Robbinsdale board narrows referendum options to $343M–$360M range, sparking debate over school closures and Fair Crystal

Robbinsdale Public School District board members spent a two‑hour June 8 study session debating how to pare back a previously proposed $425 million facilities referendum to options that the district's polling shows the community is willing to support.

Board chair Gita Evans Becker opened the session, then Superintendent Terry Style reviewed three scenarios: the original $425 million plan, a $343 million option targeted at roughly $15 per month in voter‑approved taxes, and a $360 million option that costs about $17 per month but restores some program and performance spaces. ‘‘After hearing the Peter Leatherman presentation last week … we’re right around the $15 mark from a tax tolerance standpoint,’’ the superintendent said as staff described the trade‑offs required to lower the ask.

Why it matters: the lower‑cost options preserve many district priorities but require trade‑offs in building uses and timing that will affect which facilities remain open, where programs are housed, and whether families must change schools. Board members repeatedly urged staff to minimize student moves and provide a clear phasing schedule that families can rely on.

What the options change

• $343 million (targeted to ~$15/month voter‑approved): Staff said this option keeps 12 sites rather than 11, shifts early learning to the Neil building, eliminates large additions at C. Olsen and Lake View, removes a planned pool‑lobby expansion and a theater‑in‑the‑round conversion at Sandberg, and assumes an additional $116 million in LTFM (long‑term facility maintenance) work would be required to accomplish all elements. The superintendent described it as ‘‘the closest we’ve been able to get to $15 a month.’’

• $360 million (~$17/month): Restores more program space and the Sandberg theater conversion, returns some programs to different sites and increases the cost by about $2 per month compared with the $343M option.

• $425 million (original vision): The full voter‑approved bond originally presented would finance more new construction and larger additions, including a replacement elementary on the Robbinsdale Middle School (RMS) site if a second ballot question were approved.

Contingent second question

Staff confirmed the modeled second question (an additional $31–52 million in different scenarios) would be contingent on passage of the first. ‘‘That is correct. It’s contingent on the passing of the first question,’’ the superintendent said. In modeling staff provided, the second question’s additional tax impact was reported at roughly $8 per month.

Board concerns and trade‑offs

Directors raised repeated concerns about the proposed use of Fair Crystal and the impacts on middle‑school capacity at Plymouth and Sandberg if the district repurposes or closes particular sites. Director Hillbrand asked whether the draft options would leave Robbinsdale without a neighborhood school; staff said site additions and reconfigurations were the mechanism for maintaining capacity under constrained budgets.

Several directors insisted on stronger phasing and boundary clarity: ‘‘What parents know to be true at this point is what will be true for next school year,’’ said Director Basson, who asked for clearer timelines to avoid repeated moves for students. Directors also pushed staff to itemize which remodeling components could be moved into LTFM spending to lower the voter‑approved ask.

Where things stand

After extensive discussion the board signaled a preference range around the $343M–$360M options as a starting point for a formal review‑and‑comment packet to send to the state. Staff said they will return next Monday with a more fleshed‑out packet showing the proposed dollar amount, site configuration, and the language that would appear to voters. The board will be asked to approve that submission and consider a resolution to adopt the 10‑year LTFM plan and related debt authorization work.

Taken together, staff said these lower‑cost options reflect the results of the Morris Leatherman polling the district commissioned: the community’s stated tolerance clustered near $15 per month for a voter‑approved bond. The final amounts shown to voters will include both voter‑approved debt and non‑voter levy components (LTFM), and staff emphasized that the exact construction and phasing decisions will follow after the board sets a referendum target.

What’s next

Staff will return with a refined review‑and‑comment packet for board action next Monday and a draft resolution to adopt the LTFM plan; if the board approves the voter‑approved package for submission, staff will then finalize language and timelines for voter materials and the district’s review and comment to the Department of Education.