Robbinsdale school board votes to close 3 schools amid budget shortfall

Robbinsdale Area Schools will close three schools and its district headquarters building at the end of this school year to address a significant budget shortfall. 

The Robbinsdale school board voted on Monday night to close Noble and Sonnesyn elementary schools and Robbinsdale Middle School, and the building housing district offices.

The vote followed a tense meeting packed with parents and community members. During a public comment period, many pushed back against the closures, but school board members said they’re necessary to save money. The schools set to close are below capacity and could combine with other schools to save staff and building costs, according to a presentation from assistant superintendent Robert McDowell at the meeting. 

Jordi Hansen, the parent of a first grader at Sonnesyn, said her student has excelled there, and urged the district not to close it.

“As parents and taxpayers, we did not create this financial crisis, so why are our families, our children and our dedicated staff being forced to pay the price?” Hansen said. “This entire process feels rushed.”

The decision comes about a year after the district announced it made a mistake in its budgeting process, which led to a $20 million shortfall. The district had already seen tight finances and declining student enrollment.

At that point, district officials said they would consider a range of cost-saving options, including school closures, staff cuts and a potential future funding referendum. 

The board also considered closures of Lakeview Elementary and Neill Elementary, but voted against those on Monday night.

In a statement, the district said administrators and staff will start planning for the three school closures and student transitions, including adjusting school boundaries and rearranging staffing.

The district expects to end the year with a $16 million deficit. It’s required to submit a debt reduction plan to the state by the end of January.

The board will meet again in early January to consider more cuts, including a possible closure of a fine arts magnet middle school program.