ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Rochester City School Superintendent Dr. Lesli Myers-Small is responding to concerned parents after five teachers say they were assaulted by students at Franklin High School. She sent a letter on Sunday addressing the issue.
Dr. Myers-Small says extra support will be available for staff this week and she and Franklin Principal Richard Smith will ask for feedback on how to move forward.
The superintendent spoke with Spectrum News 1 last week about how the district is handling the increasing violence and again on Monday about safety in Rochester schools.
“I get concerned about the way our students are characterized," said Dr. Myers-Small in an interview with reporter Brianna Hamblin. "Our students are amazing. They are incredible. They have been through an incredibly difficult time. That does not excuse any behavior that contradicts or violates our code of conduct. We need to literally and figuratively wrap our arms around our children. They are hurting, they are struggling. But I also understand our staff is hurting and struggling so that’s why we are here today to hear directly from staff what their specific needs are and then move forward.”
Starting Monday, School Safety Officers and the Mobile Safety Unit will be in place. On Tuesday, during Superintendent's Conference Day, Myers-Small says work sessions will take place to address school needs.
Principal Smith will meet with staff on Monday and members of the support team will be at the school to help with trauma and grief. Districtwide, additional security will be put in place and additional emotional support will be available at what the superintendent calls "high-need" schools.
The superintendent started her letter with a response to the Rochester Teachers Association.
In its letter to the superintendent, the RTA had asked Dr. Myers-Small to issue a directive for students engaging in violence to be placed in remote learning. In her response, Myers-Small said she will not issue any immediate directive that might violate educational law, student privacy or the district's policies. She went on to say students involved in violent incidents face short-term or long-term suspensions and are assigned alternative instruction, in-person, during that time period.
In her conversation with Spectrum News 1 on Monday, Dr. Myers-Small said she only believes virtual learning would isolate the troubled students and exacerbate the issue.
Dr. Myers-small closed the letter by saying an outline of the district's next steps is expected on Wednesday.
To read the full letter, click here.