ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Could the Rochester City School District have a new leader come September?
Spectrum News 1 has obtained a copy of a letter emailed to staff Wednesday from Board of Education President Cynthia Elliott that says the separation process between the Board of Education and Superintendent Lesli Myers-Small is underway.
Myers-Small has been superintendent for a little more than two years and took over the role just a couple months into the pandemic.
A source with direct knowledge of the situation confirms a board meeting was held Tuesday night on Zoom with a number of members saying they want to move on from the current superintendent.
Elliott says a seamless transition to the next superintendent is a top priority with schools opening in just over a month.
Rochester Teachers Association President Adam Urbanski says any turmoil over the superintendent job takes focus away from the students where it needs to be.
“This is a matter between the superintendent and the Board of Education. Our focus is on our students and a smooth reopening of schools “
He says there has been a lack of confidence in Myers-Small.
"The need to re-adjust to in-person learning from a lengthy period of emergency during the pandemic,” Urbanski said. “So teachers were very frustrated for quite some time. I would say virtually the entirety of the tenure of Superintendent Lesli Myers-Small.
Spectrum News 1 has reached out to the school district for comment. The district’s chief of communications, Marisol O. Ramos-Lopez, said in a statement that the district "is not providing comment on this situation at this time.”
If Myers-Small is removed, this would make for the third exit by a superintendent in less than five years.