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Gates Chili appoints new superintendent

April 5, 2019 -- The Gates Chili Board of Education has selected Christopher Dailey as its next superintendent.

Dailey is currently the superintendent of the Batavia City School District. He previously taught in Brighton, served as an assistant principal at Churchville-Chili Senior High School and became high school principal in Batavia. He was promoted to deputy superintendent before taking over as superintendent in January 2013.

Dailey will begin in Gates Chili on July 1, pending contract negotiations.

RCSD criticized following investigation of death

March 13, 2019 -- More than a year after the death of 14-year-old student Trevyan Rowe, a joint investigation by the New York State Education Department and Attorney General's Office found serious deficiencies in the boy's care in the Rochester City School District.

The report said investigators found that Rowe had written about death and suicide in assignments, interrupted teachers to ask about committing suicide and threatened to run in front of a school bus. Rowe died March 8, 2018, after getting off the school bus at School No. 12 on South Avenue and walking down the street away from the school. Two of the sentries who should have been standing outside had called in sick that morning, according to the report. One replacement was found, but that person was standing inside the school.

An assistant principal who otherwise would have been standing where Rowe walked, had instead entered the building to track down a parent who was attempting to confront a teacher.

The report noted that Rowe had run away from school once but no plan was put in place to keep him from running away again. Vague or missing protocols for identifying missing children meant that top district officials did not know he was missing until nearly five hours after the school day ended.

State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia said the review showed "an astounding lack of support from his school." She urged all educators to read the report to prevent similar tragedies with their own students.

The school district acknowledged receipt of the report.

"The death of Trevyan Rowe continues to have a profound impact on all of us, and we will always keep him and his family in our thoughts and prayers," the district said in a statement.

In May, Rowe's mother, Carrie Houston, filed a notice of claim with RCSD, the city of Rochester, Monroe County and New York state, preserving her right to bring a lawsuit.

NYSED not satisfied with Rochester district's response

March 8, 2019 -- New York State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia says the Rochester City School District's response to findings by an appointed expert fall short.

The itemized responses to findings by Jaime Aquino "often do not fully address the relevant recommendation, lack specificity, and/or appear unrealistic in terms of either timelines and/or current district capacity to implement the action effectively," Elia wrote in reaction to what the district submitted.

Elia said she will send a more detailed response after which the district will have six weeks to revise and resubmit its plan. She described the RCSD timeline laid out for improvement as "aspirational" given the lack of a permanent superintendent, and said accountability measures fell short.

RCSD board President Van White and interim Superintendent Dan Lowengard said in a statement they received Elia's response and will review it.

Elia's response came days after Mayor Lovely Warren and the ROC the Future coalition wrote to her asking to be included in an unspecified sweeping change in district governance. They too criticized the district's response to Aquino's findings.

Report: Lowengard collapsed during meeting

Feb. 11, 2019 -- Interim Rochester City School District Superintendent Dan Lowengard collapsed during a meeting at district offices and was being admitted to Strong Hospital in unknown condition, multiple sources said.

Lowengard, 68, had been appointed to the interim position after Barbara Deane-Williams retired last month. He started in that role Feb. 1.

This is the second time Lowengard has experienced a serious medical incident while in the role of interim superintendent. Lowengard had a stroke in January 2016 while addressing the Rochester Teachers Association after he had replaced Bolgen Vargas.

Change at the top in Rochester City School District

Jan. 31, 2019 -- The Rochester City School District is now being led by an interim superintendent following Barbara Deane-Williams' departure with six months remaining on her contract.

Deane-Williams took over in the fall of 2016 and announced late last year that she would be departing ahead of schedule. She plans to stay in Rochester, pledging to make help in making the transition as seamless as possible.

Dan Lowengard will serve as the interim superintendent, his second time in that role in recent years.

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	A summary of noteworthy news about Greater Rochester schools
	More from early 2019 Gates Chili appoints new superintendent April 5, 2019 -- The Gates Chili Board of Education has selected Christopher Dailey as its next superintendent. Dailey is currently the superintendent of the Batavia City School District. He previously taught in Brighton, served as an assistant principal at Churchville-Chili Senior High School and became high school principal in Batavia. He was promoted to deputy superintendent before taking over as superintendent in January 2013. Dailey will begin in Gates Chili on July 1, pending contract negotiations. RCSD criticized following investigation of death March 13, 2019 -- More than a year after the death of 14-year-old student Trevyan Rowe, a joint investigation by the New York State Education Department and Attorney General's Office found serious deficiencies in the boy's care in the Rochester City School District. The report said investigators found that Rowe had written about death and suicide in assignments, interrupted teachers to ask about committing suicide and threatened to run in front of a school bus. Rowe died March 8, 2018, after getting off the school bus at School No. 12 on South Avenue and walking down the street away from the school. Two of the sentries who should have been standing outside had called in sick that morning, according to the report. One replacement was found, but that person was standing inside the school. An assistant principal who otherwise would have been standing where Rowe walked, had instead entered the building to track down a parent who was attempting to confront a teacher. The report noted that Rowe had run away from school once but no plan was put in place to keep him from running away again. Vague or missing protocols for identifying missing children meant that top district officials did not know he was missing until nearly five hours after the school day ended. State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia said the review showed "an astounding lack of support from his school." She urged all educators to read the report to prevent similar tragedies with their own students. The school district acknowledged receipt of the report. "The death of Trevyan Rowe continues to have a profound impact on all of us, and we will always keep him and his family in our thoughts and prayers," the district said in a statement. In May, Rowe's mother, Carrie Houston, filed a notice of claim with RCSD, the city of Rochester, Monroe County and New York state, preserving her right to bring a lawsuit. NYSED not satisfied with Rochester district's response March 8, 2019 -- New York State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia says the Rochester City School District's response to findings by an appointed expert fall short. The itemized responses to findings by Jaime Aquino "often do not fully address the relevant recommendation, lack specificity, and/or appear unrealistic in terms of either timelines and/or current district capacity to implement the action effectively," Elia wrote in reaction to what the district submitted. Elia said she will send a more detailed response after which the district will have six weeks to revise and resubmit its plan. She described the RCSD timeline laid out for improvement as "aspirational" given the lack of a permanent superintendent, and said accountability measures fell short. RCSD board President Van White and interim Superintendent Dan Lowengard said in a statement they received Elia's response and will review it. Elia's response came days after Mayor Lovely Warren and the ROC the Future coalition wrote to her asking to be included in an unspecified sweeping change in district governance. They too criticized the district's response to Aquino's findings. Report: Lowengard collapsed during meeting Feb. 11, 2019 -- Interim Rochester City School District Superintendent Dan Lowengard collapsed during a meeting at district offices and was being admitted to Strong Hospital in unknown condition, multiple sources said. Lowengard, 68, had been appointed to the interim position after Barbara Deane-Williams retired last month. He started in that role Feb. 1. This is the second time Lowengard has experienced a serious medical incident while in the role of interim superintendent. Lowengard had a stroke in January 2016 while addressing the Rochester Teachers Association after he had replaced Bolgen Vargas. Change at the top in Rochester City School District Jan. 31, 2019 -- The Rochester City School District is now being led by an interim superintendent following Barbara Deane-Williams' departure with six months remaining on her contract. Deane-Williams took over in the fall of 2016 and announced late last year that she would be departing ahead of schedule. She plans to stay in Rochester, pledging to make help in making the transition as seamless as possible. Dan Lowengard will serve as the interim superintendent, his second time in that role in recent years. [ LOOK BACK AT OLDER STORIES ]