Rochester City Council and RCSD review 2025–26 budget as district plans contingencies for federal cuts

CAMBRIDGE, Rochester — Rochester City Council members held a budget-review session with Rochester City School District leaders on the proposed 2025–26 district budget, where board and school officials described a multi‑million‑dollar gap, steps taken to close it and contingency plans if federal funding is reduced.

Camille Simmons, president of the Rochester City School District Board of Education, opened the presentation by saying the proposed plan "reflects our administration's efforts to present a responsible and student focused financial plan" and noted the district is facing a large shortfall as it prepares for a superintendent transition.

The nut graf: District officials told council members the budget attempts to preserve classroom supports while closing a roughly $38 million to $39.38 million gap without drawing on reserves, but repeatedly cautioned that uncertainty in federal and state funding could force further reductions or consolidation if anticipated dollars do not arrive.

Dr. Demario Strickland, superintendent of the Rochester City School District, said the district has "taken deliberate steps to close [a projected] $39,380,000 gap without using the fund balance." He described reductions that include eliminating vacant positions, aligning staffing to enrollment and reallocating titles and object codes so budgets conform to New York State reporting.

District staff described significant coding and accounting work completed as part of an Oracle conversion and alignment with the New York State chart of accounts and ST-3 reporting. Acting Chief Financial Officer Derek Blair and budget staff said many positions and expenses were recoded (for example, school safety officers…