Superintendent Vargas recently announced the rehiring of three administrators to the district.

These three positions will cost the district approximately $400,000 in salary and benefits.

These three positions could have supported ten teaching positions used to lower class size at the early childhood and/or elementary level.

The RSCD currently has one administrator for every ten students and one teacher for every eleven students.

The $400,000 dollars could have supported fifteen paraprofessional positions lowering the classroom adult:student ratio at the early childhood and/or elementary level.

The New York State Report Card states that the Rochester City School District met AYP requirements for Elementary/Middle School Participation in ELA, Math, and Science only.

The attendance rate dropped 1% for the 2010-11 school year with suspensions down 2%.

As of October 2011, the Rochester City School District reports the Special Ed Classification Rate is 17.7%, nearly 5% higher than the State average while pupil expenditure differs by $925.

Our reported 4 year graduation rate is 50% and 5 year graduation rate is 56% with our drop-out rate at 15%.

Hiring more administrators to determine how to make a failing system of education work is an inefficient and ineffective expenditure of funds when research shows that a child centered system of education that concentrates on discovering, developing, and directing the gifts and talents of our children is the only way to effect educational success for all children.

Lowering class size or at the very least, the adult:student ratio is a more efficient and effective method of insuring educational success.

If our current leaders are ignorant of this then they should not be leading. If they are aware of this and choose not to acknowledge or ignore the most current, relevant research concerning child development and learning, then they should not be leading.

In either case, the community must come together and put an end to the failure this district has been experiencing for decades. We must elect leaders who appoint leaders who are not only knowledgeable, but have the integrity to make decisions that will lead to the educational success of our children and not the financial wealth of corporations.

Join the Movement to Save Our Children!