Get the latest news from RTA President Dr. Adam Urbanski.
Adam’s Update (4.28.21) We’re Not Falling For It
Colleagues, Before you decide whether to accept the Superintendent’s invitation (see below) to “discuss important issues, share your suggestions, and make a connection,” you should be alerted to the possibility that this is little more than yet another end-run on your union. Here’s why: - Superintendent Lesli Myers-Small, at a time that the District is swimming in money, is still refusing to settle our festering negotiations unless we agree to significant reductions in your health benefits. - Superintendent Lesli Myers-Small, despite our advocacy on your behalf, is still refusing to agree to any alternatives to the simultaneous teaching requirement. - Superintendent Lesli Myers-Small, along with some hostile school board members and the anti-union State Monitor, supports “right sizing” the District (a euphemism for maxing out class sizes, closing schools, laying off teachers, cutting services for students). - Superintendent Lesli Myers-Small has shown a pattern of being in agreement...
read moreAdam’s Update (3.15.21) Safety in Schools, Avoiding Layoffs, Simultaneous Teaching Alternatives, Insisting on an End to Bad Faith Bargaining
Colleagues, It’s been a full year of unprecedented difficulties. Yet, you have gone way beyond the...
Adam’s Updates (3.5.21) Vaccination Openings for RTA Members with Release Time
Colleagues, As I’ve indicated in Wednesday’s Update, with the help of our state-level union, the...
Adam’s Update (3.4.21) Vaccines, MOU, PPE, Reporting of COVID-19 Cases in Schools, Phase 3 Ventilation Reports, NYSUT Pushes For Early Retirement Incentive
Colleagues,Here are some timely and important notices for your information: - Vaccines For RTA and...
Adam’s Updates (2.21.21) Simultaneous Instruction, Ventilation, Accommodations, Covid Testing, Vaccinations, Reprisals, RCSD’s Lack of Readiness
Colleagues, I hope you had a safe and restful Winter recess. The Rochester City School District is...
Adam’s Updates (2.9.21) Phase 2 Ventilation Reports
Colleagues, Since the COVID-19 pandemic involves an airborne virus, common sense suggests that...
Adam’s Update (2.7.21) Phase 2, Simultaneous Teaching, Covid Testing, Vaccination, Assessment of Readiness
Colleagues, Defying the collective wisdom of the overwhelming majority of parents and teachers,...
Adam’s Update (2.3.21) Thank You Teachers, About Last Night, Ready or Not
Colleagues, First and foremost, I want to thank the many teachers who signed up to address the...
Adam’s Update (1.29.21) Resolution of No Confidence, Share Your Story
Colleagues, The RTA Representative Assembly, at a special meeting yesterday, voted overwhelmingly...
Adam’s Update (1.21.21) District’s Response to RTA Survey, Paid Time To Get Vaccinated Denied By Superintendent, Unanswered Questions Remain Unanswered
Colleagues, Here’s a brief follow-up to the Update from just two days ago: - District’s Initial...
Adam’s Update (1.19.21) Survey Results, RTA Resolution To Keep Our Students Safe
Colleagues, More than 1500 RTA members, on very short notice, responded to our most recent survey...
Adam’s Update (1.10.21) Reopening Plans, Vaccinating Teachers, Snow Days, Independent Inspection of Ventilation, Negotiations, Rochester Teachers Care
Colleagues,Here’s a brief update about some current issues: - Reopening Plans. Despite the rising...
Adam’s Updates (1.4.21) Phase 1, Ventilation Inspections, Unanswered Questions, Accommodation Requests, CIT Office Hours, ROC-SOS, Rochester Teachers Care
Colleagues, Welcome back. I trust that you had a safe and rewarding holiday break. We all hope...
Adam’s Update (12.30.20) RCSD Changing Reopening Plans?
Colleagues, Like you, we too were surprised by this morning’s story in the Democrat and Chronicle...
Adam’s Update (12.18.20) Updated MOU
Colleagues, I am pleased to inform you that earlier today we concluded negotiations with the...
Adam’s Update (12.18.20) Renewed and Updated Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) coming shortly
Colleagues, The District just notified all teachers and staff that there’ll be a special...
Adam’s Update (12.11.20) Remote Teaching From School, Safety, Negotiations, Budget, RTA Zoom Meetings, Rumor Control
Colleagues, Here’s a brief update on some current issues: - Remote Teaching From the Classroom? It...
Adam’s Update (11.30.20) APPR, Teachers Calling for Parent Surveys, Planned Hybrid Plan, State Monitor’s Reports
Colleagues, Welcome back. Hope that you had a good Thanksgiving. Here’s an update on some current...
Happy Thanksgiving
Colleagues, On this Thanksgiving, I am so grateful for the opportunity to represent you. You are...
Adam’s Update (11.20.20) Hybrid Plan Questions, Retro Pay
Colleagues, You have just received a communication from Superintendent Myers-Small about the...
Adam’s Update (11.19.20) Bad Math, District Blaming Unions, Solidarity
Colleagues, The Rochester City School District is really bad with math. First, they announced a...
Adam’s Update (11.2.20) RTA Resolution To Keep Our Students Safe
Colleagues, The attached resolution was adopted by the RTA Representative Assembly at a Special...
Adam’s Update (10.27.20) Staff Accommodations Request Form
Colleagues, Earlier this morning, you received from the District the communication below. Since...