ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester City School District Board of Education voted to approve the elimination of hundreds of food service workers and support staff from the district, effective October 16.

Board officials explained that these positions could not be furloughed because furloughs are not part of the BENTE support staff union's collective bargaining agreement. 

The board took extensive public comment at a meeting Thursday night before the vote. 

Many speakers were members of and supporters of the union.

Board president Van White said that he sympathized with the hundreds of city school district employees that are losing their jobs. He said that he understood those employees' love for the students they interacted with daily in pre-pandemic times.