Charter School Public Hearings and Superintendent's Updates | October 13, 2026

The Rochester City School District Board of Education held charter-school public hearings and a superintendent’s update on October 13, 2026. The hearings gathered community input on charter renewals and revisions: Citizenship and Science Academy proposed expanding from 525 to 975 students and adding grades 7–12; Genesee Community Charter School sought a five-year renewal at 225 students annually; its Flower City campus sought renewal and an increase from 210 to 448 students; Rochester Academy of Science proposed expanding from 720 to 1,014 students; and Young Women’s College Preparatory proposed moving grades 7–12 into a Rochester City School District facility. Speakers supported the Genesee schools’ renewals. No charter-related spending decisions or votes were reported. A staff member also raised continuing payroll errors and requested timely correction, communication, and accountability.

The superintendent’s update presented a preliminary internal school-safety model as an alternative to the Rochester Police Department arrival-and-dismissal contract, scheduled to end in early March 2027. Estimated costs totaled $465,000: about $260,000 for a mobile-unit expansion, $15,000 for command-center technology, $90,000 for an associate/assistant director, and $100,000 for three additional school-based safety staff. The district said it expected to use existing 2026–27 allocations originally designated for police services and seek grants; it cited the current police contract at approximately $867,000 and said ending it would produce overall savings. The board took no action on the proposal, requested an itemized cost analysis and staffing details, and sought safety data and a breakdown of department allocations. A later vote on Resolution 241 failed; the transcript does not identify its subject. No contract award or procurement approval was made.