The Gates Chili Central School District is a publicschool district in Rochester, New York that serves approximately 4,000 students in most of the town of Gates and a large portion of the town of Chili in Monroe County, with over 850 employees and an operating budget of $100 million (approx. $25,628 per student).[3]
The Gates Chili school district opened in September 1956 as a consolidation of four Union free School districts (Thomas Edison, Warren Harding, Washington Irving and Florence Brasser), approved by voters of the four districts on December 8, 1955. The District celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2006.
The average class size is 22 students (elementary), and 21 students (middle-high school). The student–teacher ratio is 13:1 (elementary), 13:1 (middle-high school).
Christopher Dailey was selected by the Board of Education to serve as Superintendent of Schools beginning in July 2019. The former superintendent, Kimberle Ward, left the position in December 2018, with Carol Stehm serving as Interim Superintendent.[4]
Organization
The Board of Education (BOE) consists of eight members who serve rotating three-year terms. Elections are held each May for board members and to vote on the school district's budget.
Beginning in 2005, the Gates Chili High School began extensive renovations, partnering with AScribe. The renovations, which concluded on September 11, 2008 at a cost of approximately $48,000,000 USD, created a larger library and guidance counseling wing, added a new Science Atrium, added a new front entrance, created more parking spaces for students and faculty, and built a new field house, housing an indoor track, fitness center, and pool. Residents of both Gates and Chili are eligible to sign up to use the new athletic facilities.[6]
Phase X Capital Project and Redistricting
In October 2012, Gates Chili voters approved a measure to begin repairing infrastructure in all six of the schools. The estimated cost, $10.8 million, would be covered by state grants and reserve funds. Scheduled fixes include complete roof replacements at several of the schools, upgrading windows to provide energy conservation, and structural repairs to nearly every school. Repairs to the outdoor football and track stadium lighting is also budgeted into this project. The project began its work this past summer, and was scheduled to be completed by the end of Summer 2014.[7]
In 2013, the Gates Chili School District proposed a redistricting for the remaining four elementary schools – Paul Road, Florence Brasser, Neil Armstrong, and Walt Disney – beginning in September 2014. The current plans would remove 75 ESOL students from Florence Brasser and split them into two sub groups at Paul Road and Walt Disney. Redistricting would also even out enrollment levels at all four schools – Paul Road and Neil Armstrong would see their enrollment cut by roughly 75 students, leaving them with 475 kids. Walt Disney would get about 61 students to put them at 475 as well, and Florence Brasser would get 67 students to put them at 350 students. The plan is still being worked out, with a deadline of Spring 2014 for a final decision.[8]
