Governor Andrew Cuomo has proposed a $178 billion state budget that includes a possible bailout of the Rochester City School District – if the district accepts a state-appointed fiscal monitor who will make sure the money is being spent as the state directs.
If the legislature approves and the school district accepts, the district would get $25 million towards the remaining $30 million deficit it still has to deal with. That would prevent any further teacher layoffs, at least for the rest of this school year. The district has already laid off more than 100 teachers in order to save some $10 million, and Superintendent Terry Dade is looking for other cuts. The roughly $50 million deficit was caused by overspending in past school years before Dade came on board.
A statement from Governor Cuomo’s office says the Rochester School Monitor will work with Mayor Warren, Superintendent Dade and the School Board to develop multi-year academic and fiscal plans for the district’s future; plans which are acceptable to the State Commissioner of Education.
A statement from Mayor Lovely Warren says she looks forward to learning more of the governor’s proposal to address “the very real crisis facing our city’s schools.”
