ROCHESTER, N.Y. — BENTE union president Dan DiClemente says 221 Rochester City School District support staff are now laid off.

The union members affected by the round of layoffs were in the school food service and school security service areas.

DiClemente tells Spectrum News that the majority of those affected by the layoffs live in the City of Rochester.

Earlier this summer, BENTE sent a list of suggestions to the city school district to help retain employees while the district is all-virtual.

DiCemente says those suggestions were not adopted. 

District officials have called for sweeping cuts across all schools and all departments to try to offset a potential loss of state aid and an existing budget deficit.