Superintendent: Honoring 16,000+ voices as we plan for today and tomorrow

I am inspired by the more than 16,000 students, staff, families, and community members who have shared their voices during the Reimagine Rdale: Vision 2030 process. Your ideas, your concerns, and your hopes are helping shape a stronger, more responsive Robbinsdale Area Schools (Rdale)—both now and for the future.

This is a time of transition. Our community is engaged in two important, and sometimes overlapping, conversations: how we close our current budget gap, and how we plan for the future of our school district.

Short-term: last spring, the School Board approved a reduction plan to address a projected budget shortfall. However, because of implementation decisions, those $17.4 million reductions were largely not made—leading to a deeper financial challenge this year. This was not an error in the creation or adoption of the budget budget, but an error in the execution of the budget. As a result, we were able to keep more staff in schools longer, which had real benefits for students this school year. But the reality is clear: those previously approved reductions must now be made—along with additional adjustments.

We understand the impact of these decisions. We know that reducing staff is painful. We’ve heard concerns about why this is happening now, what our priorities are, and whether we're focused too much on the future and not enough on the present.

Here’s what I want you to know: we are absolutely focused on the needs of our students today. And we are planning for the future—because that’s what responsible leadership requires. In every aspect of life, we must meet today’s demands while keeping an eye on what’s coming next.

From the very first State of the Budget town hall last November, we have been clear that we need to study, listen, and work together to reimagine what’s possible for our students. That includes evaluating our facilities, understanding our enrollment trends, and creating a roadmap that ensures financial sustainability and academic excellence. We know we are currently operating too many buildings for the number of students we serve. These are tough conversations, and we need our community with us as we work through the challenges and co-create our future together.

We’ve heard concerns about whether we have a plan. The answer is yes. In the short term, we’re honoring the decisions the Board laid out last spring when it approved $17.4 million in reductions, and through Reimagine Rdale: Vision 2030, we are looking long-term for next year and beyond—guided by what we’re learning from our students, staff, and families.

And while budget concerns are front and center right now, I want you to know much of what we’re hearing from students, staff, and families goes beyond finances. They are asking for stronger relationships, more support, and more consistency. They’re asking us to show up for them, now.

That’s why we’re investing deeply in student belonging, safe and welcoming schools, and strong connections between staff, students, and families. These are the things we must hang on to—no matter what. Relationships are at the heart of what makes this district special.

At the end of each Reimagine Rdale community engagement meeting, we asked participants to share one word that describes how they’re feeling as they leave. During our virtual session in March, the chat was filled with words like: hopeful, optimistic, enthusiastic, energized, included, appreciative. These words fuel me. They remind me of what’s possible when we lead with transparency, partnership, and purpose.

Our vision is bold—but it’s grounded in the realities of today. We are taking action, guided by the voices of more than 16,000 people who care deeply about the future of our schools. This is hard work, but it’s the right work—and we’re doing it together.

Because at the heart of this effort is one shared goal: to build the kind of school district our students want, need, and deserve. A district where every child feels seen, supported, and inspired to thrive—not just someday, but right now. One that inspires and educates all learners to discover their unique potential and empowers them to positively contribute to their community.