NJH Public Hearing - School 20 | Day 1

This was a public hearing held by the Rochester, NY City Council on May 7, 2026, focused on the proposed sale of two school properties, School 20 and School 29, to charter schools Young Women's College Prep and Rockside, respectively. The hearing featured presentations from school principals and board chairs advocating for the sales, emphasizing the need for permanent school buildings within the city to better serve their predominantly Rochester-based student populations. Numerous public comments from parents, students, educators, and charter school supporters highlighted the challenges of current shared or off-site facilities, the importance of stable school homes, and the potential positive impact of these sales on educational opportunities and neighborhood revitalization. Financial aspects discussed included the charter schools' lack of facilities funding and the infusion of $8 million in national funding to support renovations. Council members expressed support, with some indicating intentions to reconsider previous votes against the sales. The hearing was primarily centered on procurement decisions related to the sale and repurposing of city-owned school buildings to charter schools, with significant community engagement and advocacy for these transactions.