The Rochester City School Board has accepted the resignation of Superintendent Terry Dade, before moving on to a presentation on how the district plans to cut a further $26.6 million from its 2021 budget proposal.
The budget submitted by Dade before his resignation had to cut $87 million to deal with a massive revenue shortfall, caused in part by overspending before Dade was hired and a reduction in state school aid. While it was working to close the deficit, the school district was further hit by the COVID-19 epidemic and the need to shift from classroom instruction to internet-based remote learning.
Deputy Superintendent Linda Quick says four schools will close: numbers 20, 25, 43 and 57. School 44 will be turned into a Pre-K center.
The East EPO with the University of Rochester will be cut by $4.5 million in an agreement reached with the East High staff. The Rochester International Academy which had been eliminated in the original proposal will be restored, but only for Grades 7-through-12. That restores $1.4 million.
Central office will be cut by $3.5 million and transportation by $1.4 million.
The Junior ROTC program will be restored using funding provided by the Army, 12 of the 32 social workers cut in Dade’s budget will be restored and eight special education staff will be added.
School Board members have until May 7th to deliver a balanced budget to the City Council.