RCSD community speaks about superintendent search, school renaming

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Some community members took the opportunity to voice their opinions Thursday night as the Rochester City School District searches for a new superintendent.

Dr. Carmine Peluso will be leaving his position as superintendent by the end of the year. Members of the community told the Board of Education what kind of leader they’d like to see replace him for the time being.

“Dr. Peluso checked almost every box that our district was in need of. Intelligent, compassionate, dedicated, a strong communicator, level-headed and arguably, and most importantly, had a broad understanding of the district,” said Frankin High teacher Anthony McCabe, adding “I’m asking whoever’s in the pool, truly understands the injustices our district faces.”

“The last matrix that you used, I think it was fine, it didn’t work out but I think we looked for someone who was ambitious, wasn’t looking to relocate,” said former RCSD board member Ricardo Adams. “I think the person we picked was very competent. I wish he was still here. But the fact is, there was one quality he probably doesn’t have and I’m not a religious person, but he probably needed to be able to turn the other cheek.”

Also at the meeting. some community members spoke up about the renaming of Franklin High School. Over 500 people signed a petition to rename it after local NFL star Trent Jackson, who went to Franklin.

“After having a professional career in football, he could have gone anywhere in the country to teach and give back. But he chose to come back to this community,” said Rev. Benjamin Cox. “And now, after all that he poured into this community, for this school board not to allow his name to be considered, the name Trent Jackson, to be considered as the name to go onto Franklin High School. It should be an embarrassment to the school board, and it would be an insult to the black community.”

It was announced in February the board voted to replace the school’s name with Padilla High School —named after one of the earliest migrant families to reach Rochester.

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