Message from Dr. Staloch: update on Statutory Operating Debt Plan process and timeline

Dear Robbinsdale Area Schools (Rdale) families and staff,

As we head into fall break, I want to share my sincere gratitude to all of you for engaging in our collective focus of serving and partnering with our students. Thank you staff, students, families and leaders for your role in starting the year in a positive way. Over the past six weeks, I have been in our schools, our classrooms, our gyms, and our community, and I continue to be inspired by the brilliance of our students, the engagement of our families and the dedication of our staff. While we have areas in which we are working to improve, I am proud of the way we are being responsive to student needs. I appreciate you, and I know that the heavy lifting we have in front of us will require us to continue moving forward together as we focus on what is best for students. 

I want to provide a reminder of the work we are engaged in, specifically regarding the creation of a Statutory Operating Debt Plan, as we work on both short-term and long-term goals. You can find up-to-date information on this work on our website at rdale.org/discover/reimagine-rdale-vision-2030. Currently, we are focused on decisions needed for the next school year. 

For the 2026-27 school year, we are focused on site consolidation because we operate more buildings than we need. We also must submit our Statutory Operating Debt Plan by January 30, 2026. As we move through this process, we are working to ensure our decisions balance efficiency, effectiveness, and equity, as well as ensuring that what we do is desirable, feasible, and sustainable.

Many considerations must be taken into account as we engage in site consolidation, including a plethora of data that was reviewed with School Board members at the Oct.13 Special Study Session. This data included enrollment, demographics, facilities conditions, facilities capacities, operational costs, and open enrollment.

At the upcoming Oct. 20 Board study session, we will continue the conversations with the Board to include requested additional information and preliminary consolidation options. I want you to know that, in order to be most transparent with the community, School Board members will receive the preliminary options at the same time they are available to the public at the meeting. As a reminder, no decisions for site consolidation have been made at this time. To stay the most up-to-date on this process and timeline, I encourage you to watch or attend School Board meetings in the coming months. 

Again, thank you for all you do and for your partnership. I hope you enjoy a slower pace over the extended weekend.

Be well,

Teri

Dr. Teri Staloch
Superintendent
Robbinsdale Area Schools