Kindergarten Enrollment Is Open!

Press Release: 

April 23, 2026

On April 20, 2026, Board Trustee Tricia Anderson resigned from the Rockford Public Schools Board of Education. We thank Trustee Anderson for her commitment to our students and her advocacy for ensuring that our school district operates at a high level. We wish Trustee Anderson the best in future endeavors. 

When a board member resigns, the board is required to  fill the vacancy within  thirty (30) days by appointment in line with district board policy 0142.5.  The board seeks to fill the vacancy with a qualified and interested candidate who will serve through December 31, 2026.  In November, in addition to the regularly scheduled election of three board positions, an election to fill the partial term set to expire in 2028, will be held.

Today, the Rockford Public School District begins seeking applications for the current vacant position for the board of education. An individual will be appointed to fill the vacant position through December 31, 2026 and will be replaced by the individual elected to the position (based on the November 3, 2026 election results) on January 1, 2027. To be eligible to be considered an individual must be a citizen of the United States and is a qualified and registered elector and resident of the district.

Those eligible and interested in filling this seat through December 31, 2026 must do the following:

• Submit a one-page letter of interest outlining your interest and eligibility

• Submit a resume that outlines relevant experience or credentials

• Answers to each of these questions in 300 words or less:

  • What do you see as the role of a school board member? 

  • What will you do to be an effective board member?

  • What would you like to see changed in the district and how do you envision your role in that change?

Please send the required information electronically to Jodi Nester via email at jnester@rockfordschools.org.  The deadline to be considered for this vacancy is Monday, May 4th at 3:00 PM. No materials will be accepted after the deadline. All completed applications will be verified in writing upon receipt and then submitted to Board of Education Secretary, Andrea Jacobson for further action.  

The Board will review the applications and schedule interviews during the week of May 11th.  The board will meet in open session to interview applicants and appoint a new trustee. The new trustee will be seated by May 20, 2026. 

Rockford Public Schools Shares Results of Community Survey

Community Expresses Support for Investment, Calls for Adjusted Scope

Rockford, Mich. – March 9, 2026 – At the end of 2025, Rockford Public Schools requested that the Kent ISD conduct an impartial survey to better understand stakeholder perceptions and engagement following the unsuccessful 2025 bond proposal. 

To encourage broad participation and maximize responses, the district implemented a comprehensive outreach strategy. A postcard featuring a QR code linked to the survey was mailed to every residential and commercial address within the district. The survey was also promoted multiple times in the district newsletter and through repeated email and phone outreach to families and staff. 

On Tuesday, March 9, Kent ISD presented the survey findings to the Rockford Public Schools Board of Education. Nearly 3,000 stakeholders responded.

“We were happy to see the strong engagement, especially from our parents and guardians,” said Superintendent Dr. Matthews. “This level of participation demonstrates how deeply our community cares about the future of Rockford Public Schools. We are grateful for the thoughtful, constructive feedback that will help guide our next steps.”

After reviewing the presentation and survey results, there were several meaningful takeaways:

• Strong Community Engagement – The majority of respondents are parents or guardians of current students, meaning the district is hearing directly from highly invested stakeholders. The Rockford community is paying attention and cares deeply about district decisions.
• Communication Channels Are Working – The district’s communication infrastructure is effective. Respondents reported receiving information through their preferred channels. The district’s website, email, official mailings, and social media are the most common and most preferred sources.
• Clear Recognition of the Need for a Bond – The community largely understands that school facility funding requires a bond mechanism. There isn’t confusion about why bonds are necessary, just about scope and specifics of the 2025 proposal.
• Meaningful Trust in District Leadership – Approximately 37% or respondents indicated they are “Quite” or “Extremely” confident in the Board of Education and district administration to manage bond funds responsibly. Even amid concerns about the scope and cost of the bond, nearly forty percent expressed strong confidence in the district leadership’s financial stewardship. 
• Strong Support for Safety and Essential Infrastructure – There is clear alignment around what should be prioritized. The data indicates that the community is not opposed to investment in schools, but instead supports focused improvements that address critical needs.  
• Voters Want Right-Sized Proposals, Not No Proposal – Half of responses felt the bond did not meet district needs and felt the amount was too high. Open-ended comments suggest concerns were largely about scope, not opposition to investing in schools.

“The district now has a data-informed road map for continuing to engage with parents and community members,” Dr. Matthews added. “As promised, we will re-survey later this year to gauge the success of our action steps and ensure we remain aligned with community priorities.”

Rockford Public Schools will use the survey findings to guide continued engagement efforts and future planning discussions. 

For more information, please visit:

Rockford Community Bond Perception and Engagement Survey Presentation

• Rockford Public Schools Shares Results of Community Survey

Community Expresses Support for Investment, Calls for Adjusted Scope

Rockford, Mich. – March 9, 2026 – At the end of 2025, Rockford Public Schools requested that the Kent ISD conduct an impartial survey to better understand stakeholder perceptions and engagement following the unsuccessful 2025 bond proposal. 

To encourage broad participation and maximize responses, the district implemented a comprehensive outreach strategy. A postcard featuring a QR code linked to the survey was mailed to every residential and commercial address within the district. The survey was also promoted multiple times in the district newsletter and through repeated email and phone outreach to families and staff. 

On Tuesday, March 9, Kent ISD presented the survey findings to the Rockford Public Schools Board of Education. Nearly 3,000 stakeholders responded.

“We were happy to see the strong engagement, especially from our parents and guardians,” said Superintendent Dr. Matthews. “This level of participation demonstrates how deeply our community cares about the future of Rockford Public Schools. We are grateful for the thoughtful, constructive feedback that will help guide our next steps.”

After reviewing the presentation and survey results, there were several meaningful takeaways:

• Strong Community Engagement – The majority of respondents are parents or guardians of current students, meaning the district is hearing directly from highly invested stakeholders. The Rockford community is paying attention and cares deeply about district decisions.
• Communication Channels Are Working – The district’s communication infrastructure is effective. Respondents reported receiving information through their preferred channels. The district’s website, email, official mailings, and social media are the most common and most preferred sources.
• Clear Recognition of the Need for a Bond – The community largely understands that school facility funding requires a bond mechanism. There isn’t confusion about why bonds are necessary, just about scope and specifics of the 2025 proposal.
• Meaningful Trust in District Leadership – Approximately 37% or respondents indicated they are “Quite” or “Extremely” confident in the Board of Education and district administration to manage bond funds responsibly. Even amid concerns about the scope and cost of the bond, nearly forty percent expressed strong confidence in the district leadership’s financial stewardship. 
• Strong Support for Safety and Essential Infrastructure – There is clear alignment around what should be prioritized. The data indicates that the community is not opposed to investment in schools, but instead supports focused improvements that address critical needs.  
• Voters Want Right-Sized Proposals, Not No Proposal – Half of responses felt the bond did not meet district needs and felt the amount was too high. Open-ended comments suggest concerns were largely about scope, not opposition to investing in schools.

“The district now has a data-informed road map for continuing to engage with parents and community members,” Dr. Matthews added. “As promised, we will re-survey later this year to gauge the success of our action steps and ensure we remain aligned with community priorities.”

Rockford Public Schools will use the survey findings to guide continued engagement efforts and future planning discussions. 

For more information, please visit:

Rockford Community Bond Perception and Engagement Survey Presentation

Looking for information on how you can enroll your kindergartener for the 2026-2027 school year? Look no further!  Simply click the button below to take you directly to our kindergarten enrollment page:

Kindergarten Enrollment 

Looking for information on how you can enroll your kindergartener for the 2026-2027 school year? Look no further!  Simply click the button below to take you directly to our kindergarten enrollment page and you will find all the information you need to be ready for February 18th. 

Kindergarten Enrollment