Get the latest news from RTA President Dr. Adam Urbanski.
Adam’s Update (12.12.23) MOA, Reconfiguration
Colleagues, The closing of even a single school is usually difficult and controversial. So when the District announced an ambitious plan to close multiple schools because of declining enrollment, along with grade configuration changes that would create separate middle schools, it understandably conjured fears of massive layoffs of teachers, maxing out of class sizes, and a chaotic transition next school year. None of this is likely to happen, though. Thanks to the availability of some additional Federal and State funding, and collaborative negotiations, we were able to conclude a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the District that ensures the following changes for the next school year: - For the 2024-2025 school year, general education class sizes at elementary schools will be lowered from a maximum of 26 to 24 pupils; and at middle schools from a maximum of 28 to 25 students. - The District will invest in additional safety and social-emotional supports where they are needed the...
read moreAdam’s Update (9.9.21) Late Buses & Simultaneous Teaching
Colleagues, Please excuse this late hour email but we want to at least acknowledge and initially...
Adam’s Update (9.06.21) Brief Update Trying to Clear Up Confusion
Colleagues, Last night’s meeting of the RCSD Board of Education was frustrating, to say the least....
Adam’s Update (9.3.21) The Mess We’re In
Colleagues, I’m sure you’ve been following the unfolding developments with the District’s...
Adam’s Update (8.26.21) Impact Bargaining Continues
Colleagues, When the District announced a week ago their plan for reopening schools, we...
Adam’s Update (8.18.21) District Communication on Vaccinations
Colleagues, Earlier today you received a communication from the District notifying you about the...
Adam’s Update (7.22.21) Contract Extension
Dear Colleagues, I am pleased to inform you that, earlier this evening, the RTA Representative...
Adam’s Update (6.25.21) Thank You & Enjoy Your Well Deserved Summer Recess
Colleagues, Just a brief note to wish you a safe and restful summer recess. You’ve certainly...
Adam’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...