Board approves $44.56 million facilities strategy; plan relocates programs, avoids tax increase

The board voted to approve a coordinated facilities strategy and a financing framework for an estimated $44,560,000 in capital investments designed to realign program locations and meet long‑term facility needs without increasing the district’s property tax rate.

Chair Nathan read the resolution into the record: the plan relocates the majority of CTE programming from leased space at Rochester Community and Technical College to Century, John Marshall and Mayo high schools; combines Churchill K–2 and Hoover 3–5 into a single K–5 at Hoover without changing elementary attendance boundaries; relocates some early‑learning classrooms to Gage Elementary; temporarily relocates Phoenix Academy during renovation of the Education Service Center (ESC) and then designates the renovated ESC as the long‑term Phoenix site; and places Fridel on the market after transitions are complete. The financing framework read aloud included $20,572,958 in long‑term facilities maintenance revenue, $14,970,954 through a lease‑purchase agreement or certificates of participation, $6,000,000 from the district's committed facilities reserve, and $3,016,088 as a temporary use of the unassigned general fund balance expected to be offset by sale proceeds.

Director Cook spoke in favor of the plan, framing it as a responsible balance between neighborhood concerns and district‑wide fiscal reality: "Accomplishing these upgrades in a cost neutral way required making tough decisions... and in my mind, this is an example of responsible planning." Other board members reiterated they had reviewed extensive materials, stakeholder feedback, and FAQs provided by administration. After discussion, Chair Nathan called for the voice vote; the chair recorded approval of the resolution and announced the resolution had been approved.