Minneapolis Public Schools reveals plans that would close more than a dozen schools

Big changes are coming to Minneapolis Public Schools, as the district is floating three options to save money, each of which would close more than a dozen schools.

The district is grappling with the loss of thousands of students since the COVID-19 pandemic and a nearly $40 million budget shortfall. District leaders say the hefty budget gap is driven by declining enrollment, labor costs, inflation and the expiration of federal pandemic relief funds.

Proposals laid out Tuesday night could impact the lives of nearly 30,000 students attending Minneapolis Public Schools.

Superintendent Lisa Sayles-Adams calls it a "transformation plan" that would change district boundaries and close some schools. All three options included changes to boundaries and the closures of 15 or 16 schools. 

"We are spread too thin and attempting to support a significant number of schools with insufficient enrollment," she said.

In a video shared over the weekend, Sayles-Adams said some recommendations will be "universally celebrated" and others may cause "trepidation." 

Sayles-Adams says the alternative, though, is worse, including continued budget cuts, schools with too few students and ongoing instability. She says students deserve better. 

"A transformed MPS can't fix every issue that public education faces, but we have an opportunity to significantly improve our situation by doing better with what is in our control," said Sayles-Adams. "We've shown time and time again why public education is the heart and foundation of the community. We've also adapted countless times to meet the needs of our students, and we can do it again now." 

According to district data, over half of Minneapolis Public Schools are considered underutilized and operating below capacity. MPS also faces budget constraints and district leaders pointed to the fact that schools receive funding based on enrollment. 

Fourteen schools are marked for closure in all three plans: FAIR High School for Arts, Loring, Hmong International Academy, Lincoln, Bethune, Anawatin, Lake Harriet Lower, Kenny, Field, Wenonah, Hiawatha, Pratt, Heritage Academy High School and Longfellow.

'We're really invested in our community," said Gloria Munoz, a parent of a student at Kenny. "Why are we not looking into supporting these schools instead of closing them and what are we doing with everyone who works at these schools?" 

Munoz said she's concerned these plans may drive families away from the district if their school closes. She's unsure where she would send her student if Kenny is no longer an option.

"It's really hard to hear that education is taking such a hit," said mother Samantha Pace, whose 4-year-old son Seo is a little too young to enroll for kindergarten.

Still, she's been exploring where to put him in school.

"I feel really bad mostly for the teachers and for the students. I feel like our Minneapolis Public School teachers are already operating with so very little with so very little support," said Pace.

She feels Minneapolis' most disadvantaged students will be the most impacted.

"It's not going to be the families living in south Minneapolis, because you know, they pay a lot of property taxes," she said. "Of course, ultimately, it's the students who bear the brunt of all of this."

Board Member Greta Callahan criticized the process and the timeline, saying the board doesn't have to agree to any of the proposals. 

Though district leaders say hard decisions must be made. 

"If we simply maintain the system we have today, the structural challenges don't disappear," said Chair Collin Beachy. "They come back year after year in our budget and every year that happens we are forced to make reductions around the edges." 

Sayles-Adams says the district wants to hear from MPS families and will seek feedback through October.