Welcome

Good afternoon,

Our Rockford Public Schools’ Board of Education met on Monday, May 12. Key agenda items included the following:

• Approved an 11th grade English curriculum
• Approved updated polices
• Highlighted our DK-5th grade STEAM program

You can access the board meeting agenda on our district website or through this link: Board of Education - Our District - Rockford Public Schools

I also wanted to alert parents, especially of secondary students, about a TikTok challenge that seems to be making the rounds. Students across multiple school districts, including in Kent County, are deliberately causing electrical short circuits in Chromebook devices by inserting metal objects (paper clips, pushpins, pencil lead) into USB ports. The trend is called the #chromebookchallenge. This dangerous trend:

• Causes fires, smoke, and potential battery explosions
• Has led to school evacuations in multiple districts
• Creates serious safety hazards, including toxic fumes
• Results in costly device damage (which families may be responsible for)
• Can lead to suspension, expulsion, and criminal charges, including vandalism or arson
• Diverts unnecessary first responder resources to the school

If you could talk with your students and make them aware that this is not acceptable behavior, we would appreciate it. It could, obviously lead to dangerous situations but also result in discipline. It would also lead to your family being responsible for replacing a Chromebook.

We have several graduation events coming in the next few weeks:

• Rockford High School – May 19
• River Valley Academy – May 29
• Rockford Adult Education – June 4

We congratulate the graduates and celebrate with them this good news.

Steve

Dr. Steve Matthews
Superintendent
Rockford Public Schools