A review of the News-Leader’s archives revealed that Robberson has been repeatedly threatened with closure over the past few decades.
A “For Sale” sign may soon hang on the former Robberson School building.
The Springfield School Board will discuss and possibly vote Tuesday on a proposal to declare the multi-story building and campus “surplus” property.
Without this declaration, the district cannot move forward with its plans to sell, lease, or transfer ownership of the property to someone else.
Over the past few decades, staff and parents have fought several attempts to close Robberson, with proposals largely centering on concerns about the aging building and fluctuating enrollment numbers caused by changing neighborhoods and shifting district boundaries.
There were also ongoing concerns about traffic and safety. The school is located at 1100 E. Kearney St., just west of National Avenue. Both streets are heavily trafficked.
In January, the school board voted 7-0 to close Robberson – which covers just over 3 acres – and send the students who had been assigned to Robberson to the recently rebuilt Boyd Elementary at the corner of Division Street and Sherman Avenue.
The new Boyd is less than 1.5 miles from the Robberson campus.
A demographic report released in November 2023 showed that both Robberson and Boyd were under-utilized, meaning they were not serving as many students as they could educate.
Under board policy first adopted in 2014, the district can sell or lease any property it no longer needs or deems suitable, provided two-thirds of the board members vote in favor of the move.
The district has developed a process for disposing of surplus real estate. Because school properties were originally financed with public funds, the policy reviews each sale proposal presented to the board for its feasibility and impact on the immediate neighborhood and the community as a whole.
Former school buildings in Springfield have been repurposed by nonprofit organizations and private developers in recent years.
A History of the Robberson School in Springfield
As the board prepares to consider what to do with the Robberson building, here’s a look at the school’s history from the News-Leader archives and other sources:
- 1905: Robberson opens at 1100 E. Kearney St. with polished wood floors and high ceilings. It was named for Edwin Taylor Robberson, a physician and school board member who donated the land.
- 1910: First classroom addition for just over $13,000;
- 1930: The “main corridor” was added. It included the nurses’ room, the teachers’ room and several classrooms.
- 1954: Two classrooms and a multi-purpose room were built;
- 1992: Library and computer rooms were built;
- 1996: Delegates to the National Conference on Small School Restructuring in Chicago unanimously passed a resolution supporting the preservation of all Springfield schools with fewer than 300 students. Ralph Plank, chairman of the Boyd/Berry Concerned Parents and Neighbors Coalition, attended the conference. At the time, there was talk of consolidating Boyd and Berry, which was done, and closing Robberson, among other things;
- 2002: A committee examining school districts considered closing Robberson and other schools, including Pershing and Campbell;
- 2002: Robberson created a red, white and blue mural using student handprints after the school absorbed students from the closed Pepperdine school.
- 2008: The district considered closing Robberson as part of a catchment area change. Parents fought the proposal, which came at a time when Robberson was overcrowded by district standards.
- 2008: Robberson staff and community presented a plan to the district to expand the school and community center. The proposal included year-round instruction, adding air conditioning and other facility improvements, improving community partnerships, and creating a family resource center.
- 2012: Robberson was selected to test the “community school” concept. The approach identified community partners – businesses, churches and civic groups – and resources to meet students’ most pressing needs. As part of the change, the school moved to a “continuous learning calendar,” offering additional learning during scheduled school breaks and in the summer;
- 2013: In addition to breakfast and lunch, Robberson began offering dinner to students and their families several times a week.
- 2016: A master plan for the facility prepared by MGT of America showed that Robberson had the capacity to serve 343 students but enrolled fewer. It also scored poorly in a comprehensive assessment of the condition of the building, campus and educational adequacy.
- 2017: Robberson and its comprehensive, wraparound services for students and families were featured in a PBS documentary called “Our Kids.” The film examined the growing opportunity gap between rich and poor students and what steps communities can take to narrow that gap.
- 2017: Based on a facilities master plan, the school board called for the creation of four K-8 campuses, including the consolidation of Robberson and Reed Middle Schools.
- 2018: A Community Facilities Task Force recommended, in advance of the 2019 bond issue, that the district consider building a new Robberson as part of a future bond issue, likely in 2023;
- 2020: Robberson teachers and longtime principal Kevin Huffman, who retired in the spring after 22 years in the position, led a parade through the neighborhood to show students they were missed during the pandemic lockdown;
- 2022: A new Community Task Force on Facilities reviewed three options for Robberson, one of which was renovation, the others being construction of a one- or two-story school. It was decided to delay any decisions on Robberson until the district updated enrollment projections;
- 2023: A report from Davis Demographics showed that Robberson only had a 49% capacity rate when looking at the number of students enrolled from its catchment area, which was 148. The number is expected to drop over the next five years.
Do you want to go?
The Springfield School Board meets Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at the Kraft Administration Center, 1359 E. St. Louis St. The meeting is open to the public.
