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Colleagues,

I am pleased to inform you that it is anticipated that the Rochester City School District will, indeed, receive the desperately needed additional State funding for this school year. The Lottery Spin-Up money, totaling $35 million, should avert the need for any addition layoff and reductions in services to our students. It looks promising that we may also receive some additional Foundation Aid for the next school year. Along with the additional funding, it is expected that there’ll be legislation for appointment of an independent Fiscal Monitor to ensure better management of the District’s budget. The NYS Legislature is expected to vote on all this later today or tomorrow.

We have worked collaboratively with Superintendent Dade to tirelessly advocate for this anticipated outcome. We are so grateful to the leadership of the New York State Legislature; to especially our Assemblyman Harry Bronson and to Manhattan’s Senator Robert Jackson; to our state and national unions, the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT); and to the students, parents and community partners in our Community Alliance to Save Our Schools (ROC-SOS). Most of all, I want to thank you for your continued dedication to professionalism and to your students, for your determination to maintain our solidarity and for your unwavering confidence in your union.

More on all this soon. Stay healthy and safe.

Adam Urbanski, RTA President