News Blog

I suspect we may hear more from Lorenzo Williams.

Williams, a former Rochester school district teacher who recently moved back to the city, had some tough words for the community last night. The setting was a meeting hosted by the Rochester school board to get public input on the temporary -- perhaps permanent -- closure of School 16. The meeting was lightly attended, and even fewer people spoke.

The community has yet to learn that the squeaky wheel gets the grease, Williams said. Most people don't take part in the school district, and then complain after a decision has been made, he said.

Not all the problems in the school district can be traced back to the school board, Williams said.

"It's more of the parents' fault than anybody's fault," he said, his voice rising.

Too many people in the community don't value education, Williams said, and children pick up on and learn to share that apathy.

Williams said he's planning to run for City Council in the future to show the community that one person can make a difference.