Rochester's Community Education Task Force questions the Rochester B.O.E.'s plan to vote on mystery 2011-12 budget; demands delay, community dialogue.
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ROCHESTER, NY --- Concern continues to grow among parents, students, educators, and the Rochester community at large regarding the Rochester Board of Education's (B.O.E.) plan to vote today on a so-called revised (removed "proposed") 2011-12 budget for the Rochester City School District (RCSD). Despite the numbers having been challenged, and Board members conceding to the possibility that the alleged deficit is much smaller than originally stated, the budget that the Board plans to vote on this evening (without deliberations) still assumes a deficit of at least 76 million dollars, and, if implemented, would undoubtedly bring about massive damage to our students and schools.
Without deliberations (prior to the Board's vote) citizens and taxpayers have no way of determining the Board's funding priorities. In fact, considering a note from Board Commissioner Allen Williams this morning, in which he agreed with our position, we're not even sure that the Board understands specifically what's being proposed in the so-called revised budget, which they are slated to vote on this evening. Commissioner Williams had notified us this morning that: "At this point not even the Board has seen a revised budget."
If the Rochester Board of Education approves the proposed, so-called revised budget without seeing it, or knowing in detail what it contains, this would represent the type of irresponsible and unaccountable "leadership," which has contributed to the current deep-seated crisis that we are experiencing in the RCSD.
Therefore, we call on the Rochester Board of Education to delay the budget vote until the collective community has had an opportunity to engage in full deliberations. Since a balanced budget does not have to be presented to the Rochester City Council until May 13th, if the Board moves expeditiously and demonstrates responsible, responsive, and accountable leadership, there is plenty of time for deliberations.
We also call on the collective community to attend this evening's budget meeting (5:30 PM at RCSD Central Office, 131 W. Broad Street) to voice opposition to the Board's plan to run rough-shod over our rights. We have a right to know exactly and specifically what is contained in the revised 2011-12 RCSD budget.
Mary Adams
Maryb_adams@urmc.rochester.edu
Howard Eagle
heagle@rochester.rr.com
