Get Involved

Parents/guardians of American Indian students are invited to join the Robbinsdale Area Schools American Indian Parent Advisory Committee (AIPAC).

The AIPAC works to ensure American Indian students are receiving culturally relevant and equitable opportunities when it comes to their education and success within Robbinsdale Area Schools.
 

2022-23 Meeting Dates

Meeting dates are currently being determined for the 2022-23 school year. More information will be coming soon. Meeting links will be posted on the District website: rdale.org/calendar

Community Connect is a standing committee of the Robbinsdale Area School District and School Board. The committee usually meets about six times per school year. Regular meeting time is 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

The charge of the Community Connect Committee is to recommend to the School Board and district administration involvement in interactions and events that support the Unified District Vision (UDV).

Community Connect researches and initiates community conversations that build relationships with targeted audiences to:

• Assure student success
• Connect with families, parents, and guardians of our students
• Foster awareness of the benefits of Pre-12 education
• Engage community members such as district residents and businesses
• Promote ongoing positive community connections
• Foster mutual support between the district and the community it serves
• Share key messages of the district

Membership is comprised of school board members, the Marketing & Communications Director, Achievement & Integration Program Director, Community Education Director and up to five community members.

A school board member will be designated as chair, who will prepare an agenda for each meeting based on input from committee members. The chair will be responsible for distributing the agenda and meeting summaries including action items. Meeting materials will be maintained by the School Board Administrative Assistant.

Unified District Vision goals to which the charge of the Community Connect Committee is aligned:

• Goal 1: Implement Policies and Practices that Open Pathways to Academic Excellence for All Students
• Goal 3: Engage Family and Community Members as Partners

The Robbinsdale Area Schools Financial Advisory Council (FAC) provides financial advice and support to the School Board and district administration, including evaluation of the district's economic conditions, development of future budget assumptions and review of the overall fiscal condition of the district. 

Membership

Current School Board appointed FAC community members serving three year terms include:

Walter Gray, Lennie Kaufman, Greg Kugler, O. Barry Rogers, April Gulley, Katherine Lankford, and Nicole Sandback. 

Superintendent David Engstrom, School Board Treasurer John Vento, and Executive Director of Finance Ukee Dozier also attend.

Meetings

Meetings are typically held at the Education Service Center (ESC), located at 4148 Winnetka Ave. N., in New Hope, in the School Board chambers. All FAC meetings are open to the public. 

APPLICATION BEING ACCEPTED FOR FINANCIAL ADVISORY COUNCIL

The School Board of Robbinsdale Area Schools seeks applicants for the Financial Advisory Council (FAC). One seat for a three-year term is open to community members. 

The purpose of the FAC is to provide financial advice and support to the school board and administration. FAC members evaluate the district's economic condition and help develop future budgets. The FAC generally meets on a quarterly basis. More information can be found on the district website at: rdale.org/community/committees-volunteer-opportunities. 

Preferred qualifications for applicants include a strong background in finance, pensions, bonds, audits, financial forecasting, market analysis, or commercial real estate. Applicants must also declare no conflicts of interest. 

Click here to complete the online FAC application. Questions can be sent to Helen Bassett, Board Chair, at helen_bassett@rdale.org, or John Vento, Board Treasurer, at john_vento@rdale.org. 

Applications will be accepted through Friday, Oct. 28, 2022. The Board will appoint the selected candidate at the Board meeting on Monday, Nov. 7, 2022. 

2022-23 Meeting Dates

• Nov. 15, 2022
• Jan. 17, 2023
• March 28, 2023
• May 16, 2023

Overview

The InterSchool Council (ISC) is a unique forum for collaboration between parent representatives, district staff, and community groups serving our mutual school families in Robbinsdale Area Schools (RAS) since 1967. The collaborative environment fostered by ISC cultivates district-wide community resilience and identity through idea exchange, parent engagement, and staff involvement. Participants in ISC explore questions to understand and share the context and perspective of decisions made and events held within our district. This council directly supports Goal #3 of the Unified District Vision by engaging families and community members as partners. 

Purpose

The purpose of the InterSchool Council (ISC) is to provide

• opportunities to ask questions and understand current developments in the district

• opportunities for the district to provide background and foundational information for developments in the district while being open to questions

• opportunities to embrace our district diversity, engage in courageous conversations and challenge our beliefs and behaviors

• opportunities to identify and express the needs and wants of parent/family stakeholders regarding the district’s yearly operation

• opportunities to compare and contrast practices between parent groups and gather new ideas

• opportunities to network and share news between schools

Meetings are attended by our district’s Superintendent, David Engstrom, Cabinet Members, district staff, a school board representative, and others who give presentations on behalf of community organizations. Questions for district staff members or other presenters are encouraged to be emailed 3-5 days in advance so answers can be researched and prepared in time for the meeting.

Role of ISC Representatives 

ISC representatives include parents from individual schools, programs, and affinity groups in RAS.  These representatives can and are encouraged to act as communication liaisons between the district administration and their schools, groups, and boosters.  Representatives attend their respective meetings to share meeting highlights and bring questions, concerns, and accomplishments back to the council.

Getting Involved

Guest speakers are frequently invited, providing information that affects our entire district.  Past guests include district staff and representatives of Community Education, PRISM, African Career Education & Resource, Inc. (ACER, Inc), and The Seven Dreams Foundation.  To truly embrace the diversity within RAS, ISC aspires to open the opportunities to educate ourselves about the many cultures within our communities.

If you wish to be a guest speaker at an InterSchool Council meeting, want to become an attending representative for your school or booster organization (or just want to listen in on a meeting), please contact the current Chair (Aiysha Mustapha) at rdaleisc@gmail.com.  Translators can be available during meetings for some languages, as long as requests are made in advance. Please email Aiysha at least three days before meetings to ensure arrangements are or can be made. 

Meetings have been held virtually since April 2020, usually on the second Wednesday of each month from 9:30 to 11:30 am.

ISC continues to explore more ways to:

• Foster greater alignment with Unified District Parent Engagement Goal by looking at alternative dates, times, and locations to schedule meetings.

• Identify meeting themes and topics.

• Participate in and share the development of cultural and community celebrations.

• Communicate via virtual platforms to include parents who are unable to attend ISC meetings physically.

• Offer Educational Opportunities in the areas of: 

  • ACEs, Schoology, Naviance,

  • Cultural Humility, Courageous Conversation Compass

• Include agenda topics that are current and relevant to attending representatives:

• School Cultural and Climate Specialists, 

  • Family and Community Engagement within the schools
  • District enrollment and financial overview of the budget. 
  • Departmental budgets and goals.

Attribute Summary:

• Communication between members and up/down, to/from cabinet/parent/schools

• Under Superintendent

• Meets monthly during the school year

• rdaleisc@gmail.com

• Parent representatives by school/program, no application process

• Not legislated/mandated by any state or federal action

The Robbinsdale Area Schools Legislative Action Coalition (LAC) is a non-partisan group of parents/guardians, students and community members that advocate for legislation that supports our students and community. Join us at the Legislative Action Coalition meetings. No experience is necessary, just a desire to make a positive difference.

For more information on how you can get involved with LAC, send an email to LAC@rdale.org or call 763-504-8028.

Learn more about LAC

2022 LAC platform

Be informed • Build relationships • Make a difference

We are parents of students with special needs, school professionals, and community members dedicated to:

• Advocating for high quality programs & services
• Advising on special education policies, procedures & practices
• Assisting in identifying areas of improvement
• Encouraging good communication & support

There are many reasons to join SEAC!

• Learn how the special education system works in the school district.
• Learn information & skills that will help you become an effective advocate for your children and others.
• Meet other parents, school professionals & community members with similar goals.
• Sharing your unique perspectives & insights will help the school district work more effectively with families & improve outcomes for children.

If you would like to join SEAC, please complete an application.

Application for Membership

Application for Membership (Spanish)

Each school board is required to establish an advisory committee to ensure active community participation in all phases of planning and improving the instruction and curriculum affecting state and district academic standards.

The district advisory committee shall pursue community support to accelerate the academic and native literacy and achievement of English learners with varied needs, from young children to adults.

Those interested in joining the Systems Accountability Committee are asked to complete the interest form below.

Systems Accountability Committee Interest Form