Rochester School Board Candidates Face Off In Final Push to Qualify for 2025 Election

“Your Voice, Your Vote, Their Future” provides forum to meet candidates and help decide who will be on the ballot

ROCHESTER, NEW YORK – MARCH 6, 2025 – Rochester voters will have an opportunity to meet city school board candidates and help decide who will be on the ballot in the November 2025 election. The “Your Voice, Your Vote, Their Future” School Board Candidate Forum hosted by Charter Champions of Rochester is designed to educate the local

community on the issues that will shape the future of the Rochester City School District (RCSD). Each candidate will present their platform, discuss key issues, and answer questions from city residents.

The School Board Candidate Forum is scheduled for Saturday, March 15 from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. at First Genesis Church, 292 Hudson Avenue in Rochester (click here to register). Media are welcome to attend.

“This is an essential opportunity for parents and community members to have their voices heard and make informed decisions about who will lead our school district,” said Charter Champions of Rochester CEO, Dr. Paul Miller. “It is vital

for voters to understand candidates’ platforms, their stances on equitable funding, and their plans for governance.”

The free event is open to anyone interested in meeting the candidates and hearing their plans to address what some parents, educators, and community leaders are calling an educational crisis. “The first step is ensuring that Rochester residents elect school board members who are committed to sustainable and meaningful change,” explained Miller. “As

a community, we must reject the status quo and demand leadership that is bold, transparent, and focused on solutions.”

Eligible voters who attend the March 15 th event will have an opportunity to sign candidates’ ballot petitions. Each candidate needs 1,000 signatures to qualify for the election.

“It’s time to empower our children and amplify their voices,” said Trenton Jackson Jr., candidate for RCSD School Board Commissioner. “We must listen more and speak less, truly hearing their needs and aspirations. I am committed to ensuring that our students have a seat at the table, where their voices are not only heard but valued. When we uplift the

pure intentions of our youth, we create a future that is powerful, strong, and impactful."

From Talk to Action: Building Momentum from Town Hall with Ben Crump

In January, Charter Champions hosted a Town Hall meeting with renowned civil rights attorney Ben Crump to engage the community and address Rochester's education challenges. “Ben Crump is a powerful messenger, not only for criminal justice reform but also for repairing the education systems that serve our children,” said Miller. “The Town Hall was an excellent starting point, but now we must take steps to turn momentum into meaningful progress by holding public officials accountable.”

Six school board candidates including two sitting members have confirmed their participation in the School Board

Candidate Forum:

• Abdul Bounds

• Vince Felder

• Trent Jackson

• Kareem McCullough

• James Patterson (incumbent)

• Camille Simmons (incumbent)

Each candidate will have 3-5 minutes to address the audience followed by an interactive Q&A session and one-on-one conversations with attendees.

“Parents and community members often vote based on popularity rather than the issues that truly impact our schools,” concluded Miller. “This forum is designed to educate and empower voters to choose wisely when deciding the future of K-12 education in Rochester. We strongly believe that engaged parents are the foundation of a successful school system,

and this event will help foster transparency and trust between candidates and the families they will serve.”

Click here to register for the Rochester School Board Candidate Forum.