Rochester Schools Moving Ahead With Staff Cuts, Public Invited to Weigh In
Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- Rochester Public School District (RPS) leaders are inviting the public to learn more about the proposed budget for the 2023-24 school year.
Superintendent Kent Peckel and Chief Administrative Officer John Carlson will host four virtual sessions beginning on Wednesday. The preliminary budget proposal called for reducing district spending by $14 million.
Back in February the Rochester Public Schools Board approved a budget framework that calls for cutting about 77 full time teaching jobs last night and for the elimination of more than 40 education support professional jobs, along with a number of administrative, clerical, school nurse, and maintenance positions.
The most recent version of the budget proposal, discussed during a school board study session on Tuesday, proposes the district start the 2023 school year with 104 fewer employees than in 2022.
The proposed budget projects RPS’s enrollment to decrease by 295 students by the next school year. It also assumes a 4% increase in the state's per pupil funding formula.
The schedule for the virtual public feedback sessions is:
- Wednesday, May 31, at 5-6 p.m.
- Thursday, June 1, at 4-5 p.m.
- Monday, June 5, at 4-5 p.m.
- Monday, June 5, 6-7 p.m
The virtual session will take place over Google Meet. The board is scheduled to vote on the final budget in June.
