District presents 2025 legislative priorities: CTE funding, Phase 3 facilities timeline, cybersecurity and mental-health funding continuity

Rochester City School District officials and intergovernmental staff presented a draft set of 2025 legislative priorities on Jan. 14 that the board will consider ahead of a legislative breakfast and discussions with state lawmakers.

Saul Ramos Lopez, identified in the meeting as chief of communications and intergovernmental affairs, outlined the district's priorities as alignment of foundation aid with educational goals, increased funding for career and technical education (CTE) including coverage for ninth-grade CTE, a requested moratorium on charter school expansion, an extension and higher allocation for Phase 3 of the district's facilities modernization program, reimbursement for pre-K special education costs, continuity of mental-health funding for school health services and dedicated funding for student and staff devices and cybersecurity.

Why it matters: The priorities seek state-level changes or funding that would directly affect RCSD operations and capital projects. Officials said insufficient per-pupil reimbursement for technology, compressed Phase 3 timelines and uneven charter expansion are among the district's chief concerns.

Details presented

- CTE funding: The district will advocate for increased funding for CTE expansion — including state support for ninth-grade CTE, which the presenter said currently relies on grants and general funds. - Facilities modernization (Phase 3): Ramos Lopez said Phase 3's current schedule is "overly compressed," raising concerns about rising materials costs and local construction labor availability as other large projects proceed in the region; the district seeks an extension and additional funds to mitigate those pressures. - Charter schools: The district reiterated support for a moratorium on charter creation and expansion, citing the financial strain rapid charter growth can create for urban districts. Board members discussed parental choice and the district's concerns about charter impacts on services for students with disabilities. - Pre-K special education: The district cited a need for better reimbursement for pre-K special education given the high concentration of pre-K students in Big 5 districts. - Mental-health funding: The presentation noted a $1.2 million Rochester School Health Services grant that the district currently receives through the governor's budget process; staff asked that that funding become part of a continuous allocation rather than an annual discretionary item to ensure steady services. - Devices and cybersecurity: Ramos Lopez said current per-pupil state reimbursement for hardware is $24.20 per pupil, which the district described as far below actual replacement and procurement costs; he recommended dedicated funding for cybersecurity and data privacy following recent contractor breaches mentioned in the discussion.

Board discussion and requests for follow-up

Board members raised additional legislative topics to consider. Commissioner Elliott asked the board to consider inclusion of state support for electric bus charging infrastructure, revisiting the state's definition of attendance, and continuing work on transportation eligibility. Commissioner Griffin asked for clarification about construction timelines and whether project consultants can mitigate schedule risks. Several board members supported prioritizing CTE and mental-health funding; one commissioner reiterated opposition to a charter moratorium on the grounds of parental choice.

Next steps

District staff said the draft priorities will be refined ahead of a legislative breakfast scheduled for Feb. 8 and that the board will vote on the final priorities at the board's Jan. 23 business meeting. Commissioners were invited to submit questions and suggested additions to the board question log to ensure items can be addressed before the Jan. 23 vote.