Don’t forget to VOTE this Tuesday, November 4th!

Good afternoon,

Our Rockford High School Marching Band goes to Ford Field in Detroit on Saturday to compete in the Michigan Competing Bands Association state championship. They have had a wonderful season. It has not been without its challenges, but they have risen to the occasion. We wish them well on Saturday.

Clue is the high school play this fall. It will take place on November 7, 8, and 9. It has two full casts and there will be four shows starting Friday, November 7. Tickets are available at Ludus - ROCKTIX. Be sure to come see our incredible student performers supported by the student crew and technicians.

Tuesday, November 4, is election day here in Rockford. There are two important ballot proposals.

First, there is a ballot proposal to renew our millage rate at 7 mills. If approved this would generate revenue to support a variety of projects in the district:

• Air conditioning for all remaining buildings
  • 6 of our 8 elementary buildings and the Parkside Early Childhood Center do not have air conditioning
• Install electronic door locks on all interior classroom doors
• Add a gym and/or cafeteria at the four elementary buildings that do not have separate gyms and cafeterias
• Add outdoor bathrooms, improve bleachers, and improve exit/entry space at North Rockford Middle School and East Rockford Middle School outdoor athletic complexes
• Replace playground equipment
• Replace aging buses
• Renovate the Rockford High School Performing Arts Center
• Construct the Ram Center, an indoor turf facility with new Beyond the Rock studio, graphic design classroom, retail store run by our students, and a physical therapy or certified nurse assistant space for career education
• Create additional career and technical education classrooms at Rockford High School
• Enhance student collaboration spaces throughout the district
• Renovate and improve early childhood spaces
• Update technology

The bond millage supports our facilities, technology, and buses. The funds generated from this millage cannot support teachers or salaries of any employees in the district.

More information is available on our district website: 2025 RPS Bond Proposal and Enhancement Millage Proposal - Our District - Rockford Public Schools

The second proposal is for the enhancement millage from the Kent Intermediate School District. The is also a millage renewal. This millage supports our general fund which does support our people – teachers, custodians, secretaries, administrators, and other staff.

Please be sure to vote on November 4. If you have an absentee ballot, please be sure to turn it in by Tuesday, November 4.

We have had a great start to the school year. Thank you for the support that you provide our students and staff. Together we continue to build a great district for our students and our community.

Steve

Dr. Steve Matthews

Superintendent

Rockford Public Schools

Good afternoon,

At the Board of Education meeting this past Monday night, the following actions and reports were on the agenda:

• Rockford Education Association (REA - teachers and certified staff) wage agreement was ratified
• Rockford Education Support Personnel Association (RESPA - paraprofessionals, administrative assistants, custodians, food service, bus drivers) wage agreement was ratified
• There was the first reading of the fall policy update
• A stage turntable purchase was approved
• Two extra classroom sets of furniture were approved for Edgerton Trails
• Bond update report
• Student achievement report

The bond update highlighted information on the upcoming bond election. A proposal is on the ballot to approve continuing our millage rate at 7 mills for capital improvement projects. This proposal is a zero mill increase and continues the millage rate at 7 mills. By approving the continuation of our current rate, we will generate revenue to support maintaining our facilities and creating new opportunities for our students and community. There are a variety of projects that would be undertaken if this proposal is approved. The full list is on the district website, but highlights include:

• Air conditioning for our elementary buildings and Parkside Early Childhood Center (6 of 8 elementary buildings do not have air conditioning)
• Gyms for the four elementary buildings that do not have a separate gym and cafeteria
• Electronic door locks for all interior classroom doors
• Outdoor bathrooms and bleacher improvements at North and East Rockford Middle Schools
• Renovations to the Rockford High School Performing Arts Center
• Construction of the RAM Center - an indoor turf facility with instructional space for a new Beyond the Rock studio, graphic design classroom, and a student-run retail store
• Career and technical education (CTE) classroom expansion at Rockford High School
• Bus purchases on a regular cycle

More information is available at our district website: 2025 RPS Bond Proposal and Enhancement Millage Proposal - Our District - Rockford Public Schools

I would encourage you to get informed and to vote. Absentee ballots are available now. Election day is November 4.

Monday night’s student achievement report highlighted the progress that has been made by our students. We have worked hard over the past several years to sharpen our focus on teaching and learning. Our teachers collaborate now more than ever. We use data to make decisions about how to help students. And the results show that we are making progress.

Are we where we need to be? No. But we are continuing to make progress. 88% of our 8^th grade students on the PSAT met or exceeded the standard in English Language Arts. Over 80% of our 11^thgraders met or exceeded the standard in reading and writing on the SAT.

The fall play “Clue” will have four shows November 7, 8, and 9. Tickets are available now. Ludus - ROCKTIX

As always if you have questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out or to talk with me when you see me in the community.

Steve

Dr. Steve Matthews

Superintendent

Rockford Public Schools

After the uncertainty of last week, I wanted to provide some clarity on our state budget and its impact here in Rockford.

School meals were included in the state budget. Free breakfast and lunch will continue through the 2025-2026 school year for all students at all schools.

Our per pupil allocation was increased to $10,050 per student. That is an increase over what we have received the last two years. Since 2023/24 we have received $9,608 per student. So, an increase was well past due.

The budget continues to provide funds to supplement our transportation budget. Our district is 100 square miles. We spend over $5.3 million dollars for transportation - drivers, mechanics, fuel, and parts. That $5 million does not include buses which we have paid for through our bonds. 

Thank you for reaching out to our state legislators and advocating for our district. It had a positive impact on this process.

The budget uncertainty was frustrating. However, it has not impacted the wonderful things that are going on in our school district this year. 

Steve

Dr. Steve Matthews

Superintendent

Rockford Public Schools

Good afternoon,

The state budget is theoretically complete.

The problem is that we have no confirmation of what the school aid budget will be or if they have included any money to continue the free breakfast and lunch programming for the 2025-2026 school year.

As a result, we are moving ahead with our plan to begin charging for breakfast and lunch starting October 1. We do this reluctantly. But the cost to fund meals for our students over the course of one month is approximately $400,000. We do not have a fund balance that would allow us to cover that expense.

Many have asked what the price will be starting October 1. Here is our plan:

• Breakfast - $2.00
• Lunch - $3.00
• Milk only - .55 cents

All lunch meals have an entrée, fresh fruit, lettuce salad, fresh vegetable, and milk choice.

If something changes before Wednesday, and the state agrees to fund free breakfast and lunch, I will let you know.

For now, those not eligible for a free or reduced breakfast or lunch will pay starting October 1. If you are unsure if you qualify for a free or reduced lunch, please fill out the application. There is a link to the application on the Food Service website here: Food Service - Departments - Rockford Public Schools

Also you can add money to your account via this link: https://payments.efundsforschools.com/v3/districts/55022 

Steve

Dr. Steve Matthews

Superintendent

Rockford Public Schools

Good afternoon,                            

As you are aware, the Rockford Public Schools, like every school district in the state of Michigan, does not have a 2025-2026 school budget. Legally, the legislature was required to pass a school aid budget by July 1. 

They did not.

The next school aid budget deadline is October 1 – a few short days away.

The most immediate impact of the legislature’s lack of action is that funding for the continuation of school meals has not been finalized.

As I have mentioned previously, current funding for our school meals program ends September 30. I was hopeful that funding would be settled by now and delayed sending something out prematurely.

But, it is clear, that we might not know if the state will continue to fund the breakfast and lunch program moving forward. And you need to know how to plan. 

The Governor and the Senate want to continue the program. The House does not want to set designated funds aside for this program.

We anticipate that the legislature and the Governor will finalize a school aid budget soon.

Starting October 1, without any movement on the state budget, Rockford will begin to charge for breakfast and lunch for those students not eligible for free and reduced meals.

Thank you for your patience as we wait for legislative action and for the completion of the state budgeting process. Should the state fund free breakfast and lunch, we will participate in that program.

I will keep you posted.

Steve

Dr. Steve Matthews, Superintendent

Rockford Public Schools