Under legislation included in the Enacted State Budget, the Rochester Monitor oversees academic and fiscal issues. Mr. Alicea is a non-voting ex-officio member of the board of education, entitled to attend all meetings of the board including executive sessions.

Among other duties, the monitor works with the district’s shared decision-making committee in developing the financial plan, academic improvement plan, district goals, implementation of district priorities and budgetary recommendations. Mr. Alicea also assists in resolving disputes and conflicts, including but not limited to, those between the superintendent and the Board of Education and among members of the Board.

The district is required to provide quarterly reports to the monitor and annual reports to the Commissioner and Board of Regents on the academic, fiscal, and operational status of the district. The monitor is required to provide semi-annual reports to the Commissioner, the Board of Regents, the Governor, the Temporary President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the Assembly on the academic, fiscal, and operational status of the district which include all the contracts that the district entered into throughout the year.

The Board and the monitor will develop proposed Financial and Academic Improvement plans for the 2020-2021 school year and the four subsequent school years no later than June 30. These plans will be the subject of public hearings to consider the input of the Rochester community. Once the plans are approved by the Board, the plans must be submitted by the monitor to the State Education Commissioner for approval.