Dear Parents,

 

The Rochester School Board has approved the District studying a possible elementary magnet school.  We have scheduled two meetings over the next month to discuss this with parents and community members.  I will explain below what a magnet school is, and some of our preliminary ideas.

Meeting Schedule:

• Meeting #1  April 12, 2011, 6 p.m. in Boardroom #2 (first floor of the Community Center)
• Meeting #2  April 25, 2011, 6 p.m. in Boardroom #2 (first floor of the Community Center)

 

A magnet school is a public school with specialized courses or curricula. “Magnet” refers to how the schools draw students from across the normal boundaries defined by authorities (usually School Boards) as school zones that feed into certain schools.  Some of the ideas that have been considered for a magnet school in Rochester are: 

1.          To use Maple Street School as a magnet school for students in Kindergarten to Grades K- 5.
2.          Have a 200 day school year to shorten the summer break.
3.          Have a different calendar than other schools in Rochester (required for a 200 student day)
4.          Have all students in Grades 3, 4 and 5 have netbook computers to access technology (using technology to improve instruction)
5.          Have before and after school daycare for students.
6.          Focus on student and parent participation to increase student engagement.
7.          Focus on student engagement through active theme based projects.  

 

How would a magnet school work in Rochester?  We would have students from all of Rochester declare their interest in the magnet school.  The students would be selected via a lottery, if there is more student interest than the size of the school allows.  Students from the neighborhood would make up a percentage of the school, but an effort to reach beyond the neighborhood borders is needed.

 

Why the need to explore this idea?  First, this would allow some choice in schools within the Rochester elementary schools.  It may be a way to reduce the summer drop off in student performance.  This magnet school could allow some new scheduling methods to be tried in one school before implementing in other schools in Rochester. 

 

Please come to hear more about the magnet school ideas, and offer your ideas for what you are interested in for your child’s elementary education.

 

Sincerely,

 

Michael L. Hopkins

Superintendent of Schools