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Superintendent reports expanded K–12 transportation, new parent partnership and safety hires
Summary
The Rome City School District superintendent reported expanded bus service for students previously designated as walkers after 75 family requests, outlined parent partnership and business engagement plans, and announced hires including a nurse practitioner and a director of district safety.
The superintendent reported that the district’s transportation team has expanded bus service to K–12 students who had previously been designated as walkers after a family survey produced 75 requests for transportation as of last Friday. The administration said staff are reviewing submissions to determine safe pickup locations and will contact families directly to establish bus-stop details.
The superintendent recognized dispatcher Justin Ruts for his role in analyzing data that informed the new stops and said the district will continue this winter review each year to improve student safety. The superintendent noted that parents also submitted requests for pre-K transportation but clarified that, because UPK services are tied to a New York State grant, transportation is currently provided only for K–12 students; the district will retain pre-K requests for potential future consideration.
On finances, the superintendent said the district received preliminary governor’s budget figures for the 2026–27 school year showing projected additional state aid compared with the current year but cautioned that those numbers are preliminary and that district staff will continue to budget conservatively as future years may be more challenging. The final state budget is expected in mid‑March and district business officials will provide monthly updates as the budget is developed.
The superintendent described a new Rome Parent Partnership Council (RPPC) launched Jan. 14 to strengthen family–district communication and invited families to contact Sandra Russell, district clerk (SARussell@RomeCSD.org), or the superintendent’s office to participate; the superintendent and the assistant superintendent for human resources will facilitate the group until elections are held and parents can become co‑chairs.
The district will host a school–business after‑hours event on Feb. 24, in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce and MVCC, intended to connect local businesses with district initiatives, explore internships and mentorships, and help employers describe the skills they value. The superintendent said the board will attend and businesses can sign up through MVCC; participation is at no cost.
The superintendent also announced a new short-format communications feature, "Did you know?" that will appear on the district website and highlighted two immediate items: the hiring of a nurse practitioner who will lead in‑school health supports and a director of district safety who is implementing safety enhancements. The superintendent said the director will present a threat‑assessment workshop on Feb. 9 explaining research‑based protocols for determining credibility of threats and staff training.
Finally, the superintendent invited the community to a Black History Month evening of music, poetry and reflection on Feb. 10 at Rome Free Academy beginning at 6:30 p.m., hosted in collaboration with the NAACP and the African American Heritage Association. A flyer will be posted on the district website.
