Robbinsdale School Board Mulls Putting At Least $450M Bond Request Before Voters

The Robbinsdale Area School Board could ask voters to approve a bond request of between $450 million and $515 million this November.

If approved, the funds would be used to update existing school buildings and create a single high school.

It comes as the district continues to navigate financial struggles due to declining enrollment, aging buildings and an accounting error that previously left the district with a $21 million deficit.

Building Plans

The district would likely renovate and expand the existing Cooper High School building to create the single high school.

Meanwhile, Armstrong High School would be converted to serve middle school programming, district services and Robbinsdale Academy – Highview.

However, those decisions haven’t been finalized.

“The direction that the board has given is to go to one high school,” said Board Chair Greta Evans-Becker. “That is the direction that the board has given our administrators.”

The school board discussed the potential bond issuance with its financial advisor on Monday, May 4.

Previously, the Reimagine Rdale: Vision 2030 committee recommended condensing Cooper and Armstrong into a single high school.

Paperwork Due This Summer

If there’s agreement to move the financial request forward to the ballot box, the formal paperwork would need to be submitted early this summer.

Before that time, school district officials expect to further define the anticipated costs for school conversion work.

An average homeowner in the district could expect to see the district portion of their property taxes raise by $30 per month if the full $515 million were approved. That’s for an average district home worth $340,200.

“I’m just really concerned about any tax increase,” said Board Member Caroline Long. “I’m sorry, even $30, $15, $16 a month, that can impact some families based on where they are financially.”

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