RCSD parents react to district’s last-minute changes

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — Not everyone is happy with the Rochester City School District and its plan to start the new school year one day later than scheduled.

News10NBC spoke with some frustrated parents in the district. Many of them were unaware of an emergency school board meeting held Sunday night, where board members voted to postpone the opening of school by one day.

Delaying the start of school by one day isn’t sitting well with some parents like Ismadelin Santana.

"To me, it’s just not fair. The district again failed us. The City School District of Rochester, New York failed us again as parents," Santana said.

The district is currently in talks with the Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority to come up with a plan to use some of their buses to get students to and from school. Over the past several months, school bus companies saw their number of drivers drop after several resignations.

Deborah Merritt, a parent and teacher we talked to said the situation is still frustrating.

"But, on the other hand, student safety is far most the most important thing that we can hope for. We don’t want COVID-19 to spread in the schools, and we want the students to travel safely to school," Merritt said.

She believes the school district is doing the best it can under the circumstances.

"Hopefully they will get it together. Students will be able to go back to school 100%. So we are for whatever is going on. We are rooting for the superintendent. We hope that she gets the staff for busing. We hope that all the teachers are able to teach again," Merritt said.

While most students are looking to get back to school for in-person classes, Merritt’s son, Josiah Brown, said he prefers remote learning.

"I could stay in bed. I could eat whenever I want to. Go to the bathroom. Like it’s easier to do work by yourself, no distractions, and I can still do sports. So I think it’s better like that," Brown said.

The City of Rochester announced that four of its R-Centers will have extended hours this Wednesday to help families affected by the delay.