Robbinsdale District Outlines Options for Closing Schools: ‘It Is Going To Be Hard’
The Robbinsdale Area School District has begun the process to close some of its schools, with families getting their first look last week at two possible scenarios.
“Moves have to be made,” said Robbinsdale Superintendent Teri Staloch at the Oct. 20 board meeting. “If we want to continue to be sustainable as a district, and you all know it, I know it, and our community knows it, it doesn’t make it easier at all.”
Staloch emphasized that no decisions have been made. But district staff members have put forward two options as a starting point. Either option, if approved, would take effect starting in the 2026-27 school year.
The first option would repurpose Lakeview Elementary School as a new central campus for district programs and administrative offices, while Robbinsdale Middle School, the Educational Service Center, and one additional elementary school would close.
The second option centers on repurposing Noble Elementary School as the district’s new hub, while closing Robbinsdale Middle School, the Educational Service Center and Robbinsdale Spanish Immersion (RSI) buildings. RSI programming would relocate to a different building.
District leaders said Robbinsdale Middle School would close due to extensive facility needs with students shifted to Sandburg Middle School under both scenarios.
“We’re trying to shrink the footprint of the district because we have more space than what we need,” said Bob McDowell, assistant superintendent, at the Oct. 20 meeting. “This entire process is really messy. It’s clunky. It’s emotional. Tonight is the start of the emotion for many people.”
A more detailed look at both options can be found on the district’s website.
The district must make changes to address declining enrollment and move out of statutory operating debt. The changes are part of a multi-phase process called “ReImagine Rdale: Vision 2030” that a 37-member committee created after eight months of study. The plan’s future recommendations include replacing the existing Armstrong and Cooper high school buildings with a single new high school campus.
The Robbinsdale Area School District has begun the process to consider closing some of its schools. Robbinsdale Middle School is one of the buildings proposed to close.
A Closer Look at Enrollment
Based on current enrollment figures, the district could operate efficiently with two to three fewer elementary schools and one or two fewer middle schools.
According to district staff, Lakeview, Sonnesyn, Neill and Noble elementary schools have capacity for at least 500 students, yet enroll about 230 to 280 students. Each of the buildings was built between 1953 and 1964.
The middle schools are also aging, but have more than enough space, according to district enrollment figures. Robbinsdale Middle School, which was built in 1956, has room for about 1,600 students, but enrolls 571, just over a third of its capacity. Plymouth Middle School, built in 1967, has capacity for 1,290, yet enrolls 749 students. Sandburg Middle School, constructed in 1958, has room for 1,500 students, but enrolls 306, about 20 percent of its capacity.
Enrollment projections also offer a sobering look at future needs. Over the next decade, student enrollment is expected to drop by 7.8 to 13.3 percent from the district’s current K-12 enrollment of 10,253, according to research done by former state demographer Hazel Reinhardt.
The Robbinsdale district also experienced the third highest loss in kids ages 5-17 from 2020 to 2023 among metro area districts, according to Reinhardt’s research.
What’s Next
The Robbinsdale School Board will meet again Nov. 3 to review district survey results offering public feedback.
The board plans is expected to make final facility repurposing recommendations at its Nov. 24 meeting. It is slated to vote on phase one closures at its Dec. 8 board meeting.
At the Oct. 20 meeting, Robbinsdale School Board Member Caroline Long worried about the emotional toll closures will have on families.
“I can hear the stories that families have told me,” said Long. “I’m really hoping we have some time to mull over this.”
Robbinsdale School Board Member ReNae Bowman stated she didn’t want to parts of the district neglected, mentioning the east side and the city of Crystal, where Bowman was a former mayor.
“I want to make sure we invest equally across the district,” said Bowman. “I think that’s really important.”
In addition to building closures, administrative leaders pointed out that other difficult changes will have to occur in future phases.
“There’s a piece of this that’s coming that’s going to have to be figured out, that goes along with statutory operating debt that isn’t buildings — it’s programming,” said McDowell. “What aren’t we going to spend money on?”
School leaders also pointed to the big picture. Amy O’Hern, executive director of human resources who who has worked in the district for nearly 30 years, emphasized the ReImagine Rdale Vision goals for a better school district.
“It is going to be hard,” said O’Hern about closing schools. “The end product of what we want Robbinsdale to be is going to be amazing. And we have to keep that in sight.”
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