Robbinsdale schools board approves superintendent goals despite measurement concerns
The Robbinsdale Area Schools board voted 4-1-1 on Tuesday to approve Superintendent Stalo's revised goals for the 2026-2027 school year, though board members remained divided over whether the objectives include enough specific, measurable targets for evaluation.
The superintendent presented revised goals informed by previous board feedback and guidance from the Minnesota School Boards Association, aiming for what he called a "laser-like focus" with measurable elements. However, the discussion revealed lingering disagreement about whether the revisions went far enough. Some board members, including Chair Evans Becker, found the goals "robust and measurable," while Director Long still perceived "ambiguousness" in the framework. The board voted to close discussion and move to a vote, with Director Long voting no and Director Basset abstaining.
In other business, the board unanimously approved a five-year renewal of the Brooklyn Bridge Alliance for Youth Joint Powers Agreement, a collaborative initiative involving multiple cities, school districts, and colleges aimed at increasing high school graduation rates and creating pathways to college and career. The board also unanimously accepted donations totaling over $3,000.
Earlier in the meeting, Maria Roberts, the district's Director of Teaching and Learning, presented on summer curriculum work focused on ensuring consistent, high-quality instruction across all buildings. The initiative developed common pacing guides, learning targets, and assessments, with particular attention to supporting English language learners. However, board members pressed for concrete evidence of student impact. Director Basset asked pointedly: "What are the indicators for that? That's what I'm interested in knowing."
The board also approved a routine consent agenda 4-1-1, with Director Long voting no and Director Basset abstaining. Director Long cited receiving budget documents late as the reason for his abstention on that specific item. The board then moved into closed session to discuss labor negotiations.
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Votes (6)
Curriculum Development and Teacher Empowerment Report
Maria Roberts and her team from Teaching and Learning presented on summer curriculum work. The initiative focused on aligning Tier 1 content, developing guaranteed viable curriculum for all students with differentiation, and empowering teachers. Specific examples included 12th-grade government standards, learning targets, sample assessments, and pacing guides, as well as scaffolds for multilingual learners using the Witten Wisdom resource. The presentation highlighted cross-building collaboration and teacher ownership. Board members raised concerns about the lack of a dedicated Q&A time for board members during presentations, and the need for more concrete measures of student impact and differentiation, especially for special education and English language learners.
Approval of Consent Agenda
Dissent: Director Long voted 'no'; Director Basset abstained.
Moved by Director Bowman [0:25:34] · Seconded by Director Brennesen [0:25:39]
The consent agenda, which included routine items such as meal price updates, professional development reports, dispersements, and personnel reports, was presented for approval. Director Long expressed an intention to abstain from the vote on the monthly budget to actual report due to receiving documents late. Director Basset also abstained from the overall consent agenda.
Approval of Superintendent's Goals for 2026-2027
Dissent: Director Long voted 'no'; Director Basset abstained.
Moved by Chair Evans Becker [0:29:40] · Seconded by Director Hillbrand [0:29:43]
Superintendent Stalo presented revised goals, informed by previous board input and advice from MSBA, aiming for a more focused and measurable evaluation framework. The discussion centered on whether the revisions provided sufficient quantitative and qualitative metrics for evaluation. While some board members found the goals now 'robust and measurable,' others, like Director Long, still perceived 'ambiguousness.' A motion to close discussion was made and passed, leading immediately to a vote on approving the goals.
Resolution Accepting Donations
Moved by Director Basset [0:37:05] · Seconded by Director Hillbrand [0:37:12]
A resolution was presented to accept various donations totaling over $3,000. There was no specific discussion regarding the nature or source of these donations.
Brooklyn Bridge Alliance for Youth Joint Powers Agreement Renewal
Moved by Director Bowman [0:39:50] · Seconded by Director Basset [0:40:02]
Anthony Williams, Executive Director of Community Education, Athletics, and Activities, presented a request to renew the Brooklyn Bridge Alliance for Youth Joint Powers Agreement for an additional five years (January 1, 2027, through December 31, 2031). He outlined the collaborative nature of the alliance, involving several cities, school districts, and higher education institutions, with the primary goal of increasing high school graduation rates and pathways to college and career for students.
Move to Closed Session for Labor Negotiations
Moved by Director Bowman [0:42:04] · Seconded by Director Brennesen [0:42:07]
The board moved to a closed session to discuss labor negotiations, citing Minnesota Statute 13D.03.
Notable Quotes (10)
the goal of this summer work was to provide tier one content and pedagogical alignment across the buildings and to develop and implement guaranteed viable curriculum for all students with tier one differentiation.
what we're working towards is having every teacher who teaches this class to teach it in the same unit in roughly the same time period with the same pace. So that way the collaboration can exist with the teachers
if we're going to continue to invest energy and time and resources and training around it. I think it's great if we're going to try to align it, but I I there's some things that we know... What are the indicators for that? That's what I'm interested in knowing.
pulling back to focus on strong core instruction has been identified as a need and a gap area. So this is truly a celebration of continuing to deepen the work around tier one and that definitely means we still need differentiation.
The documents that we just got, I just actually got them today. Item 6B4 monthly budget to actual report actual. And so gotten that before and had an appointment. Just going to abstain.
Barb Dorne advised... that there should be two or three goals... she also advised that... usually there's only two elements of the standards... for each of the goals... I removed a couple of those in order... to be able to... have that laser-like focus.
If you read the evidence of performance... there is definitely... more robust... and measurable evidence stated in here. And I think as far as I'm concerned, this this when if I'm looking at this at the end of the year, I'm going to be able to say yes or no and where it fits inside the the um rubric.
I don't see very much change from the ambiguousness.
I would say not everything is quantitative in here. Um I don't think it could be I like there's always going to be some qualitative pieces to it.
The Brooklyn Bridge Alliance for Youth is a collaborative initiative between the cities of Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park as well as the four school districts of Anoka, AIO, Brooklyn Center and Robbinsdale... Our goal has been to increase high school graduation rates... and path to college and career.
Ordinances & Resolutions (14)
A statement read at the beginning of the meeting recognizing indigenous homelands.
A new curricular resource for elementary English Language Arts.
The district's statutory operating debt plan, referenced for financial recovery.
A document guiding the process for superintendent performance review.
The formal agreement outlining the Superintendent's employment terms, including renewal processes and deadlines.
Guidelines from the Minnesota School Boards Association used for superintendent goal setting and evaluation.
Updated superintendent goals submitted to the board packet for action.
An official resolution to accept received donations (approximately $3,000+).
An inter-agency agreement for a collaborative initiative focused on student success.
Statute cited for moving into closed session for labor negotiations.
The district's long-term vision and priorities, often referenced in relation to board and superintendent goals.
Website for key back-to-school information for families.
A back-to-school mailer containing important district information.
A proposed bond measure for district facilities, subject to community vote.
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Other Topics from This Document
Superintendent's Goals Approval
Superintendent Contract Renewal
Brooklyn Bridge Alliance for Youth Joint Powers Agreement
District Operations and Upcoming School Year
School Board Goals
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