You have probably heard by now of the Superintendent's proposal for getting colleges and universities involved in running some of our schools.  Here are some links to some reports on the announcement:

• http://www.rochestercitynewspaper.com/rochester/vargas-wants-area-c...
• http://fromplaygroundstopolitics.com/2013/11/19/dr-vargas-unveils-p...
• http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/local/2013/11/18/roc...

A lot of the discussion at the Coffee and Conversation with the Superintendent yesterday evening was regarding his proposal. The City school teachers would be used in these college and university run schools and I assume most of the other in school staff would remain although I did not hear that specifically stated. This is just a proposal at this point and most of the details need to be worked out. Parent involvement in these schools is seen as very important. Unless they insist that these schools be neighborhood schools with minimized cross town busing, I'm not clear on how parent involvement would be any better for the college administered schools than the ones we have.   One advantage would be a large supply of tutor volunteers (students from the colleges) and a top level administration that could put the needed incentives and training in place to see them utilized.  I think this proposal is an attempt to get around some of the Central Office bureaucracy.