Rochester city school leaders are faced with a significant challenge: find a way to close a $61 million revenue gap in the next budget cycle and improve student performance enough to satisfy the state.
Jaime Alicea, the state-appointed monitor for the district, outlined in his draft academic and financial plan that the district needs to increase literacy rates and improve attendance and graduation rates.
He said the means to get there need to be reflected in the budget, which means finding where to cut without jeopardizing student achievement…