What does a YES vote on Robbinsdale School District (ISD #281) Question 2 mean?

If Question 1 passes, Robbinsdale Area Schools could issue up to $17,000,000 more in bonds for a performing arts space at Sandburg, repurposing Plymouth Middle School for Spanish Immersion and other programs, and turning Armstrong High School into a middle school for 1,100 students.

What does a NO vote on Robbinsdale School District (ISD #281) Question 2 mean?

The district would not issue these additional $17,000,000 in bonds.

How many votes does Robbinsdale School District (ISD #281) Question 2 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 2?

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.

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.

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

Last updated Sat, Nov 7, 4:33 PM ET

Ballot measure · November 3, 2026 · Robbinsdale school district voters

What it does: If School District Question 1 is approved, 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 $17,000,000 to provide funds for the acquisition and betterment of school sites and facilities including, but not limited to: renovation and repurposing the pool area of Sandburg Middle School and construction thereon of a performing arts space; renovation and repurposing of Plymouth Middle School to house the Spanish Immersion and other district programs, and the construction of playgrounds at such site; and renovation and repurposing of Armstrong High School to house a middle school with capacity for 1,100 students, and other district-wide programs? BY VOTING "YES" ON THIS BALLOT QUESTION, YOU ARE VOTING FOR A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.
A YES vote means: If Question 1 passes, Robbinsdale Area Schools could issue up to $17,000,000 more in bonds for a performing arts space at Sandburg, repurposing Plymouth Middle School for Spanish Immersion and other programs, and turning Armstrong High School into a middle school for 1,100 students.
A NO vote means: The district would not issue these additional $17,000,000 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

The Robbinsdale Area Schools board approved a resolution calling a special election on general obligation school building bonds on July 20, 2026, by a 5–1 roll call vote (Directors Bowman, Brynteson, Evans-Becker, Hillenbrand and Wutoh in favor, Director Long opposed, Director Bassett absent), choosing an alternate version in which Question 3 depends on Questions 1 and 2 both passing.

Question 2 can take effect only if Question 1 also passes; according to the district, it would remodel the current Armstrong High School site as an 1,100-student middle school and convert the filled-in pool space at Sandburg Middle School into a 400-seat theater.

The district says the package responds to more than a decade of enrollment decline and buildings that are mostly about 60 years old, and that about $26 million in budget cuts over three years already included building consolidations.

Put on the ballot by Robbinsdale Area Schools School Board, 5–1 (Long opposed; Bassett absent), July 20, 2026 (Resolution Relating to the Issuance of General Obligation School Building Bonds and Calling a Special Election Thereon).

From official source 1, official source 2.

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Quick answers

What does a YES vote on Robbinsdale School District (ISD #281) Question 2 mean?: If Question 1 passes, Robbinsdale Area Schools could issue up to $17,000,000 more in bonds for a performing arts space at Sandburg, repurposing Plymouth Middle School for Spanish Immersion and other programs, and turning Armstrong High School into a middle school for 1,100 students.
What does a NO vote on Robbinsdale School District (ISD #281) Question 2 mean?: The district would not issue these additional $17,000,000 in bonds.
How many votes does Robbinsdale School District (ISD #281) Question 2 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 2?: 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.

Not sure how to decide? Read our nonpartisan guide to the Hennepin County ballot.

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