. [snorts] Next slide, please. Uh, so that's kind of a summary of 2425 looking into 2526. We're kind of um only through uh quarter 1 of this uh year. And um what you see here is just the composition of our district's budget in um in regards to the general fund, the special aid fund, and the school uh food

071service fund. And you can see again uh we're right on track with what the council of great city schools has put forward as um uh you know what would constitute a healthy grant portfolio with it within any given school district's budget with the uh benchmark being between 11 and 13%. And then finally um this slide summarizes the grant activity that's been undertaken in this quarter. And if you take a look at the timeline that's mentioned after the the title of the slide, that actually should read from 71 to 9:30. So in that time period, we've had two competitive grants awarded. We have nine grants currently under review. [snorts] We had three grants not awarded or dropped. Uh excuse me, four total, three not awarded and one dropped. And then uh we haven't had any grants

072in that quarter um under development because um that during that time frame is uh typically when we've been very busy in uh developing grants and then submitting them to funders for uh review. So if you look at the attachments, there's several um documents that have further detail about the different uh categories of grants that are listed on this slide. Next slide, Tom. Um we have uh built out a comprehensive website with information about the different aspects of the office of grants and program accountability, our administration of grant funds and ESSA funded programs as well as our research and evaluation framework. So I encourage um everyone to take a look um and I am happy to take any questions at this time. >> Yeah. So thank you very much Miss Por for your thorough report. One

073of the things I want to highlight um that Miss Pecor spoke to is the reliance on um federal grants. Um I was at a conference um earlier this year and it was shared with us that while there still may be grant applications out there that school districts should not place a lot of confidence that those grants will be awarded. um and for grants that we currently have that there is also a likelihood that those dollars may not be um appropriated um as you know awarded. So that's one of the things I just want to make sure that we are mindful of because as we are all as school districts um journeying down a path um that is is quite unique um in the history of um um current um civilization or United States. It's just

074important that we we recognize that the federal funding um stream um may take a turn and a turn for the wor worse unfortunately. Any questions? >> Thank you. >> Yeah, thank you. Um so that was actually my exact question. I just was wondering about federal impacts and um what we could expect. The good news, I guess, is that we do have a healthy fund balance uh to make up for that type of thing. Yes, we do, but we just need to be mindful of the entire pie. So, while the federal funding might be have an impact on um the funding that we receive, there's also other variables that may play into um shortfalls for this upcoming school year. >> Okay. Thank you. >> And I shouldn't say shortfalls, decrease revenue streams for this upcoming year.

075>> Thank you. Yeah, I'm I'm thinking about the anticipation of uh escalating health care costs and >> uh the benefits and all of that good stuff. Um yeah, and so title one, two, three, and four, a lot of things are going to be impacted potentially under under title one >> under the taco grants. Yes, that we have not received any confirmation. Miss Por, I know that you've been in conversations with um our colleagues at the Council of Great City Schools. Have you received any updates as to um where title stands for this upcoming year and what some of the conversations are? >> Um all of the information we get from the council of great city schools as well as nice is kind of things are in flux. for okay for 25 26 and we're not

076quite sure what the future holds which rolls back to some of the reliance I think that we're going to have moving into upcoming budget years on that program evaluation so that we can determine how we're getting the most the best bang for our buck what programs have been really effective and are um good value in terms of cost as well as that contingency planning by leveraging some of the funding sources that we know are most stable. So, for example, um information that we received from Council of Great City Schools and NICE indicate that there's no appetite to reduce or eliminate title one funding per se. Um some of the other titles might be um a little bit more volatile, but if we can figure out uh you know developing plans where we leverage our ability

077to be flexible within title one funding, scale our programs appropriately and and move them forward, then I think we're doing our due diligence and making sure we're being responsible and reactive to the the changing climate. >> Awesome. >> Thank you, Commissioner Patterson. >> I don't have any questions for you. I just want to say thank you. I know that um your office does a lot of work. You know, the grant writing is very difficult. Um I'm aware of um not personally that I've done it, but I've spoken to individuals that written grants for other programs that I ran. But um you know, I normally get around and say, you know, thank you. And I will be getting around the entire building prior to Christmas and which I routinely do and just saying thank you. But

078um I would also like to say that um the reason I haven't been around when you have faith in the leadership then I don't really perceive issues and problems you know that I I think I have to go around and say thank you for the job that you do. I think um you know we've given the superintendent that autonomy to do the job. I truly believe he's doing a well job. I I love the team that he's built. I have faith in them. So, just because I'm not coming around saying thank you for what you do, it doesn't mean I'm not thankful for what you do. >> Thank you. I appreciate that. >> Thank you. Um, anyone have any questions regarding the presentation for uh, Superintendent Roser? >> Okay. And just as I close out,

079one of the things that we will continuously do, and it may not be Miss Pecorore, but I will continuously keep the board ab breast and our community a breast as to what the federal landscape is looking like for the 2627 school year when we receive information. >> Thank you, Miss Por, for all that you do. >> Thank you. >> Never mind. It's okay. >> Um, and so we have the building utilization framework, superintendent. >> Yes. So, there's going to be a number of individuals who present this evening. I'm going to ask um Chief um Scott if he can come up to the podium as well as um Chief Wilson if she can come up to the the podium. I'm going to be um interjecting as well as we go through this um presentation. So, as

080Chief Scott makes his way to the and he's going to be first up the bat. um as he makes his way up to the podium, I want to sort of share with the board that it is imperative that as we look at this upcoming year that we look to to make sure that we are um reducing our expenditures um and that we are also aligning all of our work to fall underneath the priorities that can be found in our strategic plan. Next slide, please. So tonight's presentation is going to really revolve around three areas. Operational efficiency which is uh priority number five under our strategic plan, instructional excellence which is priority one and strengthening school family engagement which is priority four. The presentation is going to speak to reducing expenditures um particularly at Hart Street.

081As all of our board members know and our community may or may not know that we currently lease space at Hart Street and we're looking to vacate portions of the lease agreement for this upcoming year. In order for us to do so, we will most certainly need to identify areas in which certain departments will then be placed that are within the buildings in which we maintain currently. The presentation is also going to speak to aligning resources to programming under instructional excellence. And I see that we have our wonderful prek department here to to um answer any questions that may um arise through this presentation. We're looking to expand our prek services, most certainly prepping um our youngest learners um for life. And then lastly, um and Chief Wilson will be speaking to this. Um, we're

082looking to strengthen our school family engagement by expanding opportunities for collaboration and services to families. What Chief Scott is going to be providing an update on is our facilities modernization program which um there's language under our strategic plan priority number five. Um, and Chief Scott, why don't you go ahead? >> Yes. Thank you, Dr. Roster. Um, good evening, commissioners. Um, I'd like to just give a brief um update on just where we currently stand um with Rochester School Modernization Program, which is phase three construction. Um, this phase three um plan includes six of our schools um school number nine, um Wilson Commencement, Padilla High School at the Franklin campus, East High School, Edison, and the Douglas campus. Uh much of the work outlined in this phase focuses heavily on the mechanical, electrical and infrastructure improvements.

083Um these are the systems that basically serve as like the backbone of our facilities which includes heating, ventilation, electrical distribution, plumbing and our structural integrity in each of our buildings. Um this work is very critical um just in ensuring that our buildings remain safe, functional and sustainable for generations to come. Um to put things into perspective, many of these facilities are reaching significant milestones in age. Um I think it's important for me to just kind of give that brief as well. um you know Wilson commencement which was built in 1903 um that's 122 years old. That building is 122 years old which is our oldest building um currently in our in our portfolio. Um Padilla at the Franklin campus is 97 years old. East High is 68 years old. The Douglas campus is 59 years

084old. The current location of where Edison is right now in Koffax is 46 years old and school number nine um is 50 years old. So these modernization efforts are essential to extending the life of each one of our buildings to hopefully ideally um have another 100 years um while improving both learning in these environments both for our students and also our staff. Um at this time um currently we have placed a soft pause on the design on the construction activities as we await the results of our demographic and enrollment projections um which the state has required for us to submit. Um this submission is expected to be completed before Thanksgiving um the Thanksgiving break. Um after which we'll await state feedback to determine our next steps um in terms of building relocations during our construction

085during this phase. School number school number nine will relocate to the Jefferson campus. Uh Wilson commencement will relocate to the Marshall campus. Um, Padilla High School at Franklin, Edison Tech, and East High School will all remain in their buildings during construction. Um, which, um, we will work very carefully as we phase in, um, and minimize, um, limited disrupt disruption during that time. Um, once school number nine returns um, to its modernized building after their construction, the Douglas campus will occupy the Jefferson site during its construction phase. Um so overall this work represents a very major investment of course in long-term future of our school um facilities and basically ensuring that each building remains a strong sustain sustainable space for teaching and learning um and we'll modernize um the learning for for our students as well.

086So, one of the things that is going to be critically important that the board um makes a decision on and there will be a recommendation that I will bring forward is around the Frederick Douglas campus. It's my understanding that last year um there was a move to um close Northwest Middle School, but then the board opted to keep it open at least for another year. So, I do recognize that a recommendation will need to be brought forward in which we will need to have some conversations on either merging um Northwest Middle School with Andrew Langston Middle School or phasing um well, three steps. either merging, no two, merging um Northwest Middle School with Andrew Langston Middle School or phasing Northwest Middle School out to eventually just simply be Andrew Langston Middle School. So, I wanted

087to to sort of raise that because now is the time in which we need to have those conversations um and that a decision needs to be made because we need to make sure that as per our policy, we are most certainly working to inform those communities and we're doing our due diligence so that no later than March 1st, we can then submit paperwork to New York State Education Department um with our intentions on what's going to happen with Northwest Middle Any questions before we move to the next portion of our conversation? We have one down there. >> Santiago, >> Commissioner Santiago. Yeah, I just have a quick [clears throat] question specifically and this is one of the schools I leazison over, but it was told to me that they're they would be included in this

088upcoming uh facility modernization program, but specifically for the Loretta Johnson Middle School um who's currently of course having issues in their schools uh with black mode. I know that at the moment it was told to me that that will be in the upcoming uh facility modernization program to fix that from the gym area, the locker rooms uh and um the uh weight section of the school. Um and I don't see it on the list here and so I'm just asking for clarification around that. >> Good question. Um >> yes, >> Chief Scott can most certainly um speak to your your question. Yes. Uh, Commissioner Santiago, actually that work is being done this upcoming summer, but that's part of our capital improvement um project. So, those are different dollars. Um, FMP is um just a different

089phase. Um, so our CIP projects that we do every summer um are very um quick projects that we're able to do during the summertime. And Loretta Johnson is slated to um start um the work in the pool area during this particular summer. So that is correct, but it's just under a different um funding source. >> And do you do you believe that that will uh be able to get done? And how much are you guys usually budgeting for a school for that? Because I know for this system because it's been kind of not focused on uh the repairs that could have been possibly $10,000 coming from our budget is now going to be a lot more than that. And so, um, is it just a promise or do you expect that this will be done

090this upcoming summer? >> Oh, yeah. We've already, um, slated and have contractors, um, in place for that work. Um, we were trying to get it done last summer, but just we just could not find the contractors to take care of it at that time, but we do have slated contractors to start this upcoming summer for that work over at Loretta Johnson. So, that's certainly going to take place. And um it'll probably take the summer and maybe half of the school year to get finished, but certainly I'll make sure that I keep um you and the board updated as to how that how that progresses. >> And we're speaking about the pool, correct? >> Yes. Yes. Correct. >> And so is that just the pool area? Because I the pool, the locker room, and the the

091wait room or is it just for the pool area? >> It's just for the pool area, but any other um spaces that are affected that or may need some attention, we'll certainly do that as well. I mean, over at Loretta Johnson, um we just finished the the press box that was just put over and that was through our CIP dollars as well, along with the new um vestibule security entrance that we also put over at Loretta Johnson that just got finished um this past summer and all those were through um capital improvement. But >> yeah. Yeah. No, I I just want to say it's really important. I haven't been able and I'm done. I haven't been able to talk, you know, to fully talk to the the board specifically about this, but I have been

092hearing about the black mold that has been growing in that area for almost a year and a half now. Um, and have been asking prior superintendent, current superintendent, not current. I talked to the current superintendent recently, but have been asking about this situation for a long time. So, thank you. >> Yeah. Yeah, we'll take a look at because of my understanding that the area in question particularly with the allegation of black mode is solely isolated to the pool area which is not accessible. However, we will look into those other areas as well. >> I've seen it with my own eyes. So, I just want to let you know. >> Okay. So, that'll be um any other questions for the presentation to Superintendent Roser? >> Yeah. >> So, the next slide um please. So, as we

093mentioned, one of the things that's going to be critically important that as we look at moving toward developing our 2627 budget, as I mentioned earlier, is reducing our expenditures. Currently at Hart Street, we have a number of different offices and programs that are located there. and myself and the team have been working really hard to try to, as I mentioned earlier, reduce our expenditures by vacating portions of our lease um where those dollars are being currently paid to a landlord and seeing how we might be able to relocate some of these programs and offices um to buildings in which we currently maintain um at no cost to the district. So, at Oasis, excuse me, at Heart Street, we have Oasis. Oasis would remain. Um, the Office of Professional Learning, we're looking to move that for

094the 2627 school year. Home and Hospital, we're looking to move that for the 2627 school year. Youth and Justice Program, we're looking to move that for the 2627 school year. The Office of Attendance may move this year. McKente Vento would move for the 2627 school year. an external education program um office um would potentially move either this year or next year. One of the things that we also need to be mindful of is the Rochester International Academy. Currently, they're the only program that's currently at our Jefferson site and as per um the New York State Department of Education. It is critically important that students who are participating in the RIA program that they do have access and that that they are colllocated um with students who may not fit um the demographics that the RIA

095program accepts. So, we are looking at right now at places that we might be able to relocate the RIA program, particularly given with what Chief Scott just spoke to with school nine occupying that building for this upcoming year. And school 44, school 44 currently has um all adults for the most part. We have prek and special education staff currently in that building and we will be looking to relocate those individuals um into a new building for next year. Next slide. So, as it relates to our instructional excellence priority, of course, we're looking to expand our prek services. We all know that the earlier children come to us, the more likely that they will have greater success in the school environment, given the opportunity for professionals to be able to work very closely with our young

096youngest learners and provide them with instruction and preparation so that they can handle the rigors of kindergarten. Currently, we have Rochester Early Childhood Education Center, better known as Reese's, which currently exists on Clinton Street. There's been a number of concerns about this particular program um and its location. And what we're proposing is that this school year that we do move that program over to school 39, which is a vacant building. Well, we would what we would be looking to do with school 39 is to establish an early childhood education center where we would then be able to place not only Reese's but we would also be able to place additional prek classes in that building. It will also provide us the ability to take existing preK classes that are consuming some of our schools where

097there's very tight and limited space for programming for many of our K through 12, excuse me, K through five students and also place some of those class sections over at Reese's as well. What we would be looking to do with Reese's is to provide greater opportunities for adult education programming to happen in that building. We would be looking to place a food pantry into that building, establish a parent resource center in that building and also to provide an opportunity for the clothing section of McKente Vento to also be located in that building. Once we were once we're able to place the early childhood program over at school 39, we will be looking to take the staff from school 44 and place those staff members, colllocate those staff members at school 39. And it would be

098appropriate and aligned because currently the prek program that they support are districtwide and that they would be colllocated among prek students. We would then take the office of parent, excuse me, the office of professional learning and we would colllocate or relocate the office of professional learning to school 44 and school 44 would then become our professional development center. As you heard me state earlier, we would be looking to create a parent center. And I'm going to turn it over to Chief Wilson to speak a little bit about the work that we're doing with the Office of Parent Engagement. >> Thank you. Good evening, President Simmons, Dr. Roser, commissioners. I'm excited to talk to you about um an opportunity to expand our parent engagement office. And so, um, we're going to look to transform the former

099swan space at Loretta Johnson Middle School into a parent engagement center. Um, this is a line, um, with our strategic plan and strengthening family and community engagement. Uh, we want to make the hub welcoming, um, designed to be proactive and support our families um, and parents, which will ultimately impact our students. Um, the redesigned space will offer a range of opportunities for parents and caregivers, including things like parent workshops, training sessions focused on academic support, leadership, advocacy, um, spaces for community organizations to come in and host programs, connect with families, provide local resources, on-site counseling, um, centers where they there's confidentiality rooms where we can have family support services provided and collect collaboration with the district and community partners. Uh we look to also hold or house a food pantry to meet the immediate needs

100of our family. Um and a parent resource library. So uh where we ever we find a need, we we collect the resource and provide materials um for parents once they visit. Um looking ahead, uh we envision developing a sustainable parent engagement center model that can be replicated across the district. So, uh, we might have, uh, a space at Loretta Johnson, but on the west side, um, we'll also provide, Am I right about the sides? >> Thank you. Learning Rochester. Just want to make sure I had the sides correct. Um, but on the west side, we would also open up a parent engagement center. So, there's two options. Um, we do have the space here at central uh office that we'll continue to utilize until we have established a system that supports our parents across Rochester

101City. And if I can just add real quick too, so with the McKenna Vento program, currently the McKini Vento program um is occupying space at um Hart Street Oasis. Um there's a disconnect because many of our families are coming down here to central registration to register their children. Once parents notify district staff that they're experiencing homelessness, then those parents many times have to then go over to Hart Street to then um receive services. So, what we're talking about doing is aligning and making sure that those families, many of which may have transportation um insecurities um that they will have a one-stop shop um once they come to central office to register for for school. >> Go ahead. >> Yes. And and just to follow up, communication will be the key um to make sure that

102families understand where to go for support. Um, so we'll make sure we're working closely um with uh Chief Lopez and her team to ensure that we put the proper messaging out so parents know where to go for support. >> So at this point in time, we will open it up for questions for our our board commissioners. >> Thank you. Um and so I'll I'll go over to Vice President Malloy. First of all, thank you so much for the presentation and I am in full support um of all of this. I think initially I had reservations of about moving Reese's um it's right next to an RTS transportation hub, but then the intended purpose of that space becoming something else that makes it more accessible, I think, to a broader number of people in our community.

103Um I I just really like this idea that we're going to eventually have two separate parent centers. Um and food pantry expansion um is really key and needed right now especially. But when do we anticipate that all of this is going to be in place for next year? >> So we're still working out some of the particulars of course as it relates to um parents who have children currently at Reese's. we do need to notify them of what our intentions are and then provide them with an opportunity either to accept um transitioning over to school 39 or provide them with other opportunities. And um Miss Dr. Thomas, do you want to speak a little bit to what that process would look like for our parents at Reese's? So, good evening, commissioners. Good evening, chiefs. Um,

104and good evening, Madame Clerk. So, uh, we definitely want to be able to reach out to our, uh, parents to give them an opportunity first. Um, we're excited that we're able to move Reissi out of that area and, um, have an opportunity to expand, um, our preschool program. We're also excited that um our supports at school 44 will all be together with that center because consulting happens, assessments happen at school 44, but not everything will be together in the center. So it will be um an opportunity for um our parents also to have access to the northeast side of the city. We have very limited um uh centers uh in that area and supports in that area for our preschool scholars. Um we do have a draft of what it would look like. Um it

105would involve our coaches working um extra time during the month of December to get classrooms set. We are ready to go. We've drafted a plan and shared it with um Dr. Roser and uh Deputy Superintendent Dr. Wright. We're excited about this opportunity and actually have been advocating for this opportunity since last year. So, we're ready to go. We just need the draft approved and we're ready to put things in motion. >> Yeah. And I'm really excited about school 39 because when you look at Reese's right now, there's a very small playground that's available for our children. If you walk into the building inside our our children um recreational time is really done in the classroom and by relocating Reese's over to school 39 they will have access to a gym, they will have access to

106a ton of green space and um it's really a great opportunity for us to to make sure that the district's youngest learners are in a space that is conducive to their own development as well as their own learning as well. >> Agree. Love that. Commissioner Santiago. >> Yeah, I [clears throat] just want to start off by saying um I'm happy to see all these uh the plans that's been presented tonight. I think that it's good for accessibility. Um it's good uh to continue collaboration or try to promote more collaboration between our parents and our community and the district. Um, and the food pantry expansion project, of course, I put my support 10,00% behind that. I just have a quick question. Yes. Um, and this is just for for context >> about Loretta Johnson and the

107Swan um using the Swan space. About a year or two ago, we made a vote uh we voted for a partnership with YMCA in that space. I don't think I don't believe that program has ever started. I think that there's been conversations of that programming started uh being started. So my question is is that program just not going to be there anymore or are we just going to share space YMCA? >> Yeah, I'm unfamiliar with that um vote. Um, yeah, I'm highly unfamiliar with that vote. And, um, if there is a vote on the books that we need to then implement, I need time to review >> that and probably go back to the drawing board because we've been making our plans um to expand opportunities for our families. Um it does not mean that

108community partnership won't happen because as a part of our work with the community schools, we are looking to have Loretta Johnson that that that space at Loretta Johnson serve as a parent center. And then what has not been disclosed yet, but we're working on is to provide opportunities after hours and even on Saturdays for community partnerships to come into that space in the gymnasium space to then be able to provide not only our parents um opportunities but our children with opportunities as well. >> Yeah. But yeah, so just for kind like we did vote on that not too long ago. It was signed like there was a whole thing about that. So, yeah, just just a warning just to let you know, but other than that, I I'm excited to see uh what comes of

109all this. Thank you. >> That popped in my my mind as well, but um I was going to follow up with maybe legal counsel to find out um what what you know, maybe there's information that's happened that we're not aware of. So, thank you, Commissioner Santiago. Um I do want to go with Commissioner Patterson. >> Thank you. Um, personally, I'm not going to hold you to, you know, what occurred within any other administration. I love what I'm seeing here as far as change and growth. Um, one thing I did mention with the last uh, leadership, administrative leadership, was the prek program that um, I thought we could be doing more in that area to have our kids reading in third grade. that's where we were losing them from what the the data, you know, told

110us. So, I'm I love what I'm seeing as far as, you know, uh this center, this uh Reesei Center and bringing all these things together as far as collaboration, you know, to really um hopefully grow, you know, kids beginning in preK so when they get to third grade, they're already on grade level. So, um thank you for doing that. Thank you. >> Thank you, Commissioner Patterson. Any other questions or comments for discussion? Uh with none, uh Superintendent Roser. >> No, I really want to thank everyone for their hard work and effort. you know, as I have come into the district, there um have been a number of individuals, particularly our prek friends, um who have been advocating for the school district to expand prek programming uh making sure that our children in prek are in

111a safe environment and also, you know, to to the work that um they've been doing. they've been really doing a great job with providing greater opportunities for our youngest learners to be kindergarten ready. So, I want to u publicly acknowledge the hard work and effort that um our two ladies and their entire team um having been engaged in. I go to um community events and their team members are always there recruiting and making sure that um parents of children who are either three years old or four years old understand the opportunity that the Rochester City School District is offering. I also want to publicly acknowledge, of course, Chief Scott for his continued work on making sure that our buildings um reflect our values and and provides children and our staff with um 21st century um

112environments that is conducive to learning and instruction. So, thank you very much. >> Thank you. Um at this time, we're going to move into our resolution review. And these are considerations for resolutions 260 through 266 uh for consideration for our consent agenda. So um at this time I'd like to entertain um discussion around resolutions 260 through 266. >> No discussion. No, no, no questions, you said. Okay. All right. I do have one question um more or less a statement. So, it looks like resolution 260 really aligns with the presentation we saw this evening around our programmatic impact. And that would be the purpose of this particular resolution. Something that we've done historically and are looking to move forward with um and assessing again how our programs are impacting us, how sustainably um functional we are

113fiscally and um also helping us to make decisions around program continuation. So, I'm I'm happy to see this aligning with actual efforts that administration is working on with no discussion on uh further discussion with resolutions 260 through 266. Entertaining a motion to move these resolutions forward to the business agenda. >> So moved. >> Uh moved by Vice President Malloy, seconded by Commissioner Patterson. All in favor? I >> I. Any opposed? >> The eyes have it and the resolution carries. And with that, um, we're going to announce the next policy items for review. And those will be, um, this will be next month during the, uh, the board will review policies 6150, which are budget transfers, 6240 investments, 6,500 being fund balance, and 6,700 the purchasing policy. Um, and so if for our public or folks

114looking to uh provide feedback on any of the policies mentioned, please review policy 2410 exhibit 1. And for full access to the full policy manual, you can find that at www.rcsdk12.orgpolicy. With no further agenda items for this evening's work session, entertaining a motion to adjourn the meeting. >> So moved. Moved by Vice President Mallaloy, seconded by Commissioner Santiago. All in favor? >> I. Any oppose? Good night. >> Can I make one announcement? >> Oh, before we say good night, um Ross, are we still on? >> Okay. So, one of the things I want to invite our entire community out to is um our budget forum for our community. This is an opportunity for our community, of course, to learn more about our budgeting process, but [clears throat] more importantly for our community to be able

115to help inform the district's budget priorities. Tomorrow, Wednesday, November 5th, starting at 6 PM, we will be at Abraham Lincoln School number 22. Um, we will be providing a report or a presentation on the budgeting process. I will be engaging our community in conversations around um what our vision for education is and collecting from our community on what their vision and what they believe priority should be for the budget. So, I'm inviting all of our community members, our parents, our caregivers, our staff members out there to be able to have a voice in what our priorities will be for this upcoming year. So, thank you very much. >> Thank you. Good night. >> Good night.