How to save RCSD classroom teachers: Union concessions, state intervention Our view: If Adam Urbanski is serious about protecting students, his union will agree to concessions. And the state must act to fix RCSD's governance.

Editorial Board | Democrat and Chronicle

Show Caption Hide Caption Rochester students protest teacher cuts in RCSD Approximately half of East High School students did not enter school for several hours to protest teachers jobs being cut.

The need for the Rochester City School District to act now on closing its budget gap should be obvious.

Every day, the district is spending money it does not have. Waiting another month to stop the bleeding will add about $1.75 million to the district’s deficit, creating an even bigger problem for our children. If the school board fails to implement the reductions proposed by Superintendent Terry Dade, it would be yet another example of the district’s reckless, irresponsible and potentially criminal mismanagement of district funds.

That said, we fully agree that these urgent budget cuts should be kept as far away from the classroom as possible. Before the layoffs have even been finalized, schoolchildren are feeling the tremendous loss of important teachers in their lives. They are crying in school. They are taking to the streets.

Rochester Teachers Association President Adam Urbanski is right when he says there is a better way. And, if he truly cares about our children, he will make it happen.

Here’s how the Rochester Teachers Association can help

First, Urbanski can tell the full truth.

In a guest column for the Democrat and Chronicle, he wrote, “Superintendent Dade reassured everyone that … if cuts were necessary, they would be as far away from the classroom as possible.”

He then notes that most of the midyear cuts are taking teachers out of classrooms.

“The trauma and disruption to learning and relationships seem to matter little to our superintendent and to our school board.”

But Urbanski is omitting a critical point. Most of the teaching cuts Dade has proposed are out-of-classroom positions. These are the reading teachers and others who move around throughout the day, pulling a handful of children from each class for a short period of specialized instruction.

However, most of the teachers who hold the targeted positions have been with the district for years. According to the contract that Urbanski and the Board of Education agreed upon, teachers with seniority have “bumping rights.” They can stay, but 123 of them are replacing classroom teachers with less seniority – even if they are not the best fit for those classrooms. The displaced teachers are the teachers our children are losing.

Dade doesn’t have a choice. He is playing by the rules imposed upon him by the union leadership and the school board and, right now, these rules are hurting our children.

The children seem to matter little to Urbanski.

While it is unlikely the union will agree to waive bumping rights to give our children the best possible outcome, the RTA and the district’s other unions can make substantial concessions to preserve jobs. For example, eliminating professional development incentives and a career mentoring program could save millions of dollars and help keep talented and beloved teachers right where they are.

State leaders must take meaningful action

It is ludicrous to suggest that the massive deficit can be closed without removing teachers. But unless significant changes to the district’s governance are made now, even more of our valuable teachers will undoubtedly be in danger going forward.

We urge Gov. Andrew Cuomo and our state legislators to develop a rescue plan that does not involve giving the district more money to mismanage. Our state leaders must put a new governance structure in place, as we and others in the community have repeatedly called for, and begin the process of systemic reform and equitable funding.

Our children, and our teachers, desperately need help that only state leaders can give. Contact your representatives today and tell them you want meaningful action.

Assembly Member Harry Bronson 585-244-5255

Sen. Rich Funke 585-223-1800

Assembly Member David Gantt 585-454-3670

Sen. Joe Robach 585-225-3650

Assembly Member Jamie Romeo 585-467-0410

Sen. Michael Ranzenhofer 585-454-0322

Gov. Andrew Cuomo 518-474-8390