RCSD Board Narrowly Approves 1.16 Billion Dollar Budget Amid Community Outcry Over Support Cuts

The Rochester City School Board approved a nearly 1.2 billion dollar budget for the 2026-2027 school year in a narrow 4-3 vote following intense pushback from parents, educators, and community advocates.

The finalized 1.16 billion dollar spending plan represents a 44 million dollar increase over last year, driven primarily by expanded investments in special education and resources for English Language Learners, including the addition of more than 100 full-time special education positions. Despite the overall funding increase, the budget implementation relies heavily on drawing down district savings and executing deep cuts to student support services to close a projected structural deficit.

The primary source of public backlash focuses on reductions targeting mental health and student welfare infrastructure. The approved plan cuts 16.8 full-time equivalent hours across the district, including 56.5 civil service positions and 34.1 teaching roles. Initial drafts proposed slashing student support staff and reducing the Home/Hospital Instruction program by 95 percent. Following widespread community rallies organized by advocacy groups like The Children's Agenda, Superintendent Eric Rosser utilized a late 4.9 million dollar grant allocation to partially restore 15.5 social worker slots, 4.4 counseling positions, and 18 home-hospital teachers. However, critics note the adjustments fail to completely reverse the net loss of student care personnel.

Board vice president Amy Maloy joined president Camille Simmons and commissioners Kareem McCullough and Heather Feinman to pass the measure, arguing that approving the budget fulfills their municipal duty while allowing the board to hold the administration accountable for student outcomes. Commissioners Beatriz LeBron-Harris, Isaiah Santiago, and Jacqueline Griffin voted against the proposal, citing a severe lack of transparency and a refusal to support a framework that reduces frontline student resources.

The fiscal strain comes as regional education leaders warn of a potential 61 million dollar budget cliff next year due to declining student enrollment and a lack of independent local taxing authority. With the Board of Education vote finalized, the 1.16 billion dollar budget proposal moves to the Rochester City Council for a joint public hearing before facing a final municipal approval vote on June 16.