RPS backtracks on short-term pay reductions

Rochester Public Schools will not implement planned changes to teachers’ annual pay cycle in the wake of widespread criticism of the strategy.

“After several members voiced their concerns, our negotiations team met with the district team on Tuesday morning,” said Dan Kuhlan, president of the Rochester Education Association. “The REA team suggested that the pay shift be removed from consideration and the district team agreed.”

Last week, the district told employees it would be moving from an August-to-July pay schedule to a September-to-August cycle, and in doing so, would be reducing teacher pay by 20 percent for the next six months.

Teachers criticized the plan, saying the temporary pay reduction would make it challenging for many educators to make their monthly bills.

The shift was part of a larger plan to move from a once-a-month pay structure to a semi-monthly pay cycle. That part of the proposal, the district confirmed, will still move forward without any impact to total income.

Sean Baker is a Rochester journalist and the founder of Med City Beat.