As Rochester City School District leaders work to deploy the improvements and changes laid out by a state-mandated consultant, city officials have asked the public to chime in on the discussion.

Mayor Lovely Warren is hosting a series of community input sessions throughout December. The mission is to allow the community to discuss what they believe the city can do to help Rochester’s youth succeed in response to the recent distinguished educator’s report.

The 61-page document by state-appointed consultant, Dr. Jamie Aquino highlights challenges in Rochester’s educational system.

More than a dozen a parents attended the first input session Thursday night.

“It’s important to show up to this session in regards to being a parent in the district because we need to understand that parents are the secret sauce,” said Evana Harvey.

Being a single-mother of three RSCD students and an employee in the district, she says are important reasons to participate in the discussion.

“I believe that the partnership is very important,” said Harvey. “As the leader of my child’s academic success, I have to partner with teacher’s administrators and other staff members to make sure that my child succeeds.”

Over the past five years, Mayor Warren has worked with the superintendent and community partners to improve pre-school education, according to city officials. She’s worked with School #17 to provide wrap-around services to make it a true community school, serving both the students and its surrounding neighbors.

“It’s important now than ever to be engaged in a child’s academic success because of the other challenges that they face in society, on day-to-day bases,” Harvey said.

Towards the end of the discussion, Harvey stressed that she is confident in her children’s impending success as well as the future of the school district.

The city will host a community stakeholder input session Monday, December 17 at 3 p.m. in City Hall Council Chambers. The next parent input session will be held at 6 p.m. at the City Hall Atrium.

You can also participate in a town hall by phone on Tuesday, December 18 at 6:30 p.m.

Those interested in participating in the next input sessions are asked to RSVP to Mayor Warren’s Chief of Staff, Alex Yudelson. He can be contacted at Alex.Yudelson@cityofrochester.gov or (585) 428-6271.