Good afternoon,
Our school year has officially ended. The final act of the 2024-2025 school year occurred last night, June 9, when the Board of Education had its last meeting of the school year. The new school year officially begins July 1.
At our Board of Education meeting last night, the Board approved our final budget amendment for this school year and approved a proposed budget for 2025-2026.
Because all of us love budgeting, here are some highlights:
- 2024-2025 Final Budget amendment
- Total revenues: $112,614,930
- Revenues were down from our projection by $1,541,253
- This was primarily due to the state not increasing our per pupil allocation for the 2024-2025 school year
- Our per pupil allocation is $9,608 for 2024-2025
- Our per pupil allocation for 2023-2024 was also $9,608
- Total expenses: $118,565,672
- Expenses were fairly close to our projections.
- A planned deficit was exacerbated by the lack of an increase to our funding.
- 2025-2026 Proposed Budget
- Projected revenues: $111,563,086
- Projected expenses: $116,825,133
As of today, the legislature has not passed a school aid budget for 2025-2026. Historically, the Governor’s Office, the Senate, and the House pass budget proposals. Then, because each proposal is typically different, they negotiate and pass a final school aid budget.
This year that has not happened. The Governor and the Senate have passed budgets. But, the House has not as of today.
So, our district, like every district in the state does not know our level of funding for next year. Legally, school districts are required to pass a budget by June 30 of each year. Our Board of Education did that on Monday evening. When we know the actual school aid budget for next year if we need to make changes to our budget we will.
Something that you could do to help our district would be to contact our state legislators and encourage them to pass a school aid budget. Our state legislators are:
Representative Bryan Posthumus – BryanPosthumus@house.mi.gov
Senator Mark Huizenga – senmhuizenga@senate.michigan.gov
A simple message would be as follows:
School districts need to know their funding for the 2025-2026 school year. As you are aware schools must pass a budget for the 2025-2026 school year by June 30.
Last year our school district did not receive an increase to our per pupil allocation. This significantly impacted our revenue.
This year, in order to keep up with inflation and to support our staff, I would encourage you to pass a school aid budget that supports the work our district does each day.
A simple email from our Rockford families would help move the budget process along at the state level.
Our school district had a wonderful 2024-2025 school year. Here are some highlights:
- Our updated strategic plan – RAMS XII - was created and approved.
- We have made positive forward movement on implementing goals connected to RAMS XII
- Edgerton Trails officially opened.
- New language arts curriculum – Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) – was implemented in DK-5
- New social studies curriculum was implemented at middle school
- The new 6th grade wing at North Rockford Middle School was finished.
- Our achievement continues to improve and demonstrate that our commitment to the PLC process is effective.
- The top 50 Michigan school districts for each school subject, via test scores - mlive.com
- We had great arts programs
- The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
- Seussical the Musical
- Into the Woods Jr.
- Our marching band finished 2nd in Division One at the marching band state competition
- Orchestra took a trip to NYC
- Choir toured Croatia and Italy
- Next week our Spanish Immersion middle schoolers go to Costa Rica
- Athletics had a successful year.
- This spring:
- Girls’ water polo won a state championship
- This makes two years in a row that the girls won the state championship
- Boys’ and girls’ lacrosse advanced to the state semifinals
- A girls’ tennis doubles team won a state championship
- Our girls’ track team finished second at the Michigan Track Coaches Association championship
- At the state individual track meet we had several outstanding performances:
- 4x400m Relay (8th)- Audrey Zollman, Lola Davey, Sadie Plain, Sarah MacIntosh
- 4x100m Relay (7th)- Macy VandenHout, Greta Caprathe, Maiya Corrigan, Lillian Green
- 400m Dash (7th)- Sarah MacIntosh
- Pole Vault (7th)- Maiya Corrigan
- Shot Put (8th)- Liv Hosford
- Long Jump (5th)- Greta Caprathe
- Discus (6th)- Liv Hosford
- High Jump (1st)- Greta Caprathe
- High Jump (3rd)- Layla Visser
The 2025-2026 calendar is on the district website. Our first day of school will be August 25.
I hope you have a great summer. I will send periodic updates this summer as needed.
Steve
Dr. Steve Matthews
Superintendent
Rockford Public Schools