Robbinsdale School Board Restarts Superintendent Search

The Robbinsdale School Board is restarting its search to find a new superintendent to lead the district.

The board decided to push ahead with its search in a new format after meeting for a work session on Monday, April 15.

A new posting for the superintendent job will list the role as “open until filled.” That is, the board will accept applications on a rolling basis.

That’s in contrast with the bulk of superintendent job searches, where applications are accepted during a limited time period with a specific deadline.

Using this search model, the board would be free to interview candidates as they apply, rather then focusing on a singular group of applicants.

This comes after the board suspended its superintendent search earlier in April. The board interviewed six candidates vying to permanently replace former Superintendent David Engstrom, who split ways with the district in September 2023.

Following the interviews, the board suspended its search, saying none of the candidates represented a clear front runner.

In an interview, Robbinsdale School Board Chair ReNae Bowman told CCX News “the fit just wasn’t there.”

“It just really comes down to that,” Bowman said. “We need to find a candidate that we can all agree upon. This does not mean that anyone failed, it just means that we’ll continue the search.”

During the revamped search, the board will look for a permanent superintendent, not an interim, Bowman said.

The board has contracted with the Minnesota School Boards Association for the search.

According to Bowman, interim Superintendent Marti Voight will continue to serve in her role until the board hires a replacement. 

Robbinsdale Area Schools serves parts or all of cities including Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Golden Valley, New Hope, Plymouth and Robbinsdsale.

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