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Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - The Rochester School District has yet to feel the impact of the ongoing partial shutdown of the federal government, but Superintendent Kent Pekel has concerns about future federal funding for Rochester Public Schools. Superintendent Pekel, during his regular monthly appearance with Andy Brownell on the Rochester Today show on News-Talk 1340 KROC-AM and 96.9 FM, discussed the federal funding issue and several other topics. Click below to listen to the entire interview. Current School Year Funding Not Expected to Be Affected According to Pekel, federal funding currently accounts for about 8% of the district’s overall budget. He explained that the money appropriated for Rochester Public Schools by the federal government for the current school year has already been deposited with the state, and the shutdown should not affect that revenue source. Looking ahead, Pekel said he is concerned about potential funding reductions for the next school year, noting that the Trump Administration delayed the release of federal funds for several Rochester School District programs this past summer. There are also concerns about the possible withholding of federal funds related to the dispute between the State of Minnesota and the Trump Administration over biological male athletes participating in girls’ sports. Rochester Schools Developing New Strategic Plan Superintendent Pekel also talked about the process being used to develop an updated strategic plan for the district. He explained that three working groups are meeting — one focused on elementary programs, another on middle schools, and a third on high schools. Language Course Cuts and Enrollment Growth Discussed The discussion also included the district’s decision to phase out Latin and advanced German language courses over the next few years, possible accommodations for students who miss classes for religious observances, and the unexpected increase in enrollment this fall. READ MORE: Rochester Public Schools Report Unexpected Enrollment Growth The enrollment total reported to the state earlier this month was 17,441 students. That represented an increase of nearly 120 students when compared to the enrollment total from last fall and marked the first time the Rochester Public Schools have seen in enrollment increase since 2021. The student headcount was also several hundred higher than what was expected.
