Tonight's Board Meeting is an informational meeting where Superintendent Pekel will present the proposal. The Board will not vote on this proposal until January 23, 2024.
There will be several opportunities for analysis, information, and feedback between today and the vote in January. A survey will be available next week. If you have feedback in the meantime, please email redesign@rochesterschools.org. More information about the timeline can be found at www.rochesterschools.org/attendance-options-redesign.
If you would like to watch tonight's meeting, it will be livestreamed at https://www.youtube.com/@ISD535.
Note: If you would like to speak at a future regular session school board meeting during the Comments to the Board portion of the meeting, you must submit a written request by email to the Assistant School Board Clerk at the following email address: asb@rochesterschools.org before 5:00 p.m. on the day before the School Board meeting. The written request must state: (1) the individual’s name, (2) whether the individual has a child attending school in the School District, (3) whether the individual is employed by the School District, (4) whether the individual is a student in the School District, and (5) whether the individual is a local property taxpayer to Rochester Public Schools. The assistant school board clerk will follow up.
At tomorrow's School Board meeting, Superintendent Pekel will be speaking in detail on the Attendance Options Redesign proposal, a comprehensive strategy for changing school attendance options, attendance boundaries, and the transportation system in RPS. The proposal includes 10 points:
1. Redesign School Attendance Areas
2. Discontinue Districtwide Transportation for Districtwide Option Schools (DWOs)
3. Expand the School Age Child Care (SACC) Program
4. Expand the Newcomer Program for Multilingual Students
5. Close Schools to Adjust to Declining Enrollment
6. Reconfigure Churchill and Hoover Early Learning and Elementary Schools
7. Move Lincoln K-8 School to a New Location and Expand Enrollment
8. Adopt a Traditional Calendar at Longfellow Elementary and Expand the School to Grades K-8
9. Create a Middle School ALC
10. Maintain Support for Students with Disabilities
You can view more information about each point as well as opportunities for analysis and input on our website: https://www.rochesterschools.org/attendance-options-redesign
Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate. Wishing you a restful and Joyful Holiday!
Rochester Public Schools offices will be closed on Thursday, November 23, and Friday, November 24 in observance of Thanksgiving. Regular hours resume Monday, November 27, 2023.
Great learning happening this morning on our Professional Development Day. Focus is on improving our PLCs. Thank you to First Educational Resources for joining us and guiding us through our improvement and learning.
Mark your calendars for December 5th @ 6:00 pm for John Marshall Rocket Night. This is for any incoming 9th grade students or any new student to JM for next school year. 2024-2025.
@JMHSRockets
We want to give a shout-out to Debra Las, a science teacher at John Adams Middle School, for receiving the 2023 Minnesota Science Teachers Association (MnSTA) Science Teaching Award for secondary schools. Congratulations, Deb!
CONGRATULATIONS! OUR JOHN ADAMS FAMILY COMMUNITY HAS REACHED OUR GOAL! The Give to the Max Goal was set at $8,000 and it raised $9,645! We have a absolutely great families and John Adams is very lucky to have all of you a part of our school! Thank you so much for the generous donations.
The Give to the Max site will remain open if anyone would still like to donate as well.
https://www.givemn.org/organization/Pta-Minnesota-Congress-132
Reminder: There is no school Wednesday, November 22, to accommodate a Professional Development day for our Secondary staff and allow for an End of Trimester work day for Elementary staff. Longfellow Elementary students also have no school due to a Flexible Conference Day.
Edison Administration Building and Northrup Education Center will still operate under normal business hours.
Our substitute educators are educational bridges for our students when teachers need to be out of the classroom for any reason. We're grateful for their willingness to step in and help with continuity in the classroom. Thank you to all of our substitute educators!
Still Accepting Donations!
John Adams PTSA Give to the Max Day! Anything you can give matters. Please consider clicking on the link as it is still open! We appreciate anything you can give to help reach our goal. All money goes back to students and staff at JA!
https://www.givemn.org/organization
/Pta-Minnesota-Congress-132
Our substitute educators are educational bridges for our students when teachers need to be out of the classroom for any reason. We're grateful for their willingness to step in and help with continuity in the classroom. Thank you to all of our substitute educators!
GIVE TO THE MAX - PTSA: JOHN ADAMS MIDDLE SCHOOL
Please consider a donation to the John Adams Middle School PTSA. All funds go to PTSA and back to your students and staff! Today is the Day!
https://www.givemn.org/organization
/Pta-Minnesota-Congress-132
Coming November 21 we have Parent Teacher Conferences. We cannot wait to see everyone at John Adams. When you come, please feel free to bring a donation to our Resource Room Food Pantry. Thank you in advance for your generosity!
#JAWay
Wishing a happy Diwali to those to celebrate!
Honoring all who served. Thank you, Veterans.
Rochester Public Schools invites you to come and enjoy our fall plays starting this weekend!
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, presented by the Panther Playhouse of Century High School, opens tomorrow night, November 9, and runs through November 11, with play times from 7 p.m. and a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday.
High School Musical, presented by Mayo Stage Door Backstage Pass of Mayo High School, opens November 16 and runs through November 19, with evening showings at 7 p.m. and a 1:30 p.m. matinee on Sunday.
Mama Mia! presented by John Marshall Theater of John Marshall High school, opens November 16 and runs through November 18 with evening showings at 6 p.m. and a 1 p.m. matinee on Saturday.
Tickets can be purchased at the door or through the Hometown Fan app on your phone. To purchase tickets through the app, simply download the Hometown Fan app and search for Rochester High School hosting the play of your choice.
We hope to see you there!
Today is National S.T.E.M./S.T.E.A.M. Day! The day inspires kids to explore and pursue their interests in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math.
It's Election Day! Polls are now open until 8 p.m. Find your voting location at https://pollfinder.sos.mn.gov.
Still have questions about the referendum? Join Supt. Pekel TONIGHT at the In-Person Referendum Forum from 7-8 p.m. at the Edison Board Room, 615 7th St SW, Rochester, MN 55902.
