3.19.24 - School Board Meeting Recap

RPS School Board Director, Justin Cook, gives a short summary of some of the highlights from the March 19 School Board Meeting.
Topics discussed:
• The Board recognized Activities Director Mark Kuisle at Century High School for being honored by the Minnesota Interscholastic Activities Administrator’s Association State Award of Merit in recognition of outstanding leadership
• The Board learned about a community group planning to commission a bronze statue recognizing Amelia P. Hatfield Witherstine in Rochester. Mrs. Witherstine's service to Rochester includes being the first woman elected to the Rochester School Board a decade before the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution introduced universal women’s suffrage.
• The School Board received an update on the district’s work to incorporate Restorative Practices at several district schools. Restorative Practices are a potent strategy to intentionally cultivate inclusive school communities while maintaining a disciplined environment conducive to learning and minimizing exclusionary disciplinary practices.
• The school board also received information on the current state of enrollment projections for the 2024-25 school year and the related budget and staffing forecast for those projections. At this stage, kindergarten enrollments are slightly behind pace relative to the current school year. If that trend holds, the district expects slightly fewer kindergarten classes (and kindergarten teachers) than the current year.
• The Board also renewed the 2015 voter-approved operating referendum for an additional 10-year term by board resolution. The 2015 operating levy generates $942.50 per pupil as of taxes payable in 2024, revenue for school year 2024-2025. The school district is estimating approximately 18,296 pupil units in the 2024-2025 school year, which means the operating levy will provide roughly $17.2 million of general fund revenue. Funding in subsequent years from the renewed operating levy will depend on enrollment in those years and the inflation rate.
• The Board approved the negotiated collective bargaining agreement with the Rochester Education Association, the bargaining unit representing teachers throughout Rochester Public Schools.
• The Board formally issued a notice of election for three board seats currently held by Directors Garcia, Barlow, and MacLaughlin. Note that the period for filing affidavits of candidacy for these school board positions will begin May 21, 2024, and close Tuesday, June 4, 2024, for the general election to be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. If necessary for any of those seats, a primary election will be held on Tuesday, August 13, 2024.