Rochester Public Schools' Budget Crisis Sparks School Closure and Relocation Proposal

Rochester Public Schools in Minnesota is proposing significant changes to address a budget deficit, including closing three schools and retooling districtwide schools. The proposal involves redistricting attendance boundaries and eliminating busing for districtwide schools to accommodate new start times. The changes aim to address the strain on the budget and transportation costs, as well as improve student support and class sizes. The teachers' union expressed concern about school closures but acknowledged the merit of shifting start times. The school board is expected to vote on the proposal in early 2022.