An Op-Ed published in the Post-Bulletin on October 5, 2019 summarizes the middle school location selection process and how the District was able to run the referendum without having a specific location identified. District and City staff continue to meet regularly. The District's goal is to seek approval on the SW property from the City Council in the near future.
Op-Ed as published in the Post-Bulletin:
"Rochester Public Schools (RPS) is running a referendum this fall to address overcrowding in their elementary and middle schools, increase school safety, and improve educational support spaces in the middle and high schools.
I became involved in the District's referendum process in May 2018, when RPS brought CRW Architecture and us, LHB, onboard to lead a facilities task force. We reviewed multiple data sets for months, which included the District's facilities assessment and 10-year maintenance plan, capacity data, past growth, and student growth projections based on a District housing study.
The data demonstrated the District's middle schools were operating at 99% capacity, and elementary schools were operating at 98% capacity. The task force recommended a solution for the overcrowding to the School Board in November 2018. I am going to focus specifically on the middle school solution in this letter. The group recommended building a new 1200 student capacity middle school in SW Rochester.
The District used criteria for selecting a new middle school site that included:
- District and building boundaries
- Capacities of current middle schools
- Student enrollment based on existing housing
- Student demographics such as socioeconomic status
- Distance from other middle schools
- Walk barriers
- Vehicle circulation
- Minnesota Department of Education's land size recommendations
- Topography
With the above criteria in mind, the District entered into a purchase agreement with a landowner in SW Rochester near Hart Farm. The deal is contingent on two factors. First, the referendum must pass. Second, approval from the City or County to construct a new middle school. If the referendum does not pass, or if the City or County does not allow construction on this site, the District will withdraw from the purchase agreement. They will not lose any money and will have the earnest money refunded to them.
RPS has been collaborating with City departments throughout the referendum process. Together, we continue to have productive conversations regarding a middle school location. RPS can run their referendum without identifying a specific middle school site. This was recently reinforced with approval of the review and comment document filed with the Minnesota Department of Education. I am confident that the District will find a site that meets the student and District needs as well as the City's comprehensive plan.
The middle school location discussions have prompted a few inquiries about existing sites or structures. Vacant buildings, such as the ShopKo building, are not conducive to the education of students for several reasons. The State of Minnesota enforces specific health and safety codes for public schools. Also, the Minnesota Department of Education has specific physical recommendations for structures intended for educating students. The costs to retrofit these buildings and add additions to include necessities such as a kitchen, lunchroom, gymnasium, classrooms, and green space would cost more than building a new facility. In addition, it would likely cost more to operate annually and achieve lower student test scores. If the building is in the wrong geographical area, it will not help the District address it's problem of overcrowded schools, and it would likely create other student inequities.
Thanks to the work of the facilities task force, consultants, and an engaged community offering valuable feedback, the District is moving into the final weeks before November 5 with a thoughtful plan to address current overcrowding and anticipated future growth. With the successful passage of this referendum, a new middle school will open in the fall of 2022 in a location that will serve students' needs for 75+ years."
Kevin Holm is a licensed architect and LEED Accredited professional that has been designing and planning PreK-12 buildings for over 20 years. He focuses on research-based design and fact-based planning through District and community engagement.