Sisters and Brothers, please take note of the following updates:
AMENDED BUDGET: Tonight, an amended budget was presented by Deputy Superintendent Linda Quick and Chief Financial Officer Robert Franklin as a response to concerns raised by the Board of Education. Superintendent Dade was noticeably absent. The Board accepted his resignation.
The amended budget includes a $4.5 million reduction to East (as opposed to $6 million), reduces the Rochester International Academy by $3.1 million, restores JROTC Programs, the Director of African-American Studies, and 20.5 social workers.
It closes #57 School and leaves #44 School as a Pre-K center. Staff should feel free to contact me via e-mail or call the union office at 585-458-8670.
School #20, School #43, Young Mothers, and School #25 are slated to close and School #3 is still converting to a Middle School.
Additional cuts at East will result in the elimination of vacancies, but none of the current BENTE staff will be affected.
Your Union Officers are still attending RCSD staffing meetings via zoom, which will wrap up next week.
The Board of Education is scheduled to vote on the budget Thursday, May 7th.
NYS RETIREMENT STATEMENTS: Yearly pension statements from the Comptroller may be delayed this year and will be mailed directly from ERS to everyone’s individual home address. You can also request that the statement be e-mailed to you by going to the NYS retirement website.
WORKERS’ MEMORIAL DAY: Today, April 28th is Workers' Memorial Day. A day in which we stop to reflect on the lives of working brothers and sisters who died while on the job. Unfortunately, we are living in a time where working men and women are succumbing to the terrible virus Covid-19. Thousands of essential workers are on the front-lines keeping our communities running while many shelter at home to keep the virus at bay.
I have never in my life witnessed a moment more urgent than now that made it more clear that workers are the backbone of society. Workers' Memorial Day is a time to remember those heroes who lost their lives trying to make life livable for others. Many AFSCME workers are on the front-lines risking their lives and the safety of their families for a decent day’s pay.
My deepest sympathies go out to the families and friends of over 100 workers lost from our sister union DC 37 in NYC and hundreds if not thousands across many other unions and organizations in the United States. Our political advocacy means more now than it ever has, and we will continue to push for local and state aide in the next federal stimulus. Workers need the proper protection and support to do their jobs, and it is imperative that local governments have the funding to adequately provide public services during this economic disaster.
An injury to one is an injury to all.
Stay safe.
In Solidarity,
Daniel DiClemente, President
BENTE/AFSCME Local 2419
“The Support Staff that Supports Students”
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BENTE Local 2419