Board approves bundled academic and administrative resolutions, unaudited financial report and calendar amendments

The Rochester Board of Education on May 22 voted to approve a bundle of academic and administrative resolutions, accepted the district's unaudited financial report for the period ending April 30, 2025, and adopted amendments to the 2025–26 board calendar.

Board action and context: The board bundled and approved academic resolutions (Nos. 670–687, plus an amendment to resolution 308) and a large set of administrative resolutions (Nos. 688–713). During discussion commissioners asked for clarifications on several items, including transportation contracts, a WestEd contract for equity-focused budget analysis, the Teachboost evaluation system, and BOCES nursing services. The board approved the bundled motions by voice vote; one commissioner recorded opposition on a subset of items (see vote details below).

Financial report: Acting Chief Financial Officer Derek Blair presented the district’s unaudited financial reports for the period ending April 30, 2025 and the board approved the report. Blair said the general fund estimate increased by $343,000, citing a Medicaid reimbursement of $103,000 and $235,000 in prior-year refunds. Special aid revenue rose by $700,000 because of two new SIG grants. Blair also reported capital activity including a $2,934,000 transfer from contingency for SED construction projects and noted the district’s Oracle ERP user-acceptance testing was scheduled to finish and defects to be resolved by the end of the month.

Notable contracts and agreements approved or discussed: - WestEd (equity/resource-allocation study): Board discussion identified WestEd as the winning bidder for an RFP to provide budget-equity technical assistance and community engagement funded through a state resource-allocation grant. Board members asked about the timeline and the superintendent’s involvement; staff said the project predated the current superintendent and that a second report element is expected by June. - Teachboost (teacher observation/evaluation system): Commissioners discussed that Teachboost is the district’s web-based system used for teacher and administrative observations to comply with state APPR requirements; staff said the district had used the platform for about three years. - BOCES nursing services (contract with renewal options): The board approved a nursing services contract administered through BOCES with discretionary renewals, and staff said few providers can meet the district’s scale and scope for nursing services. - Rise Up Rochester and Judicial Process Commission MOAs: The board approved memoranda of agreement (MOAs) with community partners (Rise Up Rochester and a Judicial Process Commission program); staff said MOAs will be followed by outcome data reporting as agreements mature.

Votes and dissents: Most bundled resolutions were approved by voice vote. Commissioner Cynthia Elliott recorded opposition to a subset of administrative items during the roll call (she stated opposition referencing resolution numbers during the vote sequence). The transcript shows the motions carried overall; specific roll-call tallies were not read aloud on the record for every item.

Process notes: Several resolutions were bundled and passed together by motion and second; where amendments or rescissions were required (for previously passed items), staff said amendments were being brought forward to maintain transparency. One summer-school resolution (No. 717) was pulled from the bundle during the meeting.

What the board asked staff to follow up on: Commissioners requested additional documentation on WestEd deliverables and timelines, clarification about Teachboost usage and retention of observation records, and follow-up evidence and metrics for MOAs with community partners after an initial period of implementation. Staff committed to adding these items to the board question log and to provide additional documentation.

Ending: With those votes the board moved on to other agenda items. Several commissioners used the session to acknowledge departing senior staff (see separate article).