RSMP HISTORY

The Rochester Schools Modernization Program (“RSMP”) was created by the New York State Legislation in 2007 in order to provide the City of Rochester (“City”) and the Rochester City School District (“RCSD”) greater capability to meet the educational needs of its students. By implementation of the Program’s comprehensive Strategic Plan, the foundation is being laid to bring the District’s learning environments into the 21st century and to provide students with facilities that are comparable to neighboring suburban districts. The proposed projects must balance the challenges of assessing the existing conditions, prioritizing the competing needs, and optimizing the investment of valuable resources.

The RSMP is overseen by the Rochester Joint Schools Construction Board (RJSCB), which consists of seven members. Three members of the RJSCB are appointed by the Superintendent of Schools; three are appointed by the Mayor of the City of Rochester; and the seventh is appointed by mutual agreement by the Superintendent and the Mayor.

The RSMP is a multi-phase capital initiative. Phase 1 authorized $325 million with $239 million in estimated “hard” construction expenses and $86 million in design, management, financing, and other “soft” incidental program expenses. In December 2014, the Governor of the State of New York signed the Legislation for Phase 2 with a total value of $435 million with $297 million in estimated “hard” construction expenses and $137 million in design, management, technology implementation, financing, and other “soft” incidental program expenses. With Phases 3 and 4, the Rochester Schools Modernization Program is expected to total approximately $1.2 billion. It is the largest public works project in Rochester’s history.