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 (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...
Adam’s Update (10.22.20) District Delays Retro Pay, Again
Colleagues, The District notified us just yesterday that the scheduled retroactive pay to teachers...
Adam’s Update (10.14.20) Member Remote/Hybrid Learning Surveys
Colleagues, Last Sunday evening you should have received RTA’s Survey on Remote Teaching and...
Adam’s Update (10.5.20) PD Half Days, Retro Pay, Survey
Colleagues, As we begin the fourth week of fully remote teaching and learning, here’s a brief...
Adam’s Update (9.22.20) Negotiations, Retroactive Pay, Building Protocols, Virtual Walkthroughs, Funding, BENTE Layoffs
Colleagues, "Rochester teachers and their union join the rest of the community in mourning the...
Vote No to BENTE Layoffs
September 19, 2020 To: Members of the RCSD Board of Education On behalf of the 3200 members of the...
Statement on the Tragic Death of Daniel Prude
Dear Colleagues, As we again experience deep sadness and hurt, this time over the tragic death of...
Adam’s Update (8.30.20) Advocate for Additional Funding
Colleagues, The Rochester City School District’s fiscal woes continue. Part of it is due to lower...
Adam’s Update (8.21.20) United in Opposition to Premature and Devastating Cuts
Colleagues, Late last week, the New York State Division of Budget notified all school districts...