School Board Agenda & Packet Summary – RPS – July 21, 2026

Meeting Information

• Public Body: Rochester Public Schools
• Organization Type: school-district
• Government Body: school-boards
• Meeting Title: 07/21/2026 - 05:30 PM Regular Meeting Board Meeting
• Meeting Date: 2026-07-21
• City: Rochester
• County: Olmsted
• State: minnesota
• Meeting Source URL: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/ViewMeeting.aspx?S=36031425&MID=1403
• Meeting Listing URL: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/SB_MeetingListing.aspx?S=36031425
• Public Body Website: https://www.rochesterschools.org/school-board
• Meeting Video URL: Not available
• Video Channel URL: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3CpkexKuA6417A7Za9tFpg

What Community Members Should Know

The July 21, 2026 Rochester Public Schools board meeting is centered on long-range facilities planning, financing, and policy updates that will shape district operations over the next several years. The largest topic is a proposed coordinated facilities strategy involving approximately $44.56 million in capital investments intended to reorganize programs, relocate students and services, address deferred maintenance, and prepare district buildings for future enrollment and instructional needs.

The facilities recommendation proposes moving Career and Technical Education programming into district high schools, consolidating Churchill and Hoover elementary programs, relocating Early Learning classrooms, moving the Middle School Alternative Learning Center, constructing an addition for the Rochester Academy for Independent Living (RAIL), renovating the Education Service Center for Phoenix Academy, and eventually marketing the Friedell property after temporary use during renovations. Administration states the financing approach is designed to avoid a net increase in the district property-tax rate.

The meeting also includes several significant financial approvals, including a $453,023.14 cybersecurity contract with Arctic Wolf, approximately $392,364 for school crossing guard services, and approval of the district's annual Long-Term Facilities Maintenance (LTFM) plan that supports future capital maintenance through dedicated state-authorized funding mechanisms.

In addition, the board will review two extensive packages of policy revisions affecting student attendance, discipline, wellness, medication administration, telehealth, crisis management, contraband, immunizations, parking, distribution of materials, privacy, hazing prevention, and related governance matters, along with routine personnel actions.

Major Discussion and Action Items

Proposed Districtwide Facilities Strategy

Administration presents its recommended long-term facilities strategy after more than a year of evaluation following earlier decisions to close and sell selected district properties. The proposal is intended to address enrollment trends, deferred maintenance, educational programming, and more efficient use of district facilities.

Major proposed changes include relocating most CTECH programming from leased Rochester Community and Technical College space into Century, John Marshall, and Mayo High Schools; combining Churchill K-2 and Hoover 3-5 into a single K-5 school at Hoover without changing attendance boundaries; relocating approximately half of Hoover Early Learning classrooms to Gage Elementary; moving the Middle School Alternative Learning Center into Churchill; constructing a Churchill addition for RAIL; renovating the Education Service Center for Phoenix Academy; temporarily housing Phoenix Academy at Friedell during renovation; and continuing relocation of girls gymnastics to One Athletics.

The proposal is presented for discussion on July 21 with formal board action anticipated on August 4, 2026.

Financing the Capital Plan

The recommended capital investment totals approximately $44.56 million.

Administration proposes financing through:

• $20,572,958 in Long-Term Facilities Maintenance revenue.
• $14,970,954 through a lease-purchase agreement or Certificates of Participation for the RAIL addition.
• $6 million from committed district facilities reserves.
• $3,016,088 as temporary use of unassigned General Fund balance, expected to be reimbursed through proceeds from the eventual sale of Friedell.

The administration states this approach avoids Capital Facilities Bonds and is structured to produce no net increase in the district property-tax rate.

Long-Term Facilities Maintenance Plan

The board is asked to approve the annual ten-year LTFM plan required under Minnesota law before the July 31 deadline.

The plan funds qualifying deferred maintenance, accessibility improvements, and health and safety work while supporting portions of the district's broader facilities strategy. Administration emphasizes that approval preserves eligibility for LTFM funding while maintaining board oversight of future contracts requiring separate approval.

Cybersecurity Services

The consent agenda includes approval of a $453,023.14 agreement through CDW-G for Arctic Wolf Managed Detection and Response services, including Aurora Endpoint Detection and Response.

District staff note Arctic Wolf has supported Rochester Public Schools since the April 2023 cyberattack. The proposal also replaces SentinelOne endpoint protection, reducing annual endpoint detection costs from approximately $118,641 to $56,980 while continuing 24-hour monitoring.

Crossing Guard Services

Administration recommends continuing contracted crossing guard services through Express Employment Professionals for the 2026-2027 school year at an estimated cost of $392,364.

The packet explains that although the district evaluated shifting staffing responsibility back to individual schools, most administrators concluded they lacked capacity to recruit, supervise, and provide backup coverage. Summer school operations demonstrated cost-saving alternatives at limited locations, but district leadership expects continued reliance on the contractor during the regular school year.

Student Policy Updates

Two Policy Committee packages recommend revisions covering student attendance, attendance options, dress standards, discipline, pupil records, wellness, violence prevention, hazing, medication administration, telehealth, contraband, immunization requirements, crisis management, parking, community notification requirements, and distribution of materials on school property.

These revisions are intended to align district policy with legislative changes, current district practices, and Minnesota School Boards Association model language.

Financial Matters

The packet contains several significant financial actions:

• Approximately $44.56 million recommended capital facilities strategy.
• $453,023.14 cybersecurity services contract with Arctic Wolf through CDW-G.
• Approximately $392,364 for Express Employment Professionals crossing guard services.
• Annual Long-Term Facilities Maintenance funding framework that includes:
• $5,000,035 local property tax levy.
• $950,099 in state aid applied toward bond principal and interest.
• $33.8 million bond issuance supporting eligible LTFM projects.

The LTFM documentation outlines extensive future maintenance projects across district facilities involving roofing, mechanical systems, accessibility improvements, health and safety work, parking lots, indoor air quality, building envelopes, athletic facilities, and other capital improvements over a ten-year planning horizon.

Policies, Ordinances, Resolutions, and Governance

The board will consider extensive policy revisions affecting district governance and student operations.

Topics include:

• Student attendance.
• Attendance boundaries and attendance options.
• Student dress and appearance.
• Student discipline.
• Student medication administration and telehealth.
• Student parking and vehicle use.
• Contraband on school property.
• Immunization requirements.
• Protection of pupil records.
• Crisis management planning.
• Distribution of materials on district property.
• Violence prevention.
• Hazing prohibition.
• Community notification of predatory offenders.
• Student wellness.

These recommendations originate from June 18 and June 25 Policy Committee meetings and are presented for board approval.

Reports, Presentations, and Informational Updates

Administration will present the facilities strategy recommendation together with financing information, community feedback summaries, historical alternatives considered, and implementation planning.

Board members also receive regular committee and outreach updates along with future agenda planning documents.

The Long-Term Facilities Maintenance presentation explains how legally restricted maintenance funding aligns with broader district facilities planning while remaining limited to eligible maintenance, accessibility, and health and safety projects.

Personnel, Appointments, and Organizational Matters

The consent agenda includes numerous personnel actions involving teachers, counselors, educational support professionals, custodial staff, administrators, transportation personnel, nutrition services, social workers, therapists, and temporary employees for the 2026-2027 school year.

The packet also includes routine employment changes, retirements, resignations, classification changes, and new hires supporting district operations before the upcoming school year.

Projects, Facilities, Infrastructure, and Operations

Major operational projects include:

• Expansion of RAIL through a new Churchill addition.
• Renovation of the Education Service Center for Phoenix Academy.
• Relocation of Middle School Alternative Learning Center.
• Elementary school consolidation involving Churchill and Hoover.
• Early Learning classroom relocation to Gage.
• CTECH relocation into district high schools.
• Continued relocation of girls gymnastics programming.
• Districtwide deferred maintenance funded through the ten-year LTFM plan, including roofs, HVAC, accessibility, indoor air quality, parking lots, athletic facilities, windows, plumbing, electrical systems, and building envelope improvements.

Public Hearings and Opportunities for Community Input

Community members may provide comments to the board by registering through the district's online comment form before the published deadline. Comments are limited to three minutes per speaker under district policy.

The facilities strategy includes documented public feedback and community responses that informed administration's recommendation before the anticipated August board vote.

Community Impact

Students and families could experience changes in school programming, classroom locations, Early Learning services, Career and Technical Education, and specialized programs if the facilities strategy is approved.

Taxpayers are affected because the district states the proposed financing is structured to avoid a net increase in the property-tax rate while addressing significant long-term facility needs.

Employees may experience workplace relocations, new instructional environments, or operational changes associated with reorganized facilities and programs.

The cybersecurity investment is intended to strengthen protection of district technology following the 2023 cyberattack.

Continued contracted crossing guards are intended to maintain student safety while providing consistent staffing.

Questions Community Members May Want to Ask

• Why was the recommended facilities strategy selected over other alternatives?
• How will CTECH relocation affect students and instructors?
• What are the educational benefits of combining Churchill and Hoover?
• How will Early Learning families be supported during classroom relocations?
• What risks accompany temporary use of General Fund balance?
• What timeline is anticipated for selling the Friedell property?
• How will the district measure success after facilities changes are implemented?
• What long-term maintenance needs remain beyond this capital plan?
• How does the Arctic Wolf contract improve cybersecurity compared with current services?
• How will the updated student policies affect day-to-day school operations?

Important Dates, Deadlines, and Next Steps

• July 21, 2026: Facilities strategy discussion and policy review.
• July 31, 2026: Deadline for adopting and submitting the annual Long-Term Facilities Maintenance plan.
• August 4, 2026: Scheduled board action on the proposed facilities strategy.
• August 11, 2026: Study Session.
• August 18, 2026: Regular School Board meeting.
• September 1, 2026: Regular School Board meeting.
• Following board approval, administration would proceed with design, bidding, financing activities, and future contract approvals required under law and district policy.

Key Takeaways

• The meeting is dominated by a proposed $44.56 million facilities strategy.
• Administration proposes financing without a net property-tax rate increase.
• Major school and program relocations are under consideration.
• Formal action on the facilities strategy is expected August 4.
• The board will consider extensive student policy revisions.
• Arctic Wolf cybersecurity services total $453,023.14.
• Crossing guard services are estimated at $392,364.
• The district must approve its annual Long-Term Facilities Maintenance plan before July 31.
• Numerous hiring and staffing actions prepare the district for the upcoming school year.
• Long-term maintenance planning continues across district facilities.

Official Sources

• Meeting source: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/ViewMeeting.aspx?S=36031425&MID=1403
• Meeting listing: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/SB_MeetingListing.aspx?S=36031425
• Public body website: https://www.rochesterschools.org/school-board
• Meeting video: Not available
• Video channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3CpkexKuA6417A7Za9tFpg

About the Public Body

• Name: Rochester Public Schools
• Organization type: school-district
• Government body: school-boards
• Location: Rochester, minnesota
• County: Olmsted
• Provider: simbli

Keywords

Rochester Public Schools, Rochester School Board, ISD 535, July 21 2026, Regular Meeting, facilities strategy, Long-Term Facilities Maintenance, LTFM, Churchill Elementary, Hoover Elementary, Gage Elementary, Friedell, Phoenix Academy, RAIL, CTECH, Arctic Wolf, cybersecurity, crossing guards, Express Employment Professionals, policy revisions, student attendance, student discipline, telehealth, wellness, deferred maintenance, capital planning, Education Service Center, Rochester Minnesota