RPS Superintendent Reveals Major Facilities Proposal

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - Rochester Public Schools Superintendent Kent Pekel has unveiled his nearly finalized list of recommendations for addressing facility needs in the Rochester School District.

The superintendent shared his recommendations during his regular monthly appearance with Andy Brownell on News-Talk 1340 KROC-AM and 96.9 FM during the Rochester Today Show.

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

The recommendations have been in the works for months and have shifted considerably from earlier proposals addressing plans to sell the former Friedell Middle School building and find homes for the programs still operating at that location. Near the beginning of the process, the school district was exploring shifting students from Sunset Terrace Elementary School to the underutilized Gage Elementary School to free up space for the school district's Middle School Alternative Learning Center and an independent living program for students with disabilities.

Churchill and Hoover Schools Could See Major Changes

Superintendent Pekel is now recommending relocating those programs to Churchill Elementary School and constructing what he termed a modest addition to that building. The kindergarten-through-second-grade students at Churchill would be shifted to Hoover Elementary, which is currently used for students in third through fifth grades and an early childhood program. The superintendent's recommendations would relocate the Hoover early childhood program to Gage Elementary, where currently about half of the building is unused or underused.

Friedell Building Sale May Be Delayed

The recommendations also call for renovations and additions to the Phoenix Academy near the Olmsted County Fairgrounds. It is a special education site addressing the needs of students with disabilities and intensive mental health and behavioral needs. Pekel says he will recommend temporarily moving the Phoenix Academy to the Friedell building while the work is taking place, which will require postponing the sale of the former middle school facility for one year.

CTECH Program Shift to High Schools

The superintendent's final recommendations would keep the P-TECH program at the Rochester Community and Technical College campus while incorporating the CTECH program into spaces at the three public high schools. Pekel noted that they currently cost the school district more than $500,000 to lease space at RCTC and bus students from the high schools to the campus to participate in technical programs that include welding, health sciences, criminal justice, and culinary courses.

Home For Girls Gymnastics

Pekel says his recommendations also address the school district's girls gymnastics program. It is currently located at the Friedell building, and the superintendent says an agreement has been worked out with an organization called One Athletics for the space needed by the gymnasts.

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Potential $40 Million Price Tag

Superintendent Pekel says final cost estimates are still being worked out, but the overall price tag could exceed $40 million. It is expected that the funding would come from the school district's long-term facilities maintenance levy.

The plan is scheduled to be presented to the Rochester School Board during a study session on June 9.