The RPS School Board will meet tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. in the Edison Board Room (615 7th St SW). On the agenda for tomorrow’s regular meeting is: Launching the Office of Learning Environments, School Board Committee Assignments, 2026-27 ABCD Approval, and 2027 School Board Meeting Dates.
If you cannot attend in person, you can livestream the meeting at https://www.youtube.com/isd535.
You can view all full meeting agendas at https://rochesterschools.org/simbli.
If you cannot attend in person, you can livestream the meeting at https://www.youtube.com/isd535.
You can view all full meeting agendas at https://rochesterschools.org/simbli.
Don't let the Superintendent drive (or yell, or throw things on) the bus! We're so excited to see you for the upcoming school year, and bus schedules are coming soon! But you need to get to school safely before you can start learning. Learn all the rules of the school bus with Dr. Kent Pekel and some of his friends from Longfellow Elementary in the RPS Bus Safety video.
Back to School isn't just for students! Are you joining us today? Join our free virtual Family Engagement Workshops this August, in partnership with Fernbrook Family Center. Learn simple, effective strategies to build strong connections with your child and boost their confidence with positive self-talk before school starts.
Space is limited—reserve your spot now: https://forms.gle/ya1LHcRTpHfWR8Rc7
Space is limited—reserve your spot now: https://forms.gle/ya1LHcRTpHfWR8Rc7
These kids are on the ball! Washington Elementary's PTA-led T-ball league practiced throws, ball retrieval, and teamwork. Kids and parents alike enjoyed the fresh air and community.
Riverside families! Cara Felderman will be joining Riverside as our next Assistant Principal. Ms. Felderman is currently the instructional coach at Gage and brings 18 years of experience as a classroom teacher and instructional coach. She taught here at Riverside for six years, so this is a bit of a homecoming! Please join us in welcoming Ms. Felderman to the Otter family
The RPS School Board will meet tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. in Room #26 (615 7th St SW). On the agenda for tomorrow’s regular meeting is: School Board Self-Evaluation and School Board Goal Development.
If you cannot attend in person, you can livestream the meeting at https://www.youtube.com/isd535.
You can view all full meeting agendas at https://rochesterschools.org/simbli.
If you cannot attend in person, you can livestream the meeting at https://www.youtube.com/isd535.
You can view all full meeting agendas at https://rochesterschools.org/simbli.
Taking home the gold! Mayo High School Spartans bring home two gold medals and national champion titles!
Mayo High School junior Kai Joyner took 1st place in the 400m at the Speedo Junior National Championships this week! Kai’s incredible momentum continues to build after a record-breaking sophomore season—setting 16 regional pool records, breaking Big Nine and Section 1AA meet records in the 200 & 500 free, earning two state titles, and anchoring multiple Mayo relay and individual records.
On the national level, Kai represented Team USA on the London All-Star Team, placed 2nd at the Toyota USA Swimming National Championships, and now heads to Vancouver for the Junior Pan Pacific Championships. Good luck, Kai!
We also want to shout out another Rochester Public Schools student and soon-to-be Spartan, Elliot Leasure, who took 1st place in the 100m backstroke to become a National Champion!
We are so proud of both of our champions!
Mayo High School junior Kai Joyner took 1st place in the 400m at the Speedo Junior National Championships this week! Kai’s incredible momentum continues to build after a record-breaking sophomore season—setting 16 regional pool records, breaking Big Nine and Section 1AA meet records in the 200 & 500 free, earning two state titles, and anchoring multiple Mayo relay and individual records.
On the national level, Kai represented Team USA on the London All-Star Team, placed 2nd at the Toyota USA Swimming National Championships, and now heads to Vancouver for the Junior Pan Pacific Championships. Good luck, Kai!
We also want to shout out another Rochester Public Schools student and soon-to-be Spartan, Elliot Leasure, who took 1st place in the 100m backstroke to become a National Champion!
We are so proud of both of our champions!
Hey parents! We have seats available at Hoover and Mighty Oaks Early Learning Schools for students who live in Elton Hills, Franklin, Gage, and Riverside boundaries. Children must be 4 years old by September 1, 2026. Full scholarships are available for qualifying kids. Find out more and register at https://preschool.rochesterschools.org/o/pre.
The RPS School Board will meet tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. in the Edison Board Room (615 7th St SW). On the agenda for tomorrow’s Regular Meeting is: Summer Academy 2026, Major Agenda Items for 2026-2027 ABCD, School Program Relocations and Changes, and Approval of 2026-2027 Student Handbook.
If you cannot attend in person, you can livestream the meeting at https://www.youtube.com/isd535.
You can view all full meeting agendas at https://rochesterschools.org/simbli.
If you cannot attend in person, you can livestream the meeting at https://www.youtube.com/isd535.
You can view all full meeting agendas at https://rochesterschools.org/simbli.
Congratulations to our Rochester Public Schools Special Education (SpEd) Pipeline graduates! Through the RPS SpEd Pipeline program, funded by a grant from the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), these dedicated educators have completed the training required to earn their special education teaching licenses. We are proud of their commitment to students and grateful for the positive impact they will make in our schools.
The RPS School Board will meet tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. in the Edison Board Room (615 7th St SW). On the agenda for tomorrow’s regular meeting is: Policy Committee Recommendations, School and Program Relocations and Changes, and Long-Term Facilities Maintenance Plan.
If you cannot attend in person, you can livestream the meeting at https://www.youtube.com/isd535.
You can view all full meeting agendas at https://rochesterschools.org/simbli.
If you cannot attend in person, you can livestream the meeting at https://www.youtube.com/isd535.
You can view all full meeting agendas at https://rochesterschools.org/simbli.
How are you spending your summer? Even when the days are hot, these students are giving back to our greater community through a summer of service. As our district works to prepare the next generation, we also place great value on investing in our community and building a sense of belonging and connection.
Are you ready to lift off for the new school year? We're so excited to see you back in a little over a month, and even sooner for our Longfellow friends (July 20-22 to be exact!). Though we know you're still enjoying the summer, we want to make sure you have the information you need to prep for the back-to-school season, including school supply lists! Just know we can't wait to see you back soon!
Learn more about Back to School: www.rochesterschools.org/backtoschool
School Supply Lists: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1pnP_ywopD8TOiNyTd7CgNokE5WgOnIjE?usp=drive_link
Learn more about Back to School: www.rochesterschools.org/backtoschool
School Supply Lists: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1pnP_ywopD8TOiNyTd7CgNokE5WgOnIjE?usp=drive_link
The summer has been heating up, but our friends at SACC are working on staying cool! Check out these photos of them making a splash!
The RPS School Board will meet tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. in the Edison Board Room (615 7th St SW). On the agenda for tomorrow’s regular meeting is: Long-Range Technology Plan, Long-Term Facilities Maintenance Plan, and Policy Committee Recommendations from June 18, 2026 and June 25, 2026.
If you cannot attend in person, you can livestream the meeting at https://www.youtube.com/isd535.
You can view all full meeting agendas at https://rochesterschools.org/simbli.
If you cannot attend in person, you can livestream the meeting at https://www.youtube.com/isd535.
You can view all full meeting agendas at https://rochesterschools.org/simbli.
Rochester Public Schools buildings, offices, and programs, including summer SACC, summer food meal sites, and Summer Academy, will be closed Thursday, July 2, and Friday, July 3, in observance of Independence Day, which falls on a weekend. We will resume regular operating hours on Monday, July 6.
This past Monday, four students from the Mayo High School Unified program were invited to participate in the ESPN Unified Sports Challenge. This amazing event, held at Allianz Field in Saint Paul, paired unified partners with a celebrity in a variety of athletic challenges. Our students from Mayo High School were paired with gold medal swimmer Rowdy Gaines and Special Olympics CEO Tim Shriver. The event was attended by more than 5000 people, including a large contingency of family and friends from Mayo High School. Our athletes did an absolutely amazing job representing Rochester Public Schools and the Unified program programs in our district!
On June 22, 2026, Representative Brad Finstad sent a letter to Minnesota Commissioner of Education Willie Jett to “express concerns regarding the influence of the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Learning for Justice program and related social justice frameworks being integrated into the Rochester Public School District.” Neither Representative Finstad nor any member of his staff contacted Rochester Public Schools (RPS) before sending the letter to ask whether Learning for Justice curriculum, materials, or frameworks are currently being used in RPS or have been used in recent years. Read the full statement here: https://www.rochesterschools.org/article/2594197
Last night we celebrated our Retiring Class of 2026!
With so many years of combined experience in education and at Rochester Public Schools, we are grateful for the time and dedication these wonderful staff members have given to our schools and students. Thank you for your contribution, and we wish you the best of luck in your next chapters!
With so many years of combined experience in education and at Rochester Public Schools, we are grateful for the time and dedication these wonderful staff members have given to our schools and students. Thank you for your contribution, and we wish you the best of luck in your next chapters!
The RPS School Board will meet tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. in the Edison Board Room (615 7th St SW). On the agenda for tomorrow’s regular meeting is: Social Studies Curriculum Adoption, Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget, and the 2027-2028 District Calendar.
If you cannot attend in person, you can livestream the meeting at https://www.youtube.com/isd535.
You can view all full meeting agendas at https://rochesterschools.org/simbli.
If you cannot attend in person, you can livestream the meeting at https://www.youtube.com/isd535.
You can view all full meeting agendas at https://rochesterschools.org/simbli.
