FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

BOND REFERENDUM BASICS

  • Robbinsdale Area Schools (Rdale) is at a crossroads. Over multiple decades, intentional decisions have been made with a focus on desires for students that have not remained feasible or sustainable over the long term. Operating aging, 60-year-old buildings amid more than a decade of enrollment decline is no longer fiscally responsible or student-centered.

    This bond referendum is our opportunity to build a predictable, intentional path forward. By rightsizing our facilities, we can stop spending money on underutilized, ineffective, and inefficient spaces and start investing directly in the programs and learning spaces our students want, need, and deserve.

    We want to be clear about what is at stake. The bond referendum, if passed, would avoid the need to make deep cuts to student programming and opportunities. Deep cuts don’t just reduce services, they can also cause families to consider enrolling in other districts. Losing more students means losing more revenue, resulting in a downward cycle of debt that becomes increasingly difficult to climb out of. Over the past three years we have made approximately $26 million in reductions, and we cannot cut our way to sustainability if we continue to have declining student enrollment. With the referendum, we choose strategic decision-making where students remain the absolute priority.

    Addressing SOD and Reimagine Rdale: Vision 2030

    Moving forward with strategic decision-making requires us to navigate a unique, simultaneous challenge: managing the requirements of Statutory Operating Debt (SOD) and implementing Reimagine Rdale: Vision 2030.

    Entering SOD required immediate action to stabilize district finances and operations. Through the development of the SOD plan, the district implemented approximately $8 million in budget reductions as a result of operational changes, staffing adjustments, program modifications, and school closures. Combined with approximately $18 million in budget reductions implemented over the previous two years, these difficult but necessary actions established a stronger operational and financial foundation.

    At the same time, the district launched Reimagine Rdale: Vision 2030. Vision 2030 provides a roadmap for aligning facilities, programs, and resources with today's enrollment, educational priorities, and the district's long-term vision for student success. The Vision 2030 Team presented their findings and recommendations to the Board of Education in September, 2025, leading the Board to direct the administration to operationalize the vision. This referendum is the direct next step in the community-driven, board-directed plan.

    This referendum is about more than buildings. It’s about whether today’s students inherit yesterday’s schools – or tomorrow’s opportunities.

  • OUR STUDENTS - Delivering Schools Students Need and Deserve

    • High-quality educational opportunities and experiences that spark creativity, arts, and innovation for every student.

    • Comprehensive career pathways, ensuring everyone graduates college-, career-, and future-ready.

    • Safe and private ADA-accessible restrooms that provide comfort and dignity for all.

    • Positive learning environments designed to support mental and physical well-being. 

    OUR STAFF - Creating Learning Environments to Support Current Teaching Needs

    • Classrooms designed to support the demands of teaching and learning practices.

    • Flexible learning spaces that easily transition between collaborative projects, large-group instruction, and dedicated spaces for small group intervention. 

    • Comfortable, well-equipped work spaces that inspire collaboration, helping us attract and retain high-quality staff.

    OUR SCHOOLS - Building Safe, Inclusive, and Dynamic Spaces 

    • Welcoming and inclusive environments that balance safety and security.

    • Advanced safety and security systems to optimize surveillance, emergency response, and access control. 

    • Universal access across all facilities so every student can fully participate in the school day. 

    OUR COMMUNITY - Maximizing Value and Shared Pride

    • Rightsize the district’s inventory of buildings through repurposing and consolidation—responsibly managing facilities to match enrollment trends and maximizing taxpayer resources.

    • Create efficiencies that support long-term fiscal sustainability with modern facilities.

    • Active community hubs for meetings, recreation, public events, and lifelong learning.

    REIMAGINE RDALE: Vision 2030 in Action

    Guided by the community’s input and recommendations and the Board’s direction, these Bond Referendum priorities do more than just provide highly effective learning spaces and fiscal sustainability, they actively support the deep sense of pride and belonging that every student deserves and our community expects. 

  • Ballot questions can be confusing based on the requirements set by the state. This Bond Referendum proposes a major, district-wide restructuring of schools and facilities. 

    The following descriptions are not the actual building bond ballot language, but rather a simplified account of what is proposed in each question. 

    QUESTION 1:‍ ‍If passed, this question moves the district from two high schools to a single unified high school campus. This question reorganizes elementary and middle schools into more equitable neighborhood schools and redistributes district administrative and specialized programs across existing buildings to maximize space.

    High Schools

    • One High School: The district would consolidate its high schools. Cooper High School and New Hope Learning Center site would be heavily renovated and expanded to become a single high school serving 3,000 students.

    • Armstrong High School Site Repurposed: Armstrong would no longer be a traditional high school. Instead, it would get a new main entrance and be remodeled to house several combined programs:

      • Robbinsdale Spanish Immersion (K-5)

      • Highview Alternative Learning Center (ALC)

      • Adult academic and community education

      • The district’s IT and maintenance departments

    Middle Schools & Pools

    • Plymouth and Sandburg Middle Schools: Both schools will be renovated to serve 1,100 students each. Remodeling will focus on creating flexible spaces for innovation, performing arts, small-group learning, and Special Education.

    • Pools:

      • The pool at Sandburg Middle School will be filled in and turned into space for physical education and Developmental Adapted Physical Education (DAPE).

      • The pool at Plymouth Middle School will be expanded to 8 lanes and deepened to make the diving well safe.

    Elementary Schools

    • Expanding Neighborhood Schools: Four elementary schools (Zachary Lane, Meadow Lake, Northport, and Forest) will be expanded into 4-section schools (meaning four classrooms per grade level). They will also get upgrades to arts, innovation, and Special Education spaces. 

    • FAIR School Crystal: This middle school building will be completely converted into a 4-section, PreK-5th grade neighborhood elementary school.

    • SEA/Olson Elementary: Will be expanded and updated with a specific focus on accommodating PreK and Special Education classrooms. 

    District Services and Programs

    • Lakeview Elementary: Will stop being a traditional elementary school and instead become the new home for the Education Service Center and the Robbinsdale Transition program (for Special Education students ages 18-21).

    • Early Childhood Moving: The current early learning center will move to an empty/surplus elementary school. Its current site will be turned into athletic fields for the expanded high school.

    • Discontinued Leased Spaces:

      • In addition to embedding some of district programming that leases space at Crystal Learning Center, the district would construct a storage garage on existing district property to replace the leased warehouse.

      • As the projects in Question 1 are being completed, the district would sell off all unused, surplus real estate.  

    QUESTION 2:  (Contingent on Question 1 passing.)

    Question 2 builds directly on the improvements in Question 1 by creating specialized spaces at our middle schools, including a new performing arts space. 

    A Different Plan for Middle Schools

    • Armstrong Site Becomes a Middle School: Instead of being used for the Robbinsdale Spanish Immersion (as proposed in Question 1), the Armstrong building would be remodeled to house an 1,100-student middle school. It would still house the Highview Alternative Learning Center, IT, and maintenance departments. 

    • Plymouth Middle School is Repurposed: Plymouth would stop being a middle school entirely. Instead, it would be renovated to house:

      • The Robbinsdale Spanish Immersion (K-5) school.

      • The Robbinsdale Transition program (for Special Education students ages 18-21).

      • New elementary-appropriate playgrounds would be added to the site.

    Performing Arts Space Instead of a Gym

    • Sandburg Middle School Pool: In Question 1, the filled-in Sandburg pool would be a flexible space. Under Question 2, that same pool space would instead be converted into a 400-seat Theater in the Round performing arts space, similar in size to the FAIR School Crystal auditorium.

    QUESTION 3:  (Contingent on Questions 1 and 2 passing.)

    In this question, the district builds a new elementary school at the Robbinsdale Middle School site. Additionally, the district would sell Lakeview Elementary School and move district-wide educational services and programs to the FAIR School Crystal building.

  • Question 2 and/or 3 can only move forward if voters also approve Question 1. If Question 1 fails, Questions 2 and 3 cannot be implemented—even if enough “yes” votes are received. In short, Question 1 must pass for Question 2 and/or 3 to be implemented.

  • QUESTION 1 Ballot Language:

    Shall the school board of Independent School District No. 281 (Robbinsdale Area Schools) be authorized to issue general obligation school building bonds in an amount not to exceed $343,000,000 to provide funds for the acquisition and betterment of school sites and facilities including, but not limited to: construction, renovation and expansion of Cooper High School; renovation of Plymouth Middle School including pool improvement; renovation of Sandburg Middle School including the decommission and repurposing of the pool; construction, renovation, and repurposing of Armstrong High School; expansion, renovation, and/or repurposing of elementary schools; construction of a storage garage for school district vehicles and equipment; and renovation and repurposing of other district sites and facilities to align facility use with enrollment and program needs, including early childhood?

    QUESTION 2 Ballot Language:  

    If School District Question 1 is approved, shall the school board of Independent School District No. 281 (Robbinsdale Area Schools) be authorized to issue general obligation school building bonds in an amount not to exceed $17,000,000 to provide funds for the acquisition and betterment of school sites and facilities including, but not limited to: renovation and repurposing the pool area of Sandburg Middle School and construction thereon of a performing arts space; renovation and repurposing of Plymouth Middle School to house the Spanish Immersion and other district programs, and the construction of playgrounds at such site; and renovation and repurposing of Armstrong High School to house a middle school with capacity for 1,100 students, and other district-wide programs?

    QUESTION 3 Ballot Language:    

    If School District Question 1 and School District Question 2 are approved, shall the school board of Independent School District No. 281 (Robbinsdale Area Schools) be authorized to issue general obligation school building bonds in an amount not to exceed $53,000,000 to provide funds for the acquisition and betterment of school sites and facilities including, but not limited to: construction of a new four-section neighborhood elementary school at the Robbinsdale Middle School site; and renovation and repurposing of district sites and facilities for educational programming and district-wide services?

  • It's true that Robbinsdale Area Schools has not passed a voter-approved building bond referendum since 1981. Forest Elementary is an exception. After the original school was closed in 2002 due to severe mold damage, the Minnesota Legislature granted the district special authority to finance a replacement school without a traditional voter-approved building bond referendum. The new Forest Elementary opened in 2005.

  • The Reimagine Rdale: Vision 2030 team recommended the district create equitable opportunities and experiences for all students. Opportunities and experiences shouldn’t be limited by geography or a single building’s design. By restructuring our resources, the district is better able to ensure every child has access to arts and innovation, no matter which neighborhood school they attend. 

FINANCIAL BASICS

  • If approved, the bond referendum would result in the following estimated monthly tax impacts for a home valued at $340,200:

    • Question 1 is approximately a $15/month increase

    • Question 2 is approximately a $2/month increase (and requires passage of Q1) 

    • Question 3 is approximately a $8/month increase (and requires passage of Q1 and Q2) 

    • All three questions combined are approximately a $25/month increase

    The length of the bonds, if approved, would be twenty (20) years.

    What impact will the bond have on renters?

    The impact on renters is dependent on the property owner. It is not uncommon for property owners to have annual rent increases for a variety of reasons. Spreading out the taxes they pay across renters is one option property owners may choose.

  • Reduce through Consolidation and Repurposing (“Rightsizing”): 

    • Operating underutilized buildings is expensive. By consolidating our footprint and rightsizing the district, we eliminate redundant utility costs, facility maintenance, and duplicate staffing. 

    • Potential Estimated Annual Savings of $5M. During the planning process, the district estimated an annual $1 million savings for every elementary closure and $3 million for a high school closure. This total estimate of $5 million is contingent upon community and board approval and completion of the projects proposed in the Bond Referendum. 

    Retain and Attract Students: 

    • Providing safe school environments through private, ADA-accessible restrooms and modern safety systems demonstrates the district’s commitment to a safe and secure learning environment for students, staff, and visitors.

    • Delivering on Future-Ready Expectations: Families expect schools to prepare kids for the real world. Providing educational programming that includes arts and innovation for all, along with comprehensive career pathways, makes Rdale the district of choice for our families

    • Equitable Learning Experiences: Equitable access to programming means every family knows their child will have a first-class experience, regardless of their physical abilities or which neighborhood school they attend.   

    Retain and Attract High-Quality Staff:

    • Professional Pride and Innovation: Educators are drawn to teaching environments designed for instructional excellence. Having dedicated spaces for hands-on, project-based learning and robust career pathways allows educators to innovate and see their students thrive.

    • Removing Instructional Barriers: Providing flexible learning spaces and modern facilities removes barriers to teaching, allowing educators to focus on instruction in the ways they know work best for the curriculum and for their students. 

    This referendum is an investment that reduces our daily operational overhead, protects taxpayer dollars through efficient space management, and ensures our schools remain safe.

  • Focusing solely on SOD limits the district’s options to only reducing facilities, staff, and programming. Viewing our financial situation purely through a lens of strict reduction ignores the critical reality that we cannot simply cut our way to a sustainable future.

    Deep cuts to programming and opportunities will lead to further enrollment decline. Lower enrollment means less revenue, forcing even deeper cuts and a mounting debt cycle that threatens our long-term stability.  

    Borrowing money under a structured, targeted plan allows the district to protect and improve the quality of our schools. By investing in robust programs, modernized facilities, and competitive student opportunities, we position our district as a desirable choice for families. 

  • The process to improve bond ratings is slow. Upgrades to our bond rating will come only after the district demonstrates sustained general fund improvement with a positive forecast. 

    The district’s financial advisors spoke to the Board of Education regarding this issue. The actual cost difference between our BBB- and a district with a better rating is approximately .25%.

    On the other hand, construction inflation is a moving number that is likely to increase with each year the district delays a long-term solution. The amount spent for inflation would be significantly higher than the small percentage increase paid given our bond rating. 

  • The School District is projecting $26 million in reductions between 2024-2026. 

    • 2024 - $3 million in reductions

    • 2025 - $15 million in reductions

    • 2026 - $8 million in reductions

    Use this link to learn more about what the district has been doing to address the budget.

  • The Permanent School Fund, created at statehood in 1858, has grown to over $2.3 billion. The fund supports every public school district and charter school in the state. The proposed constitutional amendment modernizes an outdated distribution formula to increase school funding while preserving the fund long-term. It does not create or raise any taxes. If the constitutional amendment is approved, school districts anticipate they would see an increase of approximately $27.19 per pupil. While these additional dollars would be helpful, it would not be enough to provide the district with the long-term financial stability it truly needs.

    • Operational Levies are for Learning. An operating levy (sometimes also referred to as an operating referendum) is an election asking voters to provide funds that the district uses to run and operate its schools. An operating levy is for running the educational programs at the school and goes to the district’s general fund to support students. 

    • Bond Referendums are for Building. A bond referendum is an election asking voters to provide funds that the school district uses for new construction, updates to existing facilities, and other additions to school properties. These funds cannot be used for operational purposes. 

    • Long-Term Facilities Maintenance Bonds (LTFM). LTFM revenue is limited to maintenance that predominantly addresses like-for-like needs. For example, LTFM revenue can be used for painting walls or replacing carpeting. These are maintenance projects that prevent further erosion of facilities. LTFM cannot be used for renovations that include additions or remodeling existing facilities. 

REFERENDUM OUTCOMES

  • Without further investment, Robbinsdale Area Schools is at risk of falling further behind neighboring districts. If the referendum were to pass, the district would be on a predictable and sustainable path forward in support of what the community overwhelmingly shared throughout the Reimagine Rdale community engagement – programming, safety, and sustainable facilities and operations. 

    If the referendum fails, the Board of Education and the administration will need to make hard decisions, including additional reductions. Reduction decisions become complex choices based on factors at the time of the decision, and the lack of a referendum removes the ability for a strategic and controlled process. However, potential reductions, in addition to building consolidations, will likely include cuts to programming, transportation, and staffing. Potential decisions could include:

    • Reboundary of the high school attendance areas, maximizing the capacity of one of the current high schools and decreasing enrollment at the other high school, thereby providing space for consolidating other district services in the lower enrolled school.

    • Reduce educational programming. Programs that carry higher costs, such as Career Technical Education, performing arts, and Advanced Placement will most certainly be looked at as reductions. Historically, once a program is cut, it can take years for it to be brought back, if ever. 

    • Reduce extracurricular options. All middle school and high school athletics will become areas to reduce expenses. 

    • Increases to class sizes. Each reduced classroom saves the school district significant dollars annually.

    • Loss of dedicated classroom space. In this reduction scenario, as buildings consolidate, more spaces will be utilized for general instruction, causing teachers to move to carts rather than have a permanent teaching space. 

    • Reduction of staff. 

    • Additional boundary changes to maximize school use.

    • Increase in the distance students must walk to school before qualifying for student transportation. 

    These cuts are not consistent with the Reimagine Rdale: Vision 2030 recommendations made by the community. The community envisioned something better for our students. If the referendum does not pass and Rdale falls behind neighboring school districts, we are less likely to be the school of choice for families and staff.  

    Aside from the impact on learning, delays in facility improvements could end up costing taxpayers over $20 million more due to the current rate of inflation. 

    How soon can the district come back for another bond referendum if this one doesn’t pass?

    The district could come back as early as February or April of 2027. However, the bond referendum would not be same. The district would submit an updated review and comment to the state and get community input on how the new bond referendum is different from the failed bond referendum. All of this must be completed before placing a new bond referendum on the ballot.

  • The district has auditoriums at the Armstrong and Cooper High School sites, FAIR - Crystal and, depending on the passage of Question 2, could also have performing arts space at Sandburg Middle School. 

    If Question 2 does not pass, the district will still have performing arts space in three of our facilities.

    • 2026-27: LTFM and planned summer projects

    • 2027-28: Demolition of NHLC, construction projects begin across district

    • 2028-29: Completion of Zachary Lane, SEA/Olson, and Forest

    • 2029-30:  Completion of Meadow Lake, Northport, and New High School

    • 2030-31:  Completion of Sandburg renovation, High School opens

    • 2031-32:  Completion of Lakeview or New Elementary and Plymouth site

  • Following the Bond Referendum outcome, the Board of Education will make decisions on when to sell the buildings it no longer needs.

GOOD TO KNOW

  • An “operating levy” referendum, which is the specific financial bucket that pays for daily learning needs, including salaries and benefits, is different from a “building bond” referendum. Under Minnesota law, districts are constrained by operating levy caps, and Robbinsdale Area Schools is near this “operating levy” cap.

    Every dollar we spend keeping inefficient facilities open is a dollar we cannot spend on our people. The bond referendum is a path forward that will create the budget room required to invest directly back into our teachers, support staff, and student programming.

  • The Robbinsdale Area Schools School Board and Administration—working closely with our community—have taken thoughtful and intentional steps to try to stabilize district finances and shape a long-term vision for our schools. That vision was built through years of engagement and input from a wide range of stakeholders, ensuring the final plan is rooted in community priorities and focused on student success.

    Key contributors to this process included:

    • Vision 2030 Team: Community-based group—focused on long-term vision and facility needs—brought together over 37 members including families, students, staff, local business owners, and civic leaders. This group evaluated data, identified priorities, and formally recommended the plan to the School Board.

    • District Leadership: Conducted in-depth reviews of building conditions, enrollment trends, academic programming, and budget capacity to support a practical and responsible solution.

    • Professional Consultants: The District partnered with an experienced PK–12 facilities planning firm to assess infrastructure needs and help develop a comprehensive plan tailored to our community.

    • Staff, Student, & Community Feedback: Surveys and listening sessions gathered valuable insights from hundreds of staff members, students, and residents, helping to shape and refine potential solutions.

    • School Board: After reviewing all data, feedback, and recommendations, the School Board voted to move forward with a bond referendum.

    This multi-year, inclusive process has led to a well-informed, community-developed plan that preserves and enhances our shared investments, supports modern teaching and learning, and provides safe, secure, and accessible schools for every student.