School Commissioner Mary Adams has been working closely with us on promoting neighborhood schools in the City.  For us in the 19th Ward that has centered primarily on schools 10, 16 and 44.  At present School 44 issues are front and center and will be on the agenda at the April 23 Board meeting.  Currently 44 is being phased out.   At very least we want to see Pre-K through 6th grade stay open at 44 until until School 16 reopens on Post in 2018.  There has been a difference of opinion between the Administration and some member of the School Board on what what agreements with the NY State Education Department and the RCSD are and what can be done at 44.

Today there was a discussion with Ira Schwarts, Assistant Commissioner NY State Education Dept., and Mary Adams just alerted us to the results:

Dear neighbors,  

Ira Schwartz, Assistant Commissioner NY State Education Dept., confirmed the current closure plan for School 44 is not responsive to a NYSED accountability mandate (it is part of the approved FACILITIES modernization plan, for closure no later than 2020-2021). The earliest such an accountability mandate might come is in 2016, based on this current year performance, and it would require action either in Fall '16 or Fall '17. If that mandate were to come - something like what happened with East HS, but it would be under the onerous framework of receivership -- closure of School 44 could be the response (or the superintendent as the "Reciever" could choose to turn it into a charter or identify an EPO to take over, etc.). After the regulations for "Receivership" are written this summer, the superintendent immediately becomes the "Receiver" and has the same powers as future external Receivers would have, ie can unilaterally close a school, turn it into a charter, fire staff, etc. But back to the issue of closure, since that is the approach currently relevant for School 44 -- The usual expected time frame for closure as an accountability response is three years, BUT Dr. Schwartz was clear that there is the possibility of creating a plan that NYSED could accept involving a slightly longer closure time frame if solid rationale and solid improvements for students were articulated (for example, an intentional and well developed transition into the newly renovated School 16 building, involving continued acceptance of new kindergarters at 44 with a plan to transition to 16. He also stated the acceptability of a plan in which the students are physically at School 44 but under the administration of School 16). Again, all of these possibilities could be considered IN THE FUTURE as a response to a possible mandate delivered in 2016 -- we are NOT under this type of mandated action now.

We are however responsible as local school stewards to have an extremely solid plan for continued improvement, and I advocate that is it responsible and wise for us to be ready for the possible constraints and mandates that could be imposed in 2016 if the school is re-labeled as failing based on test scores. This is exactly what the resolution I offer does. (Dr. Schwartz noted the significant gains made at School 44 in 2013-14 according to NYSED measures, though not enough to allow immediate removal from Priority status. In the best of scenarios, School 44 will be in good standing in 2016, but really the plan to develop a coherent eventual merger of neighborhood families into the renovated School 16 building can and should proceed regardless of the school's accountability designation, because it is a reasonable plan.)

Passing the resolution to keep School 44 intact as a K-6 school now would allow us to continue to stay ahead of the "failing school"/ out of time mandates and build a strong neighborhood community school for our families while they continue to have access to seats in the neighborhood. 

These are difficult conditions in which to operate - and there are definitely some important unknowns for the future.  I believe our best shot at successful schools is continuing to strengthen neighborhood schools, and if we are able to achieve stability for 19th Ward and School 44 neighborhood families in the near term, I cannot emphasize enough how important your collective support will continue to be.

Mary

It is important to show support by email or by appearing at the Board Meeting tomorrow April 23rd to support the resolution Mary is presenting.  Mary's Resolution Follows:

Whereas, Rochester City School District leaders have committed to a vision of high quality neighborhood schools such that each child’s family is able to have good choices in his or her neighborhood; and

Whereas, a $1.1 Million bond request for capital improvements at School 44 was made in 2012-13 and subsequent work was completed including new boilers, roof and masonry repairs, as well as expenditures on plumbing, electrical and air monitoring; and

Whereas, the Board has responded to declining student enrollment and budget shortfalls by approving school closures, including Resolution 2013-14:59 for the closure of School 44 by 2020-21; and

Whereas, School 16 on Post Avenue will be renovated during Phase 2 of the Facilities Modernization Plan, expected to re-open in 2018 at the earliest; and

Whereas, District schools in the 19th Ward neighborhood offer far fewer elementary seats than elementary aged children and this lack of stable school entry options is believed to contribute to general dissatisfaction among families and declining enrollment in District schools; and

Whereas, the Draft RCSD Budget for 2015-2016 includes allocations for restoring 2.0 FTE Kindergarten Teachers at School 44; therefore

Be It Resolved, kindergarten will be restored at School 44 for Fall, 2015; and be it further

Resolved, The Rochester Pre-K Parent Program will operate three full day pre-kindergarten classes at School 44; and be it further

Resolved, School 44 will serve students in grades pre-K through 6 until School 16 re-opens on Post Avenue; and be it further

Resolved, the Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent for Administration will coordinate with the Office of Student Placement, School 44 leaders and others to inform 19^th Ward families about neighborhood school options and prepare in advance for the smooth articulation of School 44 and School 16 children moving into the renovated Post Avenue building following renovations; and be it further

Resolved, the Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent for Teaching and Learning, and other relevant staff work to address the “Priority” status of School 44 in a way that advances the spirit and features of neighborhood community schools among the School 44 community and the returning School 16 community; and be it further

Resolved, approaches which may involve merging staff and resources from School 16 prior to the return of School 16 to Post Avenue will require approval by the School Based Planning Teams at both School 16 and School 44 and would not occur until later than June 30, 2016, if they occur at all.