Governor Hochul approves major new funding to fully complete Phase III of the Rochester Schools Modernization Program

Rochester, New York – The Rochester City School District is preparing to move ahead with the final stage of its long-running modernization effort after Governor Kathy Hochul approved new state funding that will complete Phase III of the project. The signature on the Rochester Schools Modernization Bill clears the way for an additional $125 million, bringing the total investment for this last phase to $600 million. District leaders say the new support will allow them to finish critical upgrades that have been planned for years but remained out of reach without full state backing.

District Superintendent Dr. Eric Jay Rosser expressed appreciation for the Governor’s action and emphasized the program’s role in shaping better learning environments. “We are grateful to Governor Hochul and the members of our State Delegation for championing Phase III of the Rochester Schools Modernization Program,” Rosser said. “This investment moves us closer to giving our students the safe, modern, and uplifting learning spaces they deserve. Phase III will help us create schools that spark curiosity, support strong instruction, and open the door to greater opportunities for every learner.”

Phase III includes a wide range of facility upgrades across the city. Security enhancements and redesigned entryways rank high on the list, reflecting the district’s growing focus on student safety. The plan also expands areas dedicated to career and technical education, giving students more hands-on learning options tied to real-world jobs. In total, six schools will undergo renovations: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School No. 9, Joseph C. Wilson Magnet High School Commencement Academy, East High School, the Frederick Douglass Campus, Edison Career and Technology High School, and Padilla High School at the Franklin Campus.

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For state lawmakers representing Rochester, the funding marks a major step toward fairness and equal access to quality facilities. Senator Jeremy Cooney spoke openly about his personal connection to the district and the importance of giving city students the same advantages available elsewhere. “As the first and only graduate of the Rochester City School District to serve in the State Senate in decades, the students and faculty of RCSD have always held a special place in my heart,” he said. “Our urban schools should have the same amenities as our suburban schools. This is about creating equal opportunities for student success, regardless of your home zip code.”

Assemblyman Harry Bronson echoed that message, pointing to the basic need for secure, well-maintained classrooms and buildings. “This investment is about ensuring our students have safe, healthy places to learn,” Bronson said. “We are providing RCSD students, teachers, and support staff with the dignified, safe places to learn and work, which they deserve.”

The district has already completed significant improvements through the earlier phases of its modernization program. Previous rounds of construction included installing air conditioning in several of the district’s largest schools, renovating the historic Franklin Auditorium, and building a synthetic turf field at East High School. These changes, district officials say, have already had a visible impact on school communities, and they expect Phase III to extend those benefits even further.

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With funding now secure, planning and construction work across the six campuses will ramp up in the coming months. While the full timeline will depend on design stages and contractor schedules, district leaders hope to make steady progress without major disruptions to student learning. Their long-term vision is a school system where every building matches the level of quality and care that educators want to provide in the classroom.

The approval of Phase III funding signals a unified push—from state leaders, local officials, and community advocates—to invest in the future of Rochester’s students. As the district begins the final leg of its modernization journey, families and educators are watching closely, hopeful that the improvements ahead will create stronger, safer, and more inspiring spaces for generations to come.