Robbinsdale staff outline multi‑year safety upgrades; district cites supply and scheduling risks

Robbinsdale Area Schools safety and security staff on June 16 described a multi‑year program to audit and upgrade physical security and emergency preparedness systems in all district buildings and said work would continue through the summer and into the fall.

Presenters — including the district security and technology directors and risk management staff — told the school board the projects cover surveillance cameras, encrypted card access, visitor access systems, public‑address systems, lockdown buttons, key control, shelter and egress maps, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for use and staff training. The work affects 21 district buildings and is financed in part by the new capital projects levy and health‑and‑safety funds.

"We're pushing to get as much done over the summer as we can," said Bo Paulo, identified in the presentation as the director of security. Presenters said the team is auditing existing equipment, conducting camera walkthroughs, identifying repairs and replacements, and standardizing how systems are used so that staff at different schools see consistent interfaces and procedures.

Officials described plans to move to encrypted access cards that cannot be duplicated, to redesign staff badges with larger photos and to standardize access permission levels. They said the district will standardize PA systems so every site can make an all‑call inside and outside, support inside‑only or outside‑only announcements, and use a standard desk phone or a handheld microphone for activation. Lockdown buttons will be audited and standardized for location and function, and custodial staff were asked to verify that emergency shelter and egress maps and standard emergency action guides are posted in rooms as part of summer cleaning checklists.

The presentation flagged implementation risks. Staff warned of labor shortages, market cost pressure from tariffs, and an unexpected supplier issue: a supplier for the card‑access project was reported to be temporarily shutting down for about five weeks and not taking supply orders, which could delay deliveries. Board members and staff said these and other risks mean some work will likely extend into the fall.

Board members asked whether some security details should be discussed in closed session because they are proprietary or because the board has to approve certain procurements. District staff said some operational SOPs and site‑specific security details would not be publicly shared and that procurement and schedule decisions will be reported back to the board; staff also said they would work with the board if any item required a closed meeting for security reasons.

District presenters asked for board support to proceed; the board did not take a vote on an overall contract package during the public meeting, but approved capital funding measures and related levy and budget actions later in the agenda that will pay for many of the projects.

The district's presentation included project lists, sample staff badges, the risk‑management model, expected SOPs and timeline milestones; staff said they will continue audits, verify system changes, conduct staff training on SOPs and return to the board with procurement and schedule updates.