Robbinsdale board approves closures for middle school, two elementary schools and district office after hours of public testimony

The Robbinsdale Area Schools board voted on Dec. 15 to close Robbinsdale Middle School, Noble Elementary and Sonocent Elementary and to relocate the Education Services Center, following an administrative presentation on capacity and a lengthy public hearing in which parents, staff, students and local officials urged the board to pause and seek more information.

The board’s votes came after an administrative report that described the district as facing statutory operating debt and operating more buildings than needed. Dr. McDowell presented enrollment and capacity figures for each site and cited projected efficiencies from consolidations; the report listed Robbinsdale Middle School at 571 students on Oct. 1, 2025 (roughly 35.6% utilization) and estimated Education Services Center facility needs at about $11 million–$13 million.

Why it matters: The votes will change where about 1,700 students attend school next year, according to presenters and community speakers, and will reshape neighborhood programs and special‑education placements in parts of the district. Parents and staff repeatedly warned that closures would disrupt specialized programs—particularly Sonocent’s STARS program for students with emotional and behavioral needs—and that the timeline felt rushed.

Community testimony and concerns

More than 60…