ROCHESTER, N.Y. — To help weather the financial crunch partially caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, hundreds of non-teaching workers had their last day with the Rochester City School district on Thursday.

Spectrum News spoke with the BENTE union president and a worker impacted by the cuts.

"This is a sad day for all of us at BENTE," said President Dan DiClemente.

A total of 219 BENTE employees with the Rochester City School District were left without jobs, and by the end of October, more than 200 people could lose their health insurance coverage.

"Anything could happen to where they need their health insurance, and for the district to strip that away to the frontline workers who were there during the first wave of the pandemic, put their health aside, came in and fed kids is just unconscionable," said DiClemente. 

The district superintendent said Thursday that an offer to furlough those employees with health care was rejected by the union. That offer was withdrawn and the positions were abolished last month.

The district said that “proposal is no longer a fiscally viable option” while students are learning virtually.

Superintendent Dr. Lesli Myers-Small says the district is now working with local health agencies to get health coverage for BENTE workers. The remaining 89 BENTE employees who are still working with the district will see title demotions and their salaries cut in half.

Pearl Perry, a cook manager, has worked in the district for 21 years, now she’s facing cut hours.

“I get 4 1/2 hours, I’m 58 years old, it ain’t too many places I can go, you see? This is just terrible; how am I supposed to feed myself and pay my rent, and car note? I can’t do any of that, I’m just distraught,” said Perry.

Perry was asked what message she had for the superintendent and school board right now.

"If you think about us, the ones who were in the front line, who were there every day, do we not count? Does it mean anything to you? What am I supposed to do? What are we supposed to do? We’re just expendable; it’s just over for us," said Perry.

The Rochester City School District is expected to save more than $1 million during the five-week layoff period before city schools could potentially re-open for in-person learning.

Many BENTE workers are concerned about schools not reopening in person at all once that period is over.