April 21, 2026 - Parents Press for Answers
April 21's meeting was shaped almost entirely by its public comment, when a group of parents and community members came to object to a wave of staff and leadership departures across the district. The majority pointed at the resignation of the Denti Elementary principal, which appeared on the night's agenda. Speakers praised her leadership, questioned how the district makes and explains personnel decisions, and pressed the board for more transparency, smaller class sizes, and assurance that staff can raise concerns without fear of consequences. Following its own public-comment rules, the board listened but did not respond. The agenda itself reflected the turnover. Two more employees were placed on paid leave, and the board appointed a long-term substitute to lead Denti through the rest of the year. The remainder of the meeting was budget paperwork ahead of the May 19 vote and routine business.
What happened at the meeting
Parents filled public comment over staff departures. Speaker after speaker urged the board to slow down and review the facts before finalizing the Denti principal's departure, arguing she had clearly improved the school and that removing a leader days before state testing was disruptive for students and staff. Several framed it as part of a larger pattern across the district. One speaker said that, by her count of publicly posted meeting minutes, at least 47 employees had resigned this school year. Others raised growing class sizes, what they described as reactive communication, and a worry that staff don't feel safe speaking up. The board, per its rules, did not respond during public comment and said concerns would be referred to the superintendent for follow-up with anyone who requested a response.
The agenda reflected the turnover. The board placed two employees on paid administrative leave, and approved a long-term substitute principal, at $550 a day, to lead Denti through the end of the school year. The principal's resignation takes effect June 30. As is standard for personnel matters, no reasons were stated publicly. Several other resignations also appeared on the consent agenda.
Budget paperwork before the May 19 vote. With the budget already adopted, the board handled the filings that have to follow. It adopted the 2026–27 property tax report card and approved the final BOCES budget, which is already built into the district's spending plan.
The Rome Catholic lease was amended. The board approved an amended version of the five-year lease for the former Rome Catholic Academy building on Cypress Street, which will house pre-K classrooms and district offices once the state approves it.
New ball fields, and testing underway. The district held a ribbon-cutting for its new baseball and softball fields at RFA and reported that state testing is now underway across all grade levels. Student artwork is also now on display in the boardroom and district office.
Routine business. The board granted tenure to an elementary teacher, made a maintenance supervisor's position permanent (one board member recused herself because the employee is her husband), advanced several policies through readings, formally closed out the inactive Class of 2025 student club with its leftover funds going to staff, and appointed the poll workers who will staff the May 19 election.