How Should We Choose the Next RCSD Superintendent?

[RORE has developed a process to choose the next Superintendent of the Rochester City School District.  We invite your feedback either in the comments here, on our social media, or in an email to us at rore49united (at) gmail (dot) com.]

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The procedure for choosing a Superintendent of the Rochester City School District (RCSD) has not resulted in long-term success for quite a long time.  The Board of Education (BOE) is to hire the Superintendent, but there has not been substantial community involvement in this process.  Therefore, a committee made up of stakeholders should be formed to reduce the number of applicants to 10 from which the BOE may choose.   After this, all interviews conducted by the BOE should be done in a public manner via the internet so that the community can observe.  Once a suitable number of candidates remain (2 or 3), community forums with each should occur before the BOE makes its final decision. 

This screening committee should be composed of:

*2 citizens from each City Council district; one from each district must be a parent of of a RCSD student. (8 total)

*2 high school students from the Rochester City School District (full participants)

*2 rank & file members from Rochester Teachers Association (RTA) who live in the city.

*2 rank & file members from Board of Education Non-Teaching Employees (BENTE) who live in the city.

*2 rank & file members from Rochester Association of Paraprofessionals (RAP) who live in the city.

*2 rank & file members from Association of Supervisors and Administrators of Rochester (ASAR) who live in the city.

18 people total with a BOE Liaison. 

Note: Due to time constraints, this procedure is for 2020.  If willing, the committee put together could be tasked with creating a more permanent procedure for future Superintendent hirings after their initial screening responsibility is finished.