Kim Holmes Resigns From Robbinsdale School Board, Calls It A ‘Traumatic Environment’
A member of the Robbinsdale Area School Board has resigned from her post.
Kim Holmes submitted her resignation effective Oct. 5. The board voted to accept it the following day.
“I can no longer subject my family or myself to the traumatic environment of serving as a 281 board member,” Holmes wrote in a lengthy social media post. “The toll this has taken on my family and me is beyond what most people could imagine. As stated in my formal resignation statement, this has become a matter of professional and personal conscience as well as ethical standards.”
‘Tipping Points’ Toward Resignation
Holmes cited two recent events in her post as the “tipping points” in her decision to resign. One was the dissolution of an ad hoc safety committee.
“The committee did a large volume of work, laid out steps for oversight and accountability and had a list of work it was still focused on,” she wrote. “I cannot remain silent or speak in one voice on this topic. The stakes are too high and accountability is needed.”
She also cited an “act of intimidation” that she claims occurred at the Sept. 23 board meeting.
“I immediately reported the incident to the Chair and Vice Chair and formally filed a complaint the next morning,” Holmes wrote. “The chair turned it over to the superintendent, however I was not followed up with. I will not share further details here as I too worry about retaliation.”
Term Expires December 2026
Holmes’s term started in January 2023 and goes through December 2026.
“I want to thanks [Holmes] publicly for the time she spent on the board, her service to the board,” said Board Chair Greta Evans-Becker. “Being a board member is hours and hours of commitment, and so I thank her for her hours and hours of work on the board.”
Holmes resignation comes after former Board Member Sharon Brooks filed a lawsuit against board in civil court seeking $5 million in damages. The board discussed the lawsuit in a closed meeting on Oct. 6.
Brooks was the board’s last resignation. She left in February 2025, and Kenneth Wutoh was appointed to fill her seat.
Meanwhile, Robbinsdale Area Schools recently grappled with a $21 million budget deficit and laid off more than 200 staff members.
A committee developing plans for the future of the district recommended that several buildings be shuttered, and that Armstrong and Cooper high schools be combined into a single campus with a new school building.
Robbinsdale School Board Member Kim Holmes has resigned. She’s pictured here speaking in a board meeting.
Full Letter of Resignation
The full text of Holmes’ social media post and letter of resignation are below.
I submitted my resignation letter yesterday October 5, 2025 and asked that it be read in to the record at tonight’s meeting. The text of the letter will be at the end of this post.
The decision was not a knee jerk decision nor an easy one. I can no longer serve under the notion that the board all rises together and falls together when there are so many operational problems on the school board.
I ran for school board to be the change I wanted to see in the district.
During my term, I focused on strengthening the connection between stakeholders and the district by asking detailed questions and engaging in discussions around operations, budgetary choices, safety & security and board protocols all while upholding the critical oversight role the board holds. Most importantly, my work was always anchored in my unwavering commitment to what is best for students.
Questions, healthy debate and seeking consensus should be core pillars of a healthy school board. However it became clear early on how many barriers were in place, including preexisting relationships/alliances within the district, that would hinder meaningful conversations from taking place at the board table. The structure of a board is crucial and should have the Chair operating as a facilitator, not a decision maker. Legal is for counsel, not to make subjective statements or label board director questions as critical, complaining, judgmental, surprises and negative.
I can no longer subject my family or myself to the traumatic environment of serving as a 281 board member. The toll this has taken on my family and me is beyond what most people could imagine. As stated in my formal resignation statement, this has become a matter of professional and personal conscience as well as ethical standards.
I have been internally wrestling with this school board’s majority view of leadership and accountability for some time. Major points of concern include concerns around weapons in schools, the student handbook, union challenges, health services changes, stakeholder petitions and transportation issues. These issues have consistently been presented to the school board over the past eight months via health staff, teachers, petitions, union members and families yet little to no discussion is seen or heard at the board table. Stating these challenges are not in the board’s purview is not acceptable to me.
However, two events on September 23, 2025 served as the tipping points of my decision to resign. On the evening of the 23rd, the majority of the school board voted to dissolve the Safety & Security Ad Hoc Committee. As I stated that evening, the committee did a large volume of work, laid out steps for oversight and accountability and had a list of work it was still was focused on. I cannot remain silent or speak in one voice on this topic. The stakes are too high and accountability is needed.
The second event of that evening was an act of intimidation. I immediately reported the incident to the Chair and Vice Chair and formally filed a complaint the next morning. The Chair turned it over to the Superintendent, however I was not followed up with. I will not share further details here as I too worry about retaliation.
Creating environments of we vs. them mentality is not only unprofessional but also reckless, especially in today’s climate.
Serving on a school board should never be about winning or making someone feel not welcomed or unsafe. Sadly, that has been my experience on the 281 school board through these three years.
A successful and healthy district needs both a competent superintendent AND a school board who recognizes the importance of checks and balances and accountability. I hope District 281 achieves this before it is too late.##########
Resignation Letter
October 5, 2025
Chair Evans-Becker & Vice Chair Long,
I am writing to inform you about my decision to leave my position as a board member of Robbinsdale Area Schools, effective immediately.
After careful consideration, I have concluded that my approach to leadership, oversight and governance is no longer aligned with the current direction of the board. This is a matter of professional and personal conscience as well as ethical standards.
It has been a true honor spending time listening to and working on behalf of staff, students and their families as well as community members who care so deeply about the district. I wish the best to you all going forward.
Sincerely,
Director Kim Holmes
Brooklyn Center | Brooklyn Park | Crystal | Golden Valley | New Hope | Plymouth | Robbinsdale
