LEADING THROUGH LISTENING

As you may know by now, the Board of Education voted last week to approve a restructuring of our elementary schools from a k-4 & 5-6 model to a k-6 model. During the past week, we continue to receive many questions regarding the transition. Each week, we will be using our automated email system to email any updates that we have to all of our current k-5 families. Also, we will continue to send home hard copies of updates on a monthly basis to ensure that the information is reaching our families. In the meantime, we encourage you to continue sending along any questions that you may have via email or telephone. We only ask that you please keep in mind that while we prepare for 2017-2018, our main focus remains on our students in the current academic year which could mean that answers to some questions may not have an immediate response. We continue to work through contractual and regulatory paperwork which will delay some of the information that we all seek. In the coming week, we

Spring break is officially past (unfortunately) which is generally a landmark in the education schedule for the year. With roughly 60 school days remaining, or ask a senior if you want the exact count, it will be a mad dash to the finish line in all schools. There are many events that will take place over the next 8 weeks within our schools including the State math assessments, AP exams at the high school, non-stop athletics, junior prom, senior ball, concerts galore, academic achievement ceremonies, and all culminating with RFA's graduation. The anticipation of the end of the school year can bring mixed emotions for many people, so please take time to have a conversation with your student if you notice any changes in behavior. Also, our school administration and staff are available to work together in the event that concerns arise. Likewise, staff can develop some level of anxiety as the end of there approaches for various reasons, so let's work together to keep everyone sha

On Thursday night, the Board of Education adopted a 2017-2018 proposed budget of $115,320,834 and a 0% tax levy increase for the Rome City School District. The proposed budget represents a 1.41% expenditure increase over the 2016-2017 approved budget. For this year, the District's tax cap was set at 1.98% which is the equivalent of  $645,640 in taxes that could have been levied. As mentioned, the Board has approved a 0% tax increase for the community. That will mean different things for your actual tax bill depending on your home's assessed value, STAR exemptions, and the State's equalization rates. A copy of the presentation can be found here:  RCSD 2017-2018 Budget Presentation . In other budget news, the NY State budget was finally agreed to and released over the weekend as well. All school district's in the State did well and the Senate and Assembly are to be thanked for backing public education. In Rome, the increase in our Foundation Aid that was received will b

Have you noticed recently (over the past few decades at least) that the human race has developed into a group of pessimists? It just seems that whenever something is heard, the human mind always looks at the negative first, or worst case scenario. Or, when someone has a good or even decent idea, there are always people there to say that it can't be done. When did humans devolve into a society of naysayers and status quo lovers? I get the feeling sometimes that wherever you turn you are faced with the proverbial "sky is falling" clan. Sure, we have all been in that club at some point in time or another. I just succumb to their influence a few months ago when issues began to arise in the RFA auditorium. I let the moment and the influence get to me. This was frustrating for me only because I generally try to pride myself in maintaining a positive approach and pushing the envelope of creativity, which are the antithesis of negativity. Regardless, it happens to all of us fro