City council approves plan for officers in Rochester schools, amended school year

Rochester, New York – A plan to permit officers at certain RCSD schools during arrival and dismissal times during the summer and into the next school year was formally approved by the Rochester City Council.

The original intention to cover only the summer for $90,000 was reduced to $861,000 with the approval of the proposal.

With a proposed amendment that would enable RCSD to work with the city on a comprehensive community safety plan that focuses on violence prevention and intervention without only depending on the police, Councilmember Mary Lupien ignited a debate on Tuesday. The amendment was not successful.

Lupien expressed her desire for the city’s Pathways to Peace program and other violence prevention measures to be expanded.

“Programs like Pathways to Peace, in supporting the social-emotional development of our students, is not just about managing their behavior, but it gives them skills that will follow our students beyond the schoolyard and their days at RCSD,” she said.

Although Lupien’s amendment was approved by most of the city council and several members of the RCSD board, it was formally withdrawn. The crux of the matter was whether the city could lawfully impose restrictions on the district and what it could not.

On Tuesday, the initial proposal was accepted with only one nay vote from Stanley Martin, a member of the city council.