Get the latest news from RTA President Dr. Adam Urbanski.
Adam’s Update (7.22.21) Contract Extension
Dear Colleagues, I am pleased to inform you that, earlier this evening, the RTA Representative Assembly acted on the recommendation of the RTA Executive Council and unanimously endorsed an extension of the current collective bargaining agreement between the Rochester Teachers Association and the Rochester City School District. The RCSD Board of Education just voted to also endorse the newly negotiated contract extension. Attached below is the Contract Extension Agreement and the new salary schedule. Everything in our current contract remains unchanged except for (1) duration of our contract; (2) an increase in your general salary, consistent with the application of the agreed-upon contractual salary benchmarking; and (3) an additional adjustment in compensation for athletic coaches of interscholastic and modified sports. Here is a summary of the three modifications contained in the extension of our existing contract: - Duration. The contract extension is until June 30, 2022....
read moreAdam’s Update: The Truth About the District’s Budget, Part III: Pattern of Misrepresentation
Colleagues, As we wind down this difficult school year, and await the report of the Fact Finder...
The Truth About the District’s Budget, Part II: How to Spend the Additional Money
Colleagues, At the same time that the Rochester City School District continues to misrepresent and...
Adam’s Update (6.6.21) Negotiations, Simultaneous Teaching, Layoffs & Displacements, APPR, Vaccinations, Rochester Teachers Care, the District’s Masking Policy
Colleagues, As we begin the final stretch for this school year, here’s a brief update on some...
Adam’s Update (6.1.21) The Misrepresentation of the District’s Finances
Colleagues, Differences in school finances are not unusual. We’ve had these disputes before and...
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...
Adam’s Update (4.15.21) RCSD’s 2021-22 Plan
Colleagues, Earlier today you received a communication from the District about “Important...
Adam’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...