RPS Bond Proposal Meeting
Please join us for a Community Bond Information Meeting to discuss the 2025 Rockford Public School Bond Proposal.
DATE: October 8, 2025
TIME: 6:30 pm
LOCATION: Rockford High School
Creative Teaching & Learning Center
4100 Kroes St. NE Rockford, MI 49341
What is a bond proposal and how can funds from a bond be spent?
A bond proposal is how a public school district asks its voters to consider authorizing the district to borrow money to pay for capital expenditures.
Voter-approved bond funds can be spent on projects that are generally described in the Proposal, such as new construction, additions, remodeling, site improvements, athletic facilities, playgrounds, buses, instructional technology, furnishings, equipment, and other capital needs.
Funds raised through the sale of bonds cannot be used on operational expenses such as employee salaries and benefits, school supplies, and textbooks.
Bond funds must be kept separate from operating funds, and expenditures must be audited by an independent auditing firm.
Rockford Public Schools operates 18 facilities, 14 of which are school buildings, with over 1.3 million square feet of space, on approximately 395 acres of sites.
Why a bond proposal now?
When the Board of Education recognized the opportunity to make improvements to the schools that would require an estimated zero mill net increase over the 2025 levy, the District sought input from the community to prioritize potential projects, further meeting the goals of RAMS XII, our Strategic Plan, and continue executing the facilities master plan for improving the facilities over the next several years.
Building for the future
Providing safe and functional spaces that support and enhance educational programs.
Add air-conditioning to all remaining schools that need it.
Improve safety and security by installing electronic door locks for all classrooms.
Enhance entry circulation and safety by improving students' experiences and strengthen safety at Rockford HS and East Rockford MS.
Gyms and/or cafeterias will be added to all remaining elementary schools to allow all to have separate gym and cafeteria spaces.
Update aging infrastructure, such as: mechanical, electrical, plumbing, roofs, and outdated systems.
Enhance outdoor facilities (restrooms, seating, entry/exit) to improve community experience.
Update technology infrastructure.
Playground equipment upgrades to all remaining schools.
Replace aging buses to maintain the replacement cycle to keep the bus fleet modern and safe.
Advancing excellence
Creating learning environments that enhance innovation and opportunity.
Performing Arts Center renovation: new seats, stage, walls and interior improvements.
Construction of the Ram Center: indoor turf fieldhouse for athletics, fine arts and community recreation. Classroom spaces for digital media, sports marketing and business programming.
Career exploration classrooms at Rockford HS: expanding hands-on learning through Robotics, Skilled Trades, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) and Health Sciences.
Enhance students' experiences: renovating student-centered collaboration spaces.
Early childhood renovations: updating spaces to enhance programs for our youngest learners and to enhance safety.
Update educational technology.
For more Information on the RPS Bond Proposal, please visit our website
www.rockfordschools.org/our-district/rps-bond-proposal-2025
