Rochester school district to ask voters for $19.4M a year in new referendum
May 21—ROCHESTER — Following months of discussion, Rochester Public Schools has officially decided to host a referendum this fall for an operating levy that would initially generate nearly $20 million a year.
The Rochester School Board unanimously approved the decision Tuesday night. From this point forward, the district's administration will turn a lot of its attention to making its case with voters in the district.
"It's time to put Rochester Public Schools on solid financial footing and to give our families the reliability and stability that they need in making plans for their children's education," Superintendent Kent Pekel said.
The levy would generate $1,133 per student annually, which would be set to increase according to inflation. Based on the district's current enrollment, that per-pupil amount would generate $19.4 million a year. The levy would last for 10 years.
Multiple community members spoke in favor of the referendum Tuesday. Troy Kowalski said the additional funding would help his work as an RPS music teacher.
"The hardest thing for me is I can identify students that need help and support, and I cannot give it to them," he said. "With these dollars, I will be able to."
Another speaker, Juliet Parlette, said she appreciates how the district showed what programs the funding would support.
"I'm particularly impressed with how students of every ability and level of motivation are supported and encouraged to thrive in whatever path they choose," she said. "We need good doctors, car mechanics, IT specialists, grocery store clerks and many more to make this city flourish. This referendum will help us get there."
Last week, the school board members reviewed the results of a survey, in which voters were asked whether they would support an operating levy. After being informed of several facts related to the situation, 46% of respondents said they would support the levy, 18% said they would strongly support the levy, 19% said they would oppose the levy, 13% said they would strongly oppose the levy, and 5% were undecided.
The referendum will come one year after voters narrowly rejected an earlier request from RPS that would have generated $10 million a year for technology-related needs. Shortly thereafter, the district announced it would have to make a number of large-scale cuts, including the closure of multiple schools.
That prompted the Mayo Clinic to donate $10 million to the district, allowing it to scale back those cuts. At the time, however, Pekel emphasized that if the community did not approve a second request, it would soon be in the same position of having to make cuts.
Board member Justin Cook described the referendum as the "only prudent thing to do" in order to provide the necessary level of education to the public.
"This is what our community needs," Cook said. "I think it's the only responsible choice to make."
