The Rochester school district can move forward with the University of Rochester to develop a plan to turn around troubled East High School. Rochester School Board President Van White received a letter today from State Education Deputy Commissioner Ken Slentz saying that the district now has until July 1, 2014, to submit a detailed plan explaining the UR’s role as an educational partner charged with reforming East. The original deadline was today, May 15. 
The plan has to include a memorandum signed by the Rochester school board, UR, and representatives of the unions. The memorandum has to commit the district into entering into a contract with the UR as the educational partnership organization or EPO for East beginning with the 2015-2016 school year.

But Slentz’s letter also comes with a tough warning. Slentz states clearly that if all parties cannot reach an agreement and sign the memorandum or Commissioner King does not approve the plan submitted by July 1, district officials are ordered to begin notifying staff and parents that East will be phased out beginning September 2014, and not be permitted to enroll new students.