ROCHESTER, Minn.- Rochester Public Schools approved a new logo, vision and mission statement on Tuesday, Oct. 7, superintendent Kent Pekel says he hopes it will help the district stand out among its competitors.

Enrollment in the district is growing, but he says only 72 percent of families send their kids to school at RPS, the rest go to Rochester Catholic Schools, home schooling or neighboring districts like Byron.

The new logo and marketing was designed with the help of a $100,000 contract with an outside marketing firm, he says the expense was small compared to the district's almost $4 million budget, but he has heard concern about the decision.

"I have to be honest, I've been a little surprised at some of the pushback, but then I get it, anything that isn't spending directly on an a

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