Rochester-area school boards to sue Monroe County

Members from several area school boards have decided to sue Monroe County because of the sales tax intercept plan recently introduced by County Executive Maggie Brooks.

At a special meeting held Oct. 3 in the Rush-Henrietta Central School District's Transportation and Operations Center, members of 16 area school boards unanimously agreed to take action. About 25 districts were invited, but some officials decided to vote at special meetings later in the month.

"By coming together, we can make a stronger statement," said Margie Vandenberg, president of the Monroe County School Board Association and a member of the Brockport Central School District's Board of Education.

The plan, also dubbed the F.A.I.R. plan, would take roughly $27,000,000 in sales tax revenue away from area schools and put it toward funding Monroe County's portion of the state Medicaid bill.

Last week, Brooks and county Republicans voted on the plan and passed it without seeking input from school districts.