Rochester Public Schools shares facilities planning update

ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – Rochester Public Schools has given an update on potential budget cuts as it faces an $8.3 million budget deficit next year.

The district sent out a facilities planning update to parents Thursday morning.

It detailed facility changes the district is no longer considering as well as a list of changes it is considering.

The announcement follows several listening sessions with students, parents and staff members.

Here is the announcement RPS emailed out to parents:

Changes We Will Not Continue to Pursue

• P-TECH Program: The program will remain on the Rochester Community and Technical College campus. Its college setting supports student success, and the program’s size makes lease and transportation costs manageable.
• Sunset Terrace Elementary: The school will remain in its current building. We will not pursue relocating students or changing attendance boundaries at this time.

Changes We Will Study Further (No Decisions Yet)

The following ideas will undergo additional analysis and structured opportunities for community input before any recommendation is made to the School Board:

• CTECH: Study delivering most CTECH courses within the comprehensive high schools.
• Middle School ALC: Explore co-locating the Middle School Alternative Learning Center at Gage Elementary using separate entrances and spaces.
• RAIL: Study relocating the Rochester Academy for Independent Living to the Education Services Center, which could also house warehouse and administrative functions.
• Phoenix Academy: If RAIL moves, analyze building a purpose-designed facility for Phoenix Academy near the Facilities Service Center or on district-owned land near RCTC.
• Girls Gymnastics: The district is working to finalize an agreement for the program to use space operated by One Athletics, providing a new home outside the Friedell building.

The district says it will continue to meet with the school community over the next two months to gather additional feedback before making any proposals to the school board.

The district says the earliest any changes would take effect would be the 2027–2028 school year.

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