The State Department of Education has responded favorably to the Rochester City School District’s plan to improve itself, after more than a year of intense scrutiny on district leadership.
The action plan is in response to a report by former distinguished educator Jaime Aquino that detailed the district’s problems and gave 84 recommendations to fix them. During his tenure, he provided quarterly reports that detailed the school district’s fiscal problems, low expectations for students, lack of dignity and respect for children, and the Rochester Board of Education’s dysfunction. Aquino resigned in June to take another professional opportunity. As of today, it’s unknown if he has been hired by anyone.
Board of Education President Van White sees the department of education’s response as a victory.
“This language to me clearly indicates to me that she has accepted, by in large, most of our response,” said White. “There is a plan. There is no need to identify unknown persons to come up with a plan. The state department of education has said there is a plan.”
In the cover letter of the response, outgoing State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia thanked the district for its efforts and said the revised plan showed “a more cohesive plan for improvement.” She called the previous version of this plan incoherent and inadequate. Elia noted that the district has now updated the plan with her notes.
In a note, Elia said she looked forward supporting the district's efforts to implement the plan. She also asked the district for more revisions by the end of August. Elia is scheduled to leave her post by September.
Nysed Response to Revised Rcsd Action Plan 080219 by WXXI News on Scribd
