Rochester City School District Superintendent Terry Dade is defending his revised budget proposal that now calls for closing two elementary schools and a staff cut of six percent.

The superintendent presented his revised budget to the board of education Tuesday night.          

In addition to the $61 million deficit, Dade's proposed plan calls for slashing another $26.6 million to adjust for final state revenue figures.

To help balance the budget, reductions will come with the closing of school number 20 on Oakman Street and school number 43 on Lyell Avenue, as well as converting school number 3 into a middle school.

“So those students will go to the other schools within their zone which would decrease some staffing but also begin to right size our footprint in the district," Dade said.

The plan would also lay off some 345 staff members across the district. Dade also proposed a $6 million reduction to East High school.

"We value the gains that East made over the years. But I can’t look at cuts all across the district to social workers, counselors, intervention and reading teachers and leave two schools in abundance in those areas," said Dade.

A statement released by East High school said in part:

"We are shocked by the 30% budget cut that RCSD Superintendent Terry Dade proposed for East. To be clear, we were not consulted on any of these cuts, nor have we participated in discussions with the superintendent about his district-wide cuts.”

“Agree that it hurts all of our schools and all of our programs including East, but disagree that I have not been working with or reached out to East leadership,” said Dade.

The board of education is scheduled to vote on the proposed budget May 7th. It will then go City Council for approval.

“I have not received a superintendent's budget, the budget has not passed for the school board, but I understand and know that we have talking about for years that appear has is a problem in this school district.  And that we need to focus on educating kids and making sure that the children receive a quality education,” said Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren (D).