ROCHELLE — At its monthly meeting Tuesday, the Rochelle Elementary School District heard an update by District Business Manager Kevin Dale on recent work done by the district's facility committee.

The district's facility committee met Sept. 6 and discussed a number of topics, namely completed and future work at Tilton Elementary School. The district completed a paving project over the summer that expanded its parking lot for additional student safety. The finishing touches such as grass work are being put on that project. 

Work has begun on preliminary drawings and ideas for future renovation work at Tilton School. The district hopes to go out to bid for that work by December to begin the work in the spring and summer that will last until school starts for the 2026-2027 school year.

At its meeting in June, the board unanimously approved a resolution to issue a maximum of $11,163,432 in general obligation school bonds for renovations at Tilton Elementary School and possible future work at its other schools.

The June approval was the culmination of a months-long process of securing funding for the Tilton work. The district is currently in the process of $14-16 million worth of needed renovations at Tilton School after finding in a health life safety evaluation that an estimated $7.9 million worth of work is required at the school for those issues. Health life safety concerns the physical safety of the building for students and staff to occupy. Tilton School was built in 1949. Along with funding from bonds, the district is utilizing $6-8 million from its reserves for other improvements involving security and spatial concerns including pick-up and drop-off areas. The work will be done in a three-year plan.

For longer-term plans at Tilton School, the district is tying in health life safety needs with recommended security enhancements and staff needs and wants, namely limited space in the building. The district has looked at designs and ideas with various options for the facelift of the existing building and additional space to be added in an expansion with additional classrooms, multi-purpose room, gym, library and music room space, ADA accessibility, technology and climate control.

The facility committee also discussed playground equipment and 10-year health life safety evaluations for the district's buildings besides Tilton being finalized to assess future needs.

Dale said the district has new portable sheds at the vacant May Elementary School for storage of equipment as it works to move equipment out of its Cherry Avenue maintenance building that is in disrepair.

"Once we get that building cleaned out, we'll come back to the board with options on that building,” Dale said. 

SRO

The board approved an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Rochelle and the Rochelle Police Department for the continuation of its school resource officer program through July 1, 2027 by a vote of 5-0 with Board Member Jenny Thompson abstaining. Thompson is a city employee.

Rochelle Police Department Officers Jim Jakymiw (Rochelle Township High School) and Sydney Jackson (elementary district) will continue as SROs within Rochelle schools. The SRO program began in 2018.

The cost for the SRO program is $200,000 total annually for both officers' salaries and benefits. Schools will pay a prorated share of salary, benefits and training. The elementary school will pay $3,750 or 33% per month for SRO services. The RTHS district will pay $7,500 or 66% per month for salary and benefits. Those numbers will increase on each Jan. 1 by agreed upon numbers with RPD's union.

"We have really enjoyed our partnership with RPD," Superintendent Jason Harper said. "We've had fantastic SROs in our community in both districts and we look forward to another great set of years here and a continued great partnership."

New teachers

The board heard introductions during the meeting of new teachers from each building’s principal. Lincoln Elementary School has two new teachers, Central Elementary School has four new teachers, Tilton School has three new teachers, and Rochelle Middle School has seven new teachers. 

"Making our new teachers feel welcome and supported is a big part of what we're trying to achieve here in terms of helping our students grow as much as they possibly can," Harper said. "Thank you to all of our first-year teachers and good luck in the rest of the year."

Budget

The board held a public hearing for and unanimously approved its fiscal year 2025 budget during the meeting. The budget is available on the district's website and consists of capital improvements including the Tilton work and the purchase of new buses.