Robbinsdale School District (ISD #281) Question 1 — APPROVAL OF SCHOOL BUILDING BONDS (Hennepin County)

What it does

Shall the school board of Independent School District No. 281 (Robbinsdale Area Schools) be authorized to issue general obligation school building bonds in an amount not to exceed $343,000,000 to provide funds for the acquisition and betterment of school sites and facilities including, but not limited to: construction, renovation and expansion of Cooper High School; renovation of Plymouth Middle School including pool improvement; renovation of Sandburg Middle School including the decommission and repurposing of the pool; construction, renovation, and repurposing of Armstrong High School; expansion, renovation, and/or repurposing of elementary schools; construction of a storage garage for school district vehicles and equipment; and renovation and repurposing of other district sites and facilities to align facility use with enrollment and program needs, including early childhood? BY VOTING "YES" ON THIS BALLOT QUESTION, YOU ARE VOTING FOR A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.

A YES vote means

Robbinsdale Area Schools (ISD #281) could issue up to $343,000,000 in bonds for work at Cooper and Armstrong High Schools, Plymouth and Sandburg Middle Schools, elementary schools, a vehicle storage garage, and other sites including early childhood.

A NO vote means

Robbinsdale Area Schools would not issue these $343,000,000 in bonds.

Needed to pass

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Left–right lean

Unclear: our AI read of the official summary isn't confident enough (we require 70%) to place this on the left–right spectrum, so we don't. Read the summary and decide for yourself.

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

Background

According to Robbinsdale Area Schools, its Board of Education approved three bond questions for the November 3, 2026 ballot as part of 'Reimagine Rdale: Vision 2030,' a plan to reduce the district's building footprint; the district says most of its buildings are about 60 years old, enrollment has declined for more than a decade, and it has made about $26 million in budget cuts over three years, including building consolidations.

Under Question 1, the district says it would combine its two high schools into one campus of about 3,000 students at the Cooper High School and New Hope Learning Center sites, repurpose the Armstrong High School site for Spanish immersion, alternative learning, adult and community education and district departments, renovate Plymouth and Sandburg middle schools, expand four elementary schools, and sell surplus property.

Questions 2 and 3 on the same ballot would add a middle-school reconfiguration and performing arts space, and a new elementary school at the former Robbinsdale Middle School site; each depends on approval of the earlier question(s).

Put on the ballot by Robbinsdale Area Schools (ISD 281) Board of Education, July 2026 (vote not stated in the district announcement).

From official source.

Next elections here

• 2028 presidential election · Who has filed so far, from FEC filings

Also on Hennepin County ballots

• Robbinsdale School District (ISD #281) Question 2 — APPROVAL OF SCHOOL BUILDING BONDS
• Robbinsdale School District (ISD #281) Question 3 — APPROVAL OF SCHOOL BUILDING BONDS

All Hennepin County races and measures →

Quick answers

What does a YES vote on Robbinsdale School District (ISD #281) Question 1 mean?

Robbinsdale Area Schools (ISD #281) could issue up to $343,000,000 in bonds for work at Cooper and Armstrong High Schools, Plymouth and Sandburg Middle Schools, elementary schools, a vehicle storage garage, and other sites including early childhood.

What does a NO vote on Robbinsdale School District (ISD #281) Question 1 mean?

Robbinsdale Area Schools would not issue these $343,000,000 in bonds.

How many votes does Robbinsdale School District (ISD #281) Question 1 need to pass?

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Should I vote yes or no on Robbinsdale School District (ISD #281) Question 1?

SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.

When is the vote?

The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.