LEADING THROUGH LISTENING

Well, here we go again friends. This week, we will presenting our first version of the 2020-2021 proposed Rome City School District budget. Very much like last year, revenues continue to flat line, meaning that we can not continue to operate the way that we have been over the last decade, or maybe in a manner in which people want. Unfortunately, in public education, we have 2 main sources of revenue. Those are local taxes and state/federal aid. In the initial budget presentation, we will be highlighting how these revenue sources can not sustain our operations the way in which we are currently comprised. The single largest contributor to expenditure issues is health insurance premiums are rising at rates far faster than anyone can account for. By comparison, health insurance is expected to increase by roughly $2.5 million this year, while a 2% tax increase AND our forecasted state aid increase is only expected to increase revenue by $1.4 million. Simple math should highlight for y...

As the winter sports season nears the end, Rome Free Academy has had several teams and individuals bring home league and sectional championships. For the second year in a row, the girls' bowling team has won the Section III Championship and are headed to the state tournament. The girls' track team continued their dominance in our league by winning their 5th consecutive league championship. Not to be out done, the boys' swim team also won the league championship this year. Topping all of this, for now, is RFA's Justin Swavely who won the Section III Championship in both the shot put and the weight throw, with RFA's Billie Mays III bringing home the silver medal in shot put as well. With both basketball teams, boy's hockey, and wrestling heading into their post season competitions, the best of the bunch has been the girls' ice hockey team from Clinton. Comprised of students from district's throughout the Mohawk Valley, the team includes 7 athletes fro...

This week represents National School Counseling Week 2020 (#NSCW2020).  The week, sponsored by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), highlights the unique contribution of school counselors within U.S. school systems and the tremendous impact they can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career. While there is no doubt that all adults (whether in an educational setting or not) act as a counselor to youth in some capacity, the specific work of a school counselor is at a different level. Believe it or not, many school related people (including some here in Rome) still refer to school counselors as "guidance counselors". Unfortunately, this term used to address the work of school counselors was removed from school systems in the 1970's, but sadly many communities have yet to realize the work of a school counselor as being more than guidance, even 50 years later. Many of us as adults can think of at least one moment when our counselor...