Rochester Public Schools Scrap Elementary Move Proposal

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - The Rochester School District continues to work on cost-cutting measures to address a more than $8 million budget shortfall for the next school year.

Rochester Public Schools Superintendent Kent Pekel, during his regular monthly appearance with Andy Brownell on Rochester Today on News-Talk 1340 KROC-AM, discussed the ongoing process, including what is still being considered and what is now off the table.

Listen to the entire program by clicking on the link below.

Elementary Relocation Plan Scrapped

Pekel says it has been decided to scrap an option that would have moved students out of a northwest Rochester elementary school. There had been discussion of relocating students from Sunset Terrace Elementary to Gage Elementary, where there is considerable unused space. That option also would have required changes to elementary school attendance boundaries that could have impacted additional students.

Alternative Program Could Move to Gage

Now that the option has been eliminated, the superintendent says the school district is considering using the unused space at Gage Elementary to house the district's Middle School Alternative Program, which is currently located in the Friedell Building, now up for sale. He says that would involve modifications to Gage to create a separate entrance and physical separation within the building for the two student groups.

Get our free mobile app

P-TECH Stays at RCTC

Superintendent Pekel says a second option has also been eliminated. The district had been considering moving the P-TECH program away from the Rochester Community and Technical College campus, but that is no longer being considered. Taking the CTECH program away from the RCTC campus is still being studied under a plan that would shift it to space within the district's three high schools.

Strategic Plan Nears Completion

The superintendent also shared an update on the nearly completed strategic plan for Rochester Public Schools and the newly simplified goals created to measure progress on academic achievement.