Rochester City School Board President Launches 'Community Conversations' to Tackle Education Crisis
- Staff Report
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
In response to ongoing challenges in academic performance and student wellbeing, newly elected Rochester City School Board President Camille Simmons is launching a series of “Necessary Conversations” to directly engage the community in solutions for the city's struggling schools.
The first event in this community-focused series will be held on Saturday, April 12, from 2 to 4 p.m. at First Genesis Baptist Church in Rochester. It is open to all residents who want to be part of a dialogue about the future of education in the Rochester City School District (RCSD).
Simmons, who stepped into her leadership role earlier this year, is calling on families, educators, and community members to join forces to address what she describes as a failure to prepare students for literacy, math, writing, and life beyond school.
“Our children’s academic education is at risk,” said Simmons. “These students are the future leaders of Rochester, and we have a responsibility to ensure they receive the support and education they need to succeed.”
The conversations will center around four core priorities Simmons sees as crucial for progress in 2025:
Fostering collaboration between schools, families, and the broader community.
Innovating curriculum while nurturing joyful, engaged learners.
Boosting staff morale to ensure a supportive environment for students and teachers.
Enhancing School Board governance to better reflect and serve community needs.
Simmons notes this will be the first of several 'conversations' she plans to have throughout the remainder of the year.
"This is not a one-off event but the beginning of a movement to drive meaningful reform, with community voices playing a central role," she said. “I cannot do this alone. I need your ideas, your insights, and your investment. Together, we can make real changes in the lives of our students.”
This is great news, especially the assertion that it represents "a series of conversations,” e.g., "the first of several conversations she plans to have throughout the remainder of [this] year," and hopefully, subsequent years as well as - because clearly - the old, pervasive, deep-seated-crisis will not be resolved within a single year. Indeed, "a movement to drive meaningful reform, with community voices [and ongoing engagement] playing a central role" is EXACTLY what's needed. However, it can't just be rhetorical. A definition of "movement" is strategic actions on the part of a critical mass of committed people who are WORKING consistently and constantly to achieve crystal-clear, measurable, GOALS. LET'S GO!!!
With regard to the "core priorities" that are listed…