When the Rochester School Board hired interim Superintendent Bill Cala, it was with one condition, say some board members: clean house at Central Office immediately. But when Cala went to terminate some of the district's highest-paid administrators, he discovered that he needed their help just to get the schools open.

A similar scenario unfolded as School Board members presented the district's 2009-2010 budget to City Council last night. Council members heard lengthy lectures from students, parents, teachers, and community leaders about why Council members should reject the budget - something that is unlikely. Council member Carolee Conklin almost said as much at the start of the meeting. Council's role in the budget process is limited, she said, to accepting or rejecting the budget in its entirety.

But as dozens of speakers decried the budget, Council members got an earful of what happens when school superintendents attempt to control spiraling costs.

Teachers and students, many of them from the district's crown jewel - the School of the Arts - lauded the proven benefits of arts in education. One teacher read aloud the comments of a SOTA alum about the importance of arts education.

But it was hard to miss the irony in all of this.

Mayor Bob Duffy and several City Council members have been, at times, harsh critics of the district's spending. Last night, City Council members got to hear what School Board members hear at almost every turn - you're not spending enough.

Talk about reducing spending is dandy until jobs are really on the line.

Reducing the district's spending inevitably means cutting teaching jobs. Anyone who has reviewed a profit and loss statement from even the smallest firms knows that employees are generally the biggest expense.

Duffy was meeting with Prince Edward - yes, THAT Prince Edward - last night and was not present for the hearing. He has publicly stated that he supports Superintendent Brizard's attempts to reform the City School District.

But it was Brizard and School Board members who sat patiently and took the bulk of the tongue-lashing.

One has to wonder if Duffy and City Council really want responsibility for the district's budget.