What to Know About the Jan. 5 School Board Business Meeting
What to Know About the Jan. 5 School Board Business Meeting
The Robbinsdale Area Schools (Rdale) School Board will hold its regular Business Meeting on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, at the Education Service Center (ESC). To support clear communication to the community, the district is sharing the following details to help families, staff, and community members plan their participation.
Meeting Location and Timing
All Business Meetings, Study Sessions and Listening Times are held in the School Board chambers at the Education Service Center (ESC), located at 4148 Winnetka Ave. N., New Hope.
At the first Business Meeting of most months, the Board conducts a Listening Time. Listening Time begins at 6 p.m., followed by the Business Meeting at 7 p.m. Meanwhile, Study Sessions typically begin at 6 p.m.
Doors to the School Board chambers typically open 30 minutes prior to the start of the Business Meeting, Study Session or Listening Time, so for the Jan. 5 meeting, doors will open at 5:30 p.m.
What is Listening Time?
Listening Time provides an opportunity for members of the school district community to share comments, concerns, questions, and ideas regarding most any topic directly with the School Board. Listening Time begins at 6 p.m. and concludes on or before 6:50 p.m., depending on the number of speakers. If there are more speaking requests than time permits, some speakers may not be heard. Only in specially announced circumstances will Listening Time last longer than 50 minutes.
Community members who wish to speak are asked to complete the Listening Time Form, which can be submitted in advance by emailing Molly Olson, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent and School Board, at Molly_Olson@Rdale.org, or filled out in person upon arrival. Speakers are heard in the order forms are received and are allotted up to three minutes. Learn more about Listening Time on our website.
Listening Time is not live-streamed or recorded. This long-standing practice in Rdale allows individuals to share sensitive or personal information in a respectful setting.
Business Meeting and Study Session Live-Stream
Business Meetings and Study Sessions are live-streamed and recorded, as will be the case Jan. 5. The live-stream is available on the district website and YouTube channel, and in overflow rooms when attendance exceeds available seating in the Board chambers
Please note that the live-stream operates with an approximate 30-second delay.
Understanding Public Hearings
Public Hearings are a special portion of a Business Meeting and are not part of every Board agenda. They are held when required by state law or Board action.
For the Monday, Jan. 5 meeting, a Public Hearing is scheduled only for testimony related to the proposed closure of FAIR Pilgrim Lane. Speakers must sign up in advance (with a deadline of 6:30 p.m., Monday, Jan. 5, 2026), and during the Public Hearing, are allotted up to three minutes and must follow established audience protocols and speaking parameters. Learn more about the Jan. 5 Public Hearing on our website.
The start time of Public Hearings are subject to the Board meeting agenda, and aren’t scheduled for a specific time within the meeting. On Jan. 5, the Public Hearing is preceded by a number of organizational agenda items, which are required for the first Board meeting, as well as other Board business agenda topics. The Public Hearing will be the last agenda item of the Business Meeting, and the starting time will depend on the length of the rest of the meeting.
Seating, Overflow, and Safety
The School Board chambers have limited seating. While the room has a posted capacity of 226 for standing-room situations, that configuration is not appropriate for public meetings. Seating is limited to approximately 80 chairs for Listening Time and Public Hearings.
This ensures safe entry, exit, and emergency access. Overflow rooms are available when attendance exceeds capacity. Because Listening Time is not live-streamed, overflow rooms do not receive a feed until the Business Meeting or study session begins.
Accessibility and Language Services
Spanish and Somali interpreter services have been provided at past meetings and are available upon request. Community members needing language interpretation or other accessibility accommodations are encouraged to contact Language Services at 763-504-8082 in advance of the meeting.
Quick Links
- Listening Time information
- Jan. 5 Public Hearing sign-up form and information
- Jan. 5 Public Hearing speaking parameters
The district appreciates the community’s engagement and encourages attendees to review these details in advance to help ensure meetings remain respectful, accessible, and productive for all.