Michigan / School Boards / Rockford Public Schools
The board's policy committee presented a first reading of proposed changes to policy 167.3 that would replace a 5‑hour preregistration window with a staffed 30‑minute preregistration immediately before meetings and recommends moving public comment earlier on agendas; policy returns for second reading in February.
Michigan / School Boards / Rockford Public Schools
Hunterford CPAs presented an unmodified (clean) financial and single audit for the fiscal year ended 06/30/2025, reporting no findings. Trustees approved the audit; the presentation noted a 16.1% governmental fund balance and construction-in-progress and capital additions figures.
Michigan / School Boards / Rockford Public Schools
Trustees authorized administrators to pursue refunding of callable 2016 bonds after hearing from PFM advisors, who estimated roughly $5.8 million in lifetime savings (about $4.2M net present value) and average annual cash‑flow savings of ~$321,000. The roll‑call motion passed unanimously.
Michigan / School Boards / Rockford Public Schools
Trustees completed nominations and elected officers for 2026 (current president continued in place; Christie elected vice president; Jake elected treasurer; Andrea Jacobson elected secretary). A trustee raised a procedural concern about nominating members who are up for reelection, saying a prior discussion recommended against it; the chair said no rule prevents nominations and moved the process forward.
Michigan / School Boards / Rockford Public Schools
Trustees approved staff recommendations to buy AngelTrax bus video systems for seven buses ($18,223.69), replace bleachers and the athletic elevator at Rockford High School (bid presented at $1,626,208), and replace high-school boilers with more-efficient hot-water units (bid amount stated in the meeting packet). All projects were recommended to be funded with proceeds from the 2019 bond and approved by voice votes.
Michigan / School Boards / Rockford Public Schools
District literacy leaders described multi-year changes rooted in the "science of reading," adoption of CKLA and tiered RTI/MTSS interventions, and presented NWEA and M-STEP trend data they say show progress; they also announced new dyslexia task-force work and state grant-funded interventions.
Michigan / School Boards / Rockford Public Schools
Public commenters alleged a failure to follow required suicide-response procedures in a student case, urged mandatory training and an action plan, and other speakers proposed volunteer reading programs and criticized bond planning; Superintendent Matthews said the district has responded and will follow up and accepted responsibility for the failed bond.
Michigan / School Boards / Rockford Public Schools
The Rockford Public Schools board considered an appeal to waive a fee for a FOIA request about transportation costs; after extended debate over how fees are estimated and whether fringe benefits should be included, a motion to approve the appeal failed and the district's fee estimate stands.
Michigan / School Boards / Rockford Public Schools
After a presentation by district staff, the Rockford board authorized administration to enter negotiations to deploy PowerSchool as the district's student information system, approving an interim Jan–June implementation budget to run both systems in parallel.
Michigan / School Boards / Rockford Public Schools
After a bond proposal was defeated 58%–41% (7,533 no vs. 5,298 yes), the board heard public comment urging changes — including removing the 5‑hour rule and moving public comment before votes — and the superintendent pledged to improve outreach and not bring another capital proposal in 2026.