Robbinsdale Weighs Big Shake-Up: Reimagine Rdale 2030 Would Merge Cooper & Armstrong
Facing a $21M shortfall, Robbinsdale Area Schools’ Reimagine Rdale 2030 proposes merging Cooper and Armstrong into one new high school by 2030, trimming middle schools to 2–3 and elementary schools to 6–9. Supporters cite efficiency; students, staff, and some board members warn about safety, equity, and lost opportunities.
District response includes multiple school closings
The Robbinsdale Area School District is grappling with a $21 million budget shortfall, a challenge exacerbated by declining enrollment, rising operational costs, and a history of executive turnover. In response, the district has introduced the Reimagine Rdale 2030 plan, a comprehensive proposal aimed at restructuring the district to address these financial pressures.
Among its most significant elements is the plan to merge Cooper and Armstrong High Schools, replacing them with a single, newly constructed high school by 2030.
The proposal doesn’t stop there; it also recommends reducing the district’s middle schools from four to as few as two or three, and cutting down the number of elementary schools from 11 to between six and nine. This could potentially result in the closure of up to two middle schools and five elementary schools.
Despite being part of the task force behind Reimagine Rdale, some of its own members have voiced strong opposition to the high school merger, citing concerns about the impact on school culture, student experience, and safety. BrAnn Foss, a member of Vision 20230, expressed her fears about a single high school environment, particularly around safety, student well-being, and the potential dilution of extracurricular opportunities.
“I was completely against one high school,” she said. “I had a lot of concerns about safety, how my child would flourish in such a large school, and what sports and extracurricular activities might look like.”
Kyllander Nelson Chuprudia, a senior at Cooper High School, also opposed the merger, sharing his experience in the district. “Touching on the larger high school, I was also very against it, just coming from my experience between Cooper and Armstrong.
Even though the schools have similarities, students connect better in smaller environments,” he explained. “In my AP U.S. History class last year, there were only 15 students. This year, there are 21. That kind of close-knit learning environment would be lost.” Chuprudia expressed concern that the consolidation would make it harder for students and teachers to form meaningful relationships, and that it could undermine the sense of belonging that students currently feel.
“We talk about smaller academies inside the big school, but it’s not the same,” he added. “I worry that merging everything would make it harder for students and teachers to build relationships, and it might not feel like home for everyone.”
Board Member Aviva Hillenbrand echoed similar concerns, emphasizing the limitations that a larger high school might impose on arts and extracurricular opportunities. “There’s only so many parts in a play. There’s only so many spots in the jazz band, right? There’s only so many spots in the choir, right? How do we make sure kids get those opportunities?” she asked.
The exact number of school closures will be determined through collaboration with district staff and enrollment projections. For specialized programs like Spanish Immersion, opinions within the task force are divided. Some advocate for extending the program through eighth grade, while others suggest limiting it to fifth grade.
Supporters of the Reimagine Rdale plan argue that the consolidation will improve academic outcomes and enhance operational efficiency. Willie Howard, a task force member, pointed out that consolidating schools could lead to stronger collaboration among teachers, reduce staff burnout, and minimize the need for teachers to travel between multiple school sites.
The plan also envisions transforming the district into a “magnet district,” ensuring that high-quality programs such as arts, engineering and innovation are available to all students, no matter their neighborhood.
“Why should only certain schools get access to specialized programs?” Chuprudia asked. “Let’s make sure all kids in the district benefit, not just the ones lucky enough to win a spot.”
Despite general support for the long-term vision, several school board members have expressed concerns about the fast-moving timeline. The board is expected to finalize the plan by January 31, but some worry that the tight schedule might force hasty decisions.
“While we don’t want to drag our feet, rushed decisions are often not the best decisions,” Board Member Helen Basset cautioned. “We must be mindful of the time frame we have left.”
Hillenbrand added her concerns about equity, noting that a larger district could make it harder for all students to access advanced classes or extracurriculars. “The reality is that there are limited spots in things like theater, jazz band, and advanced classes,” she said. “We have to make sure every student feels seen and has access to opportunities, whether or not they’re in a specialized program.”
The plan is structured as a phased approach that spans from now until 2030, with the first phase focused on developing a statutory operating debt (SOD) plan by January 20, 2026. This includes making decisions about school closures, consolidations, staffing changes, and boundary adjustments to reduce costs and balance the budget.
“By January 31, 2026, we have to have a statutory operating debt plan,” said Bob McDowell. “The minute that decision is made, the rest of things start falling into place really quickly, and it impacts a lot of people.”
Peter Eckhoff, president of the Robbinsdale Federation of Teachers, applied for a spot on the Reimagine Rdale 2030 task force but was not selected. His union is waiting for more specific details before taking a stance on the proposed cuts. “Ultimately, I think the important thing from our lens is that we will do anything to support teachers in their transition for the district plan for consolidation,” Eckhoff said.
The timeline for the Reimagine Rdale 2030 plan is broken into five overlapping phases. The first phase focuses on near-term facility and program changes, while subsequent phases will address bond planning, program design, and the construction or upgrade of facilities.
Each phase builds upon the previous one, with the goal of achieving financial stability and fully implementing the Reimagine Rdale vision by fall 2030.
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