State monitor presents draft 2025–27 academic and fiscal plans; controversy surfaces over newcomer program recommendation

State monitor Jaime Alaseya presented a draft academic and fiscal plan for 2025–27 to the Rochester Board’s ESA committee on June 10, 2025, and invited public comment before a scheduled public hearing June 26. The monitor said the plan narrows the district’s required actions compared with earlier years and aligns recommendations to the district strategic plan.

Alaseya listed 44 academic recommendations (down from 92 in an earlier monitor plan) and highlighted five new items: (1) board support and evaluation processes for the incoming superintendent, (2) board professional development with the National School Boards Association (NESBA) on interpersonal governance, (3) required roll call at business and special meetings to show attendance, (4) monitoring the East Upper/East Lower transition from the EPO back to district oversight, and (5) a recommendation to audit bilingual education and ENL curriculum for alignment to the Next Generation standards. On fiscal matters the monitor said the district has made progress since 2022–23 and highlighted three new fiscal recommendations, including appointing a CFO and budget director by October 2025 and implementing an accurate position‑control system tied to Oracle.

Alaseya emphasized alignment of recommendations to the district strategic plan and asked that parents, staff and board members send feedback prior to the June 26 public hearing; he said the monitor and fiscal consultant will return a final plan to the board in July for approval.

The monitor reiterated several compliance and oversight responsibilities that accompany the monitoring role (semi‑annual reporting, advising on conflicts of interest, state review and the monitor’s ability to notify the board of plan violations). He also recapped that the monitor appointment was extended by state legislation through May 2027, and that the monitor and a fiscal consultant will continue to advise the district.

Commissioner Lebron spoke forcefully in opposition to the monitor’s wording about the RIA newcomer program; Lebron said the timing of a request to reduce newcomer program duration from 18 to 12 months and to consider integrating English‑speaking students into the newcomer program was politically sensitive and could damage the program. "I want to be clear that this community will not stand by and allow this board nor the state to try to, disband RIA," Lebron said, adding the program often serves newly arrived siblings and highly traumatized students and that shifting timelines would effectively shrink the program.

The monitor responded that the state recommendation was not a demand to close RIA but to ensure programmatic access and integration (art/music/PE with other students), certification of teachers, and provision for non‑English speakers; he invited feedback as the draft moves to public hearing.

Monica Graham (parent representative) asked how parents and caregivers can attend the monitor’s June 26 hearing; Alaseya said it will be held in the boardroom and invited other parent‑group meetings to host monitor attendance.

Board members asked questions about the fiscal highlights included in the monitor’s draft: the monitor said the district’s facilities management plan (FMP) for $475 million warrants board oversight and that the Oracle implementation and position control work require careful coordination. Several commissioners said they want more engagement with FMP work and Oracle progress; the monitor confirmed the district should submit a vacancy analysis and include the fiscal consultant in budget revision conversations before Dec. 31, 2025.

The monitor closed by reiterating that the draft is open for public feedback and that final plan adoption will return to the board in July.