Get Involved

Community Connect is a standing committee of the Robbinsdale Area School District. The committee usually meets about six times per school year.

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
   

Contact

David Boone, School Board Chair
David_Boone@rdale.org

The mission of the Comprehensive Arts Planning Program (CAPP) is to support Robbinsdale Area Schools arts programming by advocating for the importance of arts in school, promoting arts education, initiating arts events and partnerships, and creating opportunities for arts involvement in the community.

In 1985, Robbinsdale Area Schools was one of the first districts awarded a CAPP grant from the state arts board.  Four subsequent grants and continuing district contributions have made the CAPP Committee a consistent presence in Robbinsdale Area Schools for more than 25 years. Throughout that time, CAPP’s vision has remained consistent:  All the Arts for all the Students.​
 

CAPP committee goals

Goal 1: Promote a Comprehensive Arts Education for All Students
Goal 2: Communicate the Role of Arts Education in Our Schools
Goal 3: Strengthen Community Connections in the Arts
Goal 4: Advocate for Staff Development and Support in the Arts
 

Membership

The CAPP Committee consists of community members, parents/guardians, teachers, school board members and district administration.  We generally meet once a month from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Education Service Center at 42nd and Winnetka in New Hope.  We are always looking for members who have an interest in strengthening our arts education programs within Robbinsdale Area Schools.  
 

Contact

If you are interested or would like to be involved in our committee in another way, please contact CAPP Chair, Molly Olson for more information.

Molly Olson, CAPP Chair
Molly_Olson@rdale.org
763-504-8033

The Robbinsdale Area Schools Financial Advisory Council (FAC) provides financial advice and support to the School Board and Administration, including evaluation of the district's economic conditions, development of future budget assumptions and review of the overall fiscal condition of the district. Meetings are typically held at the Education Service Center (4148 Winnetka Ave N, New Hope, MN, third floor boardroom). All FAC meetings are open to the public.

Current School Board appointed FAC community members serving three year terms include: Gregg Fishbein, Lennie Kaufman, Thomas Klick, Greg Kuegler, O. Barry Rogers, Howard Schwartz and Terry Swanson. The Superintendent, School Board Treasurer and Executive Director of Finance also attend.

Overview

The InterSchool Council (ISC) is a unique forum for collaborations between parent representatives, district staff and community groups serving our mutual school families in Robbinsdale Area Schools (RAS). 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 with the intent 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

ISC meetings provide participants an opportunity to network, share news, ideas, ask questions, and understand current developments while offering professional development opportunities for parent members, possibly with (and by) other parents. The meetings seek to provide RAS with an annual manifesto detailing the needs and wants of parents regarding the district’s yearly operation. Membership in this group allows participants opportunities to compare (and contrast) practices between parent groups and supporters, as well as gather new ideas. ISC works to embrace the diversity that exists across RAS. Meetings are attended by our district’s Superintendent, Dr. Carlton Jenkins, as well as district staff members, school board representatives and others who may be asked to give presentations on behalf of community organizations. Questions for district staff members or other presenters should be emailed in advance (preferably at least 3-5 days) so answers can be researched and prepared in time for the meeting.
 

Role

ISC representatives include parents from individual schools, programs and affinity groups in RAS. These representatives act as communication liaisons between the district administration and their own schools, groups, and/or 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 which 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. In order to truly embrace the diversity within RAS, ISC aspires to open opportunities to educate ourselves about the many cultures within our community.

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 are readily available during meetings for some languages; requests can be made for those not represented and needed during meetings. Please email ISC leadership at least three days in advance of meetings so arrangements can be made.

Meetings are usually held the second Wednesday of each month from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Education Service Center (ESC) Boardroom. The ESC is located at the corner of 42nd and Winnetka Avenue. 

ISC’s growth areas:

• Explore alternative dates, times and locations to foster greater alignment with Unified District Parent Engagement Goal
• Identify Monthly meeting Themes
• Encourage and share cultural celebrations; participate in the development of community events.
• Offer Professional Development ISC style; ACEs, Cultural Competency, Schoology, Naviance etc.
• Explore programs, roles and responsibilities:
• Cultural and Climate Specialists
• Behavior Specialists
• Departmental budgets and goals
• Topics current and relevant to attending representatives

2020-2021 Meeting Dates

September 23, 2020
October 14, 2020
November 11, 2020
December 9, 2020
January 13, 2021
February 10, 2021
March 10, 2021
April 14, 2021
May 12, 2021
June 9, 2021

Agendas

Meeting Notes

The Robbinsdale Area Schools Legislative Action Coalition (LAC) is a non-partisan group of parents/guardians, students and community members who 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.

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.

2019-2020 Meetings

Meetings are typically held at the New Hope Learning Center, Flex Lab; 8301 47th Ave N, New Hope MN 55428. If you'd like to attend a meeting, please RSVP to Sandra Goettl at Sandra_Goettl@rdale.org or call 763-504-8075.

September 16, 2019

Agenda

October 28, 2019

Agenda

December 9, 2019

Agenda

January 27, 2020

Agenda

March 9, 2020 - Canceled

May 11, 2020 - Canceled due to COVID-19

SEAC Resources

Minnesota Special Education Advisory Council - PACER-sponsored website is partially funded through a grant from the Minnesota Department of Education. Robbinsdale Area schools does not endorse the services or a product provided by this resource; it is offered as a convenience to families.