A Rochester assemblyman's plan to address city schools through local control and expansion of community schooling is drawing opposition from the mayor and her most trusted supporter in the legislature.

  • Failing schools would be converted into community schools
  • An arbiter would be selected to manage challenges
  • The act calls for a strategic improvement plan within 60 days
  • A children's advisory council would be formed

Assemblyman Harry Bronson released details of what he calls the "RCSD Empowerment Act." It comes as an alternative to district, which mayor Lovely Warren called for in proposing a referendum on the takeover.

“Assemblyman Bronson's bill is no solution at all. It’s more of the same," said Warren in a statement. "His goal is to prevent parents from having a true say in how their children are educated."

Bronson's bill maintains local control of the district by having the superintendent identify failing schools and— with the state’s help and funding— convert them into community schools.

Community schools deliver city and county-supported services with the assistance of a robust community volunteer effort and cooperation from educators. It's a synergy seen at Rochester School No. 17, heralded by the mayor as the model for the chance needed in the district. 

"What the mayor's proposal tries to do is say: 'Someone a three-hour drive from here is going to select a handful of people [appointed school board] to run our school district.' I believe in local control," said Bronson, who called any form of state intervention in the district an "abdication of leadership."

"By trying to stop our citizens from voting on putting our children first, Assemblyman Bronson is singlehandedly allowing Albany special interests to control what happens in Rochester," Warren said in a statement; referring to union educators. "It's time to give parents the voice they deserve in their child's education. And, that is through the power of the vote.”

What Changes Would the RCSD Empowerment Act Bring?

Bronson's bill attempts to tame a school board blamed for overstepping authority and creating an environment that's created high superintendent turnover. The proposal amplifies the boundaries the board must maintain an demands annual training, and clarifies ways to keep the board from meddling in the superintendent's day-to-day operation of the schools.

An arbiter would be selected to manage challenges in maintaining the board's distance from the superintendent's office. 

The act also calls for a strategic improvement plan within 60 days that follows the work of both Distinguished Educator Jaime Aquino and the city school board. 

A children's advisory council would be formed. Experts in education and community group reps would serve on it, no elected officials.

In the end, the community schooling part is the headline aspect. Mayor Warren wants the schools run this way. Bronson's plan attempts to provide this — with local control.

"It answers the distinguished educator's question of how do we get more community investment in our school district,” Bronson said. “Investment from non-profits from higher education institutions, from social service agencies at the county, from the city regarding after school and other kind of activities during the summer; How do we get them all involved in turning this around?"

The consensus Bronson believes can come from his legislation did not appear to be arriving from the Rochester delegation. Warren's call for a state takeover referendum was met with support from state senators Funke and Robach, who say they would act on the people's vote. While Assemblywoman Jamie Romeo did not support the state takeover, she says she's awaiting a bill about state education department involvement to review.

Assemblyman David Gantt supports the referendum. The lawmaker who first proposed mayoral control of the city schools during the Duffy administration 10 years ago believes nothing represents democracy more than allowing people to decide what they want.

"I've been dealing with this for 40 years and there's been nothing but kicking the can down the road for 40 years. And I think it's time to stop it. Let's have the referendum," he said.

Gantt's words, and the opinions of the delegation matter. Any legislation affecting the Rochester schools would need approval from both houses and the governor. Andrew Cuomo said he will support what local leadership supports.

Bronson's bill could be introduced before the end of the legislative session; now in its final hours. If not, Bronson has said he'll raise it again in the fall.

"Let's focus on the things that are in that [distinguished educator's] report, instead of the fight over whether we change governance," Bronson said.