Rochester City School District meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Rochester school board weighs police contracts, safety plan at August meetings

The Rochester Board of Education held a series of meetings in August, with items on the agenda including a public hearing on the district's school safety plan, a security assessment presentation, and two proposed police service agreements totaling $621,280. As of this writing, minutes from these meetings have not yet been published, so no final votes or decisions are confirmed.

Public hearing on 2026-27 school safety plan

On Aug. 11, the board held a public hearing to receive community input on the Districtwide School Safety Plan for the 2026-27 school year. The plan takes an all-hazards approach to crisis management, covering mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery procedures. A speaker forum was held at 5:30 p.m. before the hearing. The plan authorizes Incident Commanders (principals) to implement building plans in emergencies.

Superintendent update and security assessment

Also on Aug. 11, the board held a bi-monthly superintendent update, a procedural meeting. The agenda included a presentation on a security assessment and an update from Superintendent Rosser. No votes or decisions were scheduled.

Speaker forum

The board also held its monthly Speaker Forum on Aug. 11 at 5:30 p.m. in Conference Room 3A/B at 131 West Broad Street. Community members could address the board in person, via Teams, or in written comments, subject to board rules on respectful conduct.

Police service agreements

On Aug. 18, the board held a special meeting to consider two resolutions authorizing intermunicipal agreements with the City of Rochester Police Department:

• Police services at sporting and other district events, up to $100,000, for Sept. 1, 2026 through June 26, 2027.
• Uniformed officers at school arrival and dismissal, up to $521,280, for Sept. 8, 2026 through Mar. 8, 2027, with an option to renew for up to four months.

Both agreements are deemed sole-source, waiving competitive bidding under Policy 6741. Funding would come from General Funds, with budget lines certified as having balances. The board may have entered executive session before the public portion.

Work session on policy updates

Also on Aug. 18, the board held a work session to discuss and vote on forwarding several policy updates. These included:

• Security Breach and Notification (1300), with fast-tracking to third reading
• Pre-Referral Intervention Strategies (4205), with a name change
• Timeout and Physical Restraint (4321.12), with fast-tracking to third reading
• Student Attendance and Withdrawal Policy (5100), with fast-tracking to third reading

The work session also included presentations on receivership, the Annual Facilities Modernization Program, and the Office of Parent Engagement. The board may have entered executive session to discuss personnel and legal matters.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed for the next two weeks.

Rochester Board of Education holds July 14 work session, Contract for Excellence hearing, and Speaker Forum

The Rochester Board of Education held three meetings on July 14, 2026: a work session, a public hearing on the 2026-27 Contract for Excellence, and a monthly Speaker Forum. Minutes have not yet been published for any of the three sessions, so outcomes of agenda items cannot be confirmed.

Contract for Excellence public hearing

The Board conducted a public hearing on the 2026-27 Contract for Excellence. The hearing opened a 30-day public comment period running from July 14, 2026, through August 5, 2026. Residents can submit comments during that window, though the agenda does not specify the submission methods or format.

The Contract for Excellence is a state-required plan for districts receiving certain state aid. The hearing gives the public a chance to weigh in before the plan is finalized.

Work session

The Board's July 14 work session covered four agenda items:

• Approval of Board Protocols
• Adoption of the 2026-27 Board Meeting Topics Calendar
• Review of July Resolutions
• Discussion of the Academic and Financial Sustainability Task Force

Because minutes are not yet available, it is not confirmed which items were voted on or approved. The agenda lists them as topics for discussion and possible action.

The Academic and Financial Sustainability Task Force — referred to in the agenda as the Budget Taskforce — was listed for discussion. No details on task force findings or recommendations were included in the agenda.

Speaker Forum

The Board held its monthly Speaker Forum, a session established under Policy 2300 to receive community input on matters affecting the school district. The public could comment in person, via Teams, or in writing.

The forum is a recurring opportunity for residents to address the Board directly. No specific topics or outcomes were listed on the agenda.

What residents should know

The most time-sensitive item is the Contract for Excellence comment period, which closes August 5, 2026. Residents who want to submit feedback on the 2026-27 plan should do so before that deadline.

All three July 14 meetings are listed as "agenda only" — meaning the official minutes have not yet been published. The items above reflect what was scheduled for discussion, not confirmed decisions. Once minutes are available, they will show what was actually voted on, approved, or tabled.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed for the next 14 days. The next scheduled Board activity will likely appear once the district posts its August calendar. Residents can also submit Contract for Excellence comments through August 5, 2026.