The Rochester Beacon’s May 13 forum on the city schools explored solutions to the longstanding problems—including lagging test scores and low graduation rates—outlined in Distinguished Educator Jaime Aquino’s November report.
The forum’s two panels discussed different approaches to the problems: the first, which followed Christopher Cerf keynote speech, focused on districtwide initiatives—in particular, how New York can act to disrupt the change paralysis that seems to grip the Rochester City School District. That panel consisted of Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren, Rochester Teachers Association president Adam Urbanski, parent Walida Monroe-Sims and Jackie Campbell, executive director of ROC the Future. Beacon opinion editor Kent Gardner was moderator.
Here is a video of the entire first panel session:
The second panel discussed correctives that can be implemented school-by-school. State law already permits charter schools and community schools. The state’s receivership process is what powers changes at East High School. Great Schools for All has been seeking “carve out” legislation for mixed-income magnet schools for a number of years.
The program’s second panel consisted of East High School superintendent Shaun Nelms, Farash Foundation senior program officer Kirsten Barclay, Don Pryor of Great Schools for All and Northeast Charter Schools Network CEO Anna Hall. Beacon publisher Alex Zapesochny moderated it.
Here is a video of the entire second panel session: