Superintendent search halted by Robbinsdale School Board

The Board of Directors for Robbinsdale Area Schools suspended their search for a new superintendent April 6 after a 5-2 vote.

April 6 was the date scheduled for the first round of interviews. The plan was to have a second round of interviews on Thursday, April 11, but this plan has been postponed.

In a note to the press, Board Chair ReNae Bowman said, “The data did not produce a majority agreement to move forward for the second round of interviews.”

The board plans to discuss next steps during its work session at 7 p.m. Monday, April 15.

“Rest assured, despite tough deliberations and disagreements, the full Board is committed and passionate about hiring THE best candidate to lead District 281,” Bowman wrote. “The stakeholders in our District deserve a home run candidate and this Board will deliver.”

The Minnesota School Boards Association has been leading the district’s superintendent search process since the departure of former superintendent David Engstrom in September. In March, it named semifinalists Patrick Duffy, Elizabeth Keenan, Timothy McCray, George Nolan, Bondo Nyembwe and Noel Schmidt.

The district originally planned to offer a contract to a finalist this month with a start date no later than July 1.

For more information, go to rdale.org/discover/superintendent-search.