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Student Activism Update
by Tali Beckwith-Cohen and Simone Hardaway
We want to update you about the steps students in the RCSD are taking to fight for our schools. This decision made last month to cut 97 teachers was devastating and our hearts go out to all the teachers and students impacted. However, our fight isn’t over. We are turning our attention now to the source of our districts financial crisis, the chronic underfunding of our schools because of the withholding of foundation aid from the state.
Foundation aid is a formula for funding that takes into account the number of special needs students, students in poverty, English language learners and students receiving free or reduced price lunch. The number of students in the RCSD that meet these criteria is much higher than in surrounding suburban areas. The state has chronically failed to uphold their commitment to providing adequate foundation aid, leaving high need districts such as ours underfunded. The government owes districts across the state billions of dollars including 86 million dollars in foundation aid to the RCSD, which would have been enough funding to stop mid year layoffs and to close the budget gap.
We have seen no real commitment from the governor to properly fund us. That is why, the students of the RCSD decided it was time to stop waiting for adults to step up. On January 13th, student leaders from different schools worked together with members of the ACLU and the NYCLU to hold the State of the Students at Central Office, where we shared a list of demands that we have for the adults in charge of our district, not only demanding proper funding, but sharing what it is that the funding needs to be used for. Here is a link to the list (Student Demands) It comes directly from the students.
On January 14th, students, parents, and community members went directly to Albany to demand foundation aid. This trip was organized by Citizen Action and the Alliance for Quality Education. In Albany we met either directly or with the staff of Assembly members Micheal Benedetto and Harry Bronson, and Senators Joe Robach, Brian Benjamin, Carl Heastie, Shelly Meyor, and Andrea Stewart-Cousins. We also held a rally in the capitol building where multiple students, including two from SOTA, spoke to the crowd. We were joined by many state and national leaders, including Robert Jackson and Randy Weingarted. Students also delivered pink slips to Governor Cuomo (who was in Puerto Rico at the time), representing those that the laid-off teachers received, telling him that due to his failure to fund our schools, his job will be “terminated.” We feel that we made our message clear and our voices heard, however our work is far from done.
Right now, students and community members are working with Citizen Action to plan our next steps. We are trying to organize an information session for students and parents to fully understand the cause of the crisis in our district on a financial and political level. We are also trying to plan another lobby day in Albany, this time with greater numbers, as well as meetings with representatives locally. It is essential that we keep the pressure on our representatives. Keep your eyes open for more information and dates to come.
We want to give a huge thank you to Iman Abid from ACLU, Ashley Gantt from NYCLU, Stevie Vargas from Citizen Action, and Jasmine Gripper from AQE. These amazing people have worked really hard to help students make their voices heard as we open up a conversation about structural changes that need to be made in our district.
Note from the editor: If you would like to keep up-to-date on student activism activities, send a message to sotaptso@gmail.com. Thank you Tali, Simone, and many others for your hard work!!!
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Need More Sleep??? (and other SBPT updates)
 At the January School Based Planning Team, Dr. Jack Peltz presented a variety of research showing the negative impact of early school start times and the positive mental, physical, and academic improvements seen at schools who have made the move to later start times. Dr. Peltz made a proposal that SOTA consider moving school start times later in the morning. The SBPT made a motion to create a sub-committee to collect more research and information on the potential positive and negative effects of a later start time on SOTA, specifically, and report back to the full SBPT. The committee is made up of parents, students, teachers, and administration. This presentation and formation of a sub-committee is timely as SOTA's RCSD Chief is looking for SOTA's comments on start time. Any comments regarding school start times can be sent to sotaptso@gmail.com.
As a result of the district-wide layoffs, SOTA lost an account clerk, accompanist/assistant piano teacher, home-school assistant, and a clerk 4 (which may negatively impact phone coverage). On a positive note, a clerk 3 position was restored as well as the home-school assistant (it will be a new person).
The 2019 numbers are in and SOTA came out on top again with a 96% graduation rate (26% advanced diplomas)!!
Students, parents, and guardians are asked to remember that school ends at 2:30 PM. After that time there is no SSO on duty and no supervision. For student safety, all students must leave the building and get picked up by 2:45 PM.
Course Selection for Grades 8-11 will take place in January and February. Course descriptions and flow charts can be found here, and a list of virtual courses can be found here.
Click here for the latest letter from Principal Nicastro.
Minutes from SBPT meetings are always available online.
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Safety Announcement
Parents, please talk to your students about walking in the middle of Erion Crescent. This street receives a lot of student traffic as it connects Prince Street with East Main St. Erion Crescent is a narrow street with a blind curve (at its bend) and a blind corner (at East Main), and concerned neighbors have witnessed many near-accidents.
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Looking for a summer job?
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Arts News
Drama
This emotionally riveting theatrical experience recounts the true story of Matthew Shepard, a young man who was tortured, and left tied to a fence in the middle of the prairie outside Laramie, Wyoming. A powerful play exploring the depths to which humanity can sink, and the heights of compassion of which we are capable. The play contains mature subject matter and language and may not be suitable for all ages.
Thank you to the Village - a Leisure Care Premier Community, and the Rochester Area Community Foundation for their invaluable support.
Tickets available here.
Coming Up: Grease auditions are February 10-12.
Dance
The annual Dance Concert will be performed on 2/28 at 7pm, 2/29 at 7pm, and 3/1 at 2pm. Tickets available here.
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Sports News 
Winter Basketball
Coach Nash is pleased with the current team record of 9 wins and 5 losses. Ethain Clark DeSouza, Logan Hayes, Ke’Vion Mitchell, Reggie Smith, and KeShawn Chapman are the starters. They have been playing together as starters for the past 3 seasons. Check the schedule for games. The team would love to have your support and spirit!
Visit the Sports Calendar for a listing of sports events, and come out to cheer on the SOTA Silverhawks!
Skiing and Snowboarding
Did you know that SOTA has a Ski Club, and this year it has doubled in size? Two buses full of winter sports enthusiasts leave SOTA after school on Friday afternoons, accompanied by moderators Mr. Petito, Ms. Ang, and Ms. Lawson. They arrive at Bristol Mountain while it’s still light out and have the option to take a group lesson. Many students were eager to learn this year, so the school accommodated their interest by adding a bus. Buses return to school at 10pm, full of exhausted teens.
Spring sports registration is coming soon.
Need more info? Visit the SOTA Athletics webpage, or contact Athletic Director Dave Michelsen at david.michelsen@rcsdk12.org or 242-7682 Ext. 2270.
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Friends of SOTA
ATTENTION SENIORS!!!!!
Friends awards at least twelve scholarships annually, ranging from $500 up to $2500. The scholarships each have different criteria - some depending on the student's SOTA major, others targeted to the student's intended studies in college, and many that are open to any SOTA student. There's even an early bird bonus for the first completed application that we receive! Scholarships may be used for tuition at any 2-year or 4-year college, or for any career training program.
Students can apply for UP TO THREE different scholarships, though only one scholarship will be awarded per student. Students should read the scholarship descriptions carefully to determine which are the best fit for them.
Only SOTA students are eligible to apply so odds of being awarded a scholarship from Friends of SOTA are the best that students will find anywhere! There is even a scholarship (the Dream Scholarship) that is open to students that are pursuing a gap year or other alternative to college, so there truly is something for everyone!
All applications and materials are due by April 1st.
Go to http://friendsofsota.org/scholarships for more information.
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Ethain Clarke-DeSouza reaches 1000 points!!! Congratulations!
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Walter the Silverhawk at the RCSD School Choice Expo
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Happening Around Town
The Rochester Board of Education is hosting a public forum to gather public input on the Memorandum of Understanding (contract) with the Rochester Police Department, which establishes School Resource Officers in District Schools. Join us to make your voice heard:
Thursday, March 19, 2020 6:00 pm
Conference Room 3A/B
Rochester City School District
Central Office
131 W. Broad Street, 14614
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