The Superintendent of the Rochester City Schools, Jean Claude Brizard, has released his proposed budget for the Rochester City School District for next year. In his 300-page proposal, he outlines 908 job cuts, which include 46% of the district's music teachers, 42% of their art teachers, 35% of their foreign language teachers, and 19% of their physical education teachers. The evening news is reporting tonight that 88 out of 150 of the district's special education teachers are going to be cut with the proposed budget. The Board of Education votes on the proposed budget in two weeks. You can read more about the proposed cuts here.
As a person who has grown up in the suburbs of Rochester, and continues to reside in the area, this community has always valued the arts. The Eastman School of Music is a major icon for Rochester, and is at the center of the city's musical life. The city sponsors several music festivals throughout the year. I just don't understand how we can claim that we are educating the whole child when we deny them the right to music, art, languages, and physical education. And New York State wonders why people are flocking out of this state... It angers me to no end.
Brizard is not popular among the teachers in the area. In fact, the teachers had an overwhelming no contest vote for Brizard, yet the School Board denies their accusations and refuses to remove him from the position. In the meantime, as the schools continue to fail, and more and more of the city's schools are forced to close, Brizard is pulling in a paycheck of over $220,000. This is sick. The dead weight needs to go. It's time to show that NY cares for its students... yet until we oust the administration that seems hell bent on running the state's education system into the ground, things like this are going to continue and increase in frequency. The same mismanagement is happening with the SUNY/CUNY system. I think it's clear time to say that considering finding employment in Rochester anytime soon is not going to happen... let alone anywhere in New York State.
The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle contains an article that further states the shenanigans that Brizard is pulling, speaking of his credentials and ability to really "lead". He has a great deal of explaining to do, and, honestly, I hope that the rumors of his departure are true. Rochester CSD would be far better off without him.
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