Rochester, N.Y. – A school board analysis of the Rochester City School District’s proposed budget provides specifics that confirm information principals gave staff and parents weeks ago: the budget will deeply cut into art, music, foreign language, and physical education.
The district released a 300-page budget proposal two weeks ago that called for 908 job cuts, but the document did not specify subject areas or programs that would be affected.
The school board analysis, discussed in a finance committee meeting last week, shows 46 percent of music teachers, 42 percent of art teachers, 35 percent of foreign language teachers and 19 percent of physical education teachers would get the ax. The school board staff used a detailed district-wide and school-by-school list of positions to come up with the numbers.
Some schools would have no art or music. Other schools would have no librarian. Counselors, special education, ESOL, and English were also hit hard.
“I think we’re losing our art teacher altogether, which is unfortunate because art is my daughter’s favorite subject,” said Santosha Kuykendall, who has a daughter at Franklin Montessori. “I would say that might make me move her to a different school where there is art, but it seems that art teachers are being cut across the district.”
The budget would eliminate 13 of 21 Major Achivement Program teachers. Some schools would no longer have MAP, enriched classes for gifted students.
“I feel like it reduces her chances and the chances of a lot of other children who might benefit from the MAP program, of actually getting into the MAP program,” said Kuykendall.
The analysis shows more than 500 teaching positions would be affected. The document also shows a total of 978 jobs would be cut district-wide.
The teachers union believes the board analysis underestimates the positions that will be cut. That’s because the union has teachers left over after you add the number of teachers cut and the number of teachers assigned to schools.
The lack of transparency has angered Luz Flores Lee, who has a daughter at Franklin Montessori. “We have a list of titles and positions we’re not sure what the true impact is going to be.”
The district claims it has a $76.5 million deficit, a figure the teachers union and at least one board member disputes.
For the third week in a row, the district would not allow principals to talk to the media about the impact of the budget cuts. Spokesman Tom Petronio said principals prefer not to talk because the budget isn’t final.
The board votes on the budget in two weeks.
“Knowing the number of people cut and they’re being cut directly at the student level and they’re impacting students’ lives has made me physically ill,” said Tim Keller, parent of two children at School of the Arts.
