Rochester teachers rally against ‘Christmas massacre’ layoff plan
The chants of “Let teachers teach” and “Education is a right, that’s why we have to fight,” echoed clearly down West Broad Street early Thursday evening. They came from a rally organized by the Rochester Teachers Association and were meant to send a message: Stop the proposed layoffs of Rochester School District teachers.
The teachers union organized the rally in response to Superintendent Terry Dade’s plan to lay off 218 district staff members, 152 of whom belong to the union. The Board of Education will vote on the cuts on Thursday, Dec. 19.
Standing outside of the district’s offices just before Thursday’s regularly scheduled meeting of the school board, RTA President Adam Urbanski grimly referred to the proposal as a “Christmas massacre.”
“We have an alternative proposal for the Board of Education we’re advancing today -- don’t act until you can figure out how we got into this mess,” Urbanski said. “The teachers and students didn’t cause this problem, they shouldn’t be punished.”
Urbanski urged the board to delay voting on Dade's plan until June, a move that CONTINUE READING: Rochester teachers rally against ‘Christmas massacre’ layoff plan | WBFO
