January 26, 2026 - A Ride for the Walkers
The board's late January meeting, held on yet another snow day, delivered a quick payoff for the parents who spoke up two weeks earlier. After January 6th complaints about kids walking dangerous winter routes, the district announced it had expanded busing to students who'd been told to walk. 75 families had already asked to be included. The board also got its first look at next year's state aid, which came in better than expected, and folded an emergency repair at Strough Middle School into a building project voters already approved. A few quieter items carried real weight too. There was a fix for problems an audit found in student activity funds, the retirement of the district's treasurer, and two parent appeals, one over bullying, one over discipline, that the board turned down.
What happened at the meeting
The district found a ride for the walkers. This was the direct result of the January 6 public comments. The transportation team reviewed its routes and expanded bus service to K-12 students across the district who had previously been designated walkers. A form went out to families, and 75 had submitted requests within a week. The district is now setting safe pickup spots and contacting families. Superintendent Nerlande Anselme said it would do this review every winter, and framed it plainly. Parents raised a concern, the district acted on it.
Next year's state aid looks better than expected. The district got its first, preliminary 2026–27 numbers from the governor's budget, and said Rome is in line for more aid than this year. Officials were pleased but cautious, warning that the years after 2026–27 could be tight, and saying they'll keep budgeting conservatively and building reserves. The final state figures are due in mid-March.
An emergency repair became part of an approved project. Chiller and HVAC work at Strough Middle School is being folded into the 2022 capital project voters already approved. Doing it that way lets the district handle the design, bidding, and financing together rather than as a one-off emergency.
The district is cleaning up an audit finding. The board approved a corrective action plan after an outside audit of the district's student activity funds flagged weaknesses in financial controls. The plan now goes to the state.
The treasurer is retiring. Among several retirements approved, the district's treasurer, Kimberly Seifert, is leaving July 1, along with a longtime school lunch manager and a transportation supervisor. In separate personnel actions, the board placed a probationary teacher on paid administrative leave and approved a separation agreement with another probationary employee. No reasons were stated publicly.
Two parent appeals were denied. Meeting in closed session to protect student privacy, the board upheld the administration on two appeals brought by parents. One involved a bullying and harassment (DASA) finding and the other a student discipline decision. In both cases the board sided with the building administrators and superintendent, and the families were told they can take the matter to the state education commissioner.
Off the agenda: safety, health, and outreach. The district highlighted a new director of district safety, who is leading threat-assessment work and a monthly safety committee that includes Rome police, state troopers, the fire department, and the county sheriff. A newly hired nurse practitioner is bringing free in-school dental care through a state program. The board also launched a Parent Partnership Council and set a February event to connect with local businesses as part of a push to keep graduates and jobs in Rome. A Black History Month celebration is planned for February 10 at RFA.
Routine business and two new policies. The usual personnel moves and special education placements passed, the board trimmed a previously approved property tax refund to one homeowner down to about $518, and surplus equipment was cleared out. The board also began reviewing two policies worth watching: one governing the use of artificial intelligence, and a whistleblower policy for reporting wrongful conduct.