Submitted by Dr. Ethan Sickels, Rock Port R-II Superintendent

The end of the 2021-22 school year arrived last week, and with it came the same emotions I have every year . . . pride in the work that our students and staff accomplish, excitement for our graduating seniors as they move on to their next journey, and anticipation for what the next school year will bring. A huge thank you to our parents and community for your efforts throughout the school year as well . . . without it, Blue Jay Nation would not be nearly as successful in our pursuits for excellence.

As we look towards the future, next year one of my main objectives will be facility improvements, with the plan of running a no tax increase bond issue in April 2023. Our goal the past four years has been to pay down existing bonds . . . not only saving money for the district in interest charges but putting us in a position to begin the next stage of district renovations. We have just started the initial phase of advertising for an architect and discussing budget parameters, but our thoughts are to tear down the existing dome structure and replace with a more functional building. In addition, improvements need to be made to our elementary building, including new HVAC, windows, flooring, and updates in the cafeteria and kitchen as well. Once we receive our final bonding capacity numbers later this summer, we will begin the process of determining what the future holds for the project. As we move along these next 11 months, I will keep you updated on what the future holds for the Rock Port R-II facility improvements.

The superintendent’s office is open during the summer, 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but we are closed on Fridays in June and July. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call, or stop in. I hope this summer is full of enjoyment and memories that will last a lifetime. As always, I leave you with three important words . . . GO BIG BLUE!