Rochester School Board Expected To End Planning for New SW School

Rochester, MN (KROC AM News) - It is expected to become official during Tuesday’s Rochester School Board meeting.

The board is scheduled to act on a recommendation to terminate its purchase agreement to acquire a 150-acre site for a new middle school. The property along 40th St SW is just outside Rochester and the City Council last week rejected an annexation request from Rochester Public Schools. RPS is now in a hurry to find another site.

Included in the recommendation:

“A different location must be identified immediately that will gain support of City staff and the City Council. If construction of the new middle school is to stay on schedule with a planned opening date of September 2022, construction needs to begin by October 2020.”

Also on Tuesday’s agenda is a closed meeting to “consider offers related to the purchase of real property.“ Both sites on the agenda are in the northwest part of the district, where the city has recommended the new school be located.