There is no question that public school superintendents are accountable for the achievement and growth of students and the performance of schools within their communities. However, superintendents can no longer limit their concern for students to the school day. To have a sustained impact on our children’s education, we must be part of a community network that supports children and families around the clock.

Our students’ needs extend beyond the traditional mission of a school district. The research is clear and there is no question that poverty, violence, poor health, illiteracy, unemployment, and substandard housing can have a negative impact on student learning.
Such challenges require our schools and staff to shift their attention and time to meeting needs that go beyond the direct teaching of reading or math. It is essential, therefore, that community leaders, policy makers, and service providers work together to break down these barriers to learning and create conditions for parents that foster student learning.

I am advancing a plan for the integrated delivery of services to improve the health, wellness, education, and livelihoods of students and families in the neediest section of Rochester. The “Rochester Children’s Zone” engages key partners—from health, welfare, public safety, housing, education, literacy, employment, and social services—in helping improve student achievement and graduation rates, the well-being of families, the involvement of parents, and ultimately, the revitalization of neighborhoods.
This plan initially focuses on the area of northeast Rochester bordered by Norton, Goodman, Main, and St. Paul streets.Its residents face some of the most daunting conditions imaginable, including:

• More than 97% poverty.
• More than 58% of the city’s homicides last year.
• The city’s highest rates of childhood illness and lowest rates of doctor visits.
• High unemployment and illiteracy.

Children in this area are less likely to be read to by an adult, attend pre-K, or visit a library. They’ve traditionally performed below average on standardized tests, though performance is on an upward trend; we need to build on that success and cannot let these conditions jeopardize our progress.

Within this area we have targeted 4,300 children and seven schools. Our vision is that it will become a safe neighborhood with quality housing, employment and involved families, making educational success a real possibility. One community gets the support of another.
Key community leaders are already on board and have agreed to provide political, personal, and financial support for initial planning. I look forward to greater commitment as planning progresses this fall.

It is incumbent on all of us to provide the “surround care” to support our children and families 24/7. For our students to learn, grow, and develop, we must work collaboratively to combat the impact of poverty and the shadow it casts on our children’s futures.