Robbinsdale board details closure‑driven plan to eliminate statutory operating debt, seeks final votes next week
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Summary
District leaders presented a statutory operating debt plan that relies on recent school closures and program realignments to approach a near‑$8 million reduction target; administrators outlined boundary changes, conservative savings assumptions and transition costs and pledged more data before the Jan. 20 votes.
Kristen Hoheisel, the district’s chief financial officer, told the school board on Jan. 12 that the district’s draft statutory operating debt (SOD) plan ties a set of facility closures and program changes to projected operating reductions. “The proposal that is before you is action by the school board with closure of district facilities and realignment of district facilities and instructional programming adjustments,” Hoheisel said.
The plan aggregates three streams of savings: facility and program changes (closures of Noble, Sonocent and Robbinsdale Middle School, and repurposing or consolidation of several programs), operational efficiencies (transportation, scheduling and staffing changes) and administrative realignments. Dr. McDowell, who presented the closure‑savings math, said the administration estimates $3,816,876 in recurring annual savings from facility and program consolidation and roughly $7,714,876 when combined with the other measures presented to the board.
Board members pressed staff for more precise counts and maps before taking final action. Administration described the analytic method used to arrive at savings — average operational cost estimates applied with conservative capture rates (commonly 60–70 percent while transitions occur) — and a separate line‑item for high‑end transition expenses, including a facilities partner estimate of roughly $371,500 for moves and special‑education relocations.
Administrators also walked the board through proposed boundary realignments produced to match the closures. For example, the Sonocent attendance area would be split along Highway 169, with west‑of‑169 residents proposed to move to Zachary Lane Elementary and east‑of‑169 residents proposed to move to Neil Elementary. Noble’s reassignment uses a north–south rail line and Golden Valley Road as demarcations to shift pockets of students to Lakeview or Neil.
Superintendent Terry Salas and staff told the board they will return with clearer utilization tables, enrollment‑impact counts and maps ahead of the board’s scheduled votes next week so families can be notified and scheduling can move forward. Hoheisel cautioned that some cited savings are conservative estimates until the district realizes full closures or disposes of property and that out‑year assumptions will be updated annually.
What’s next: Administration will supply the requested utilization and FTE breakdowns and maps in time for the Jan. 20 review and votes on the boundary changes and the SOD submission.