Minneapolis paused school closures — here’s what comes next

Minneapolis paused school closures — here’s what comes next Renée Cooper KSTP Minneapolis school leaders are restarting talks on school changes after pausing a plan to close up to 16 schools.RELATED: Minneapolis Public Schools Board approves resolution halting school closures in 2027-28The Minneapolis Public Schools Board paused the closure plan for at least the 2027-2028 school year after about a month of pushback from parents, but board leaders said the district still needs to address enrollment challenges and unequal learning opportunities across some schools.“When we asked the superintendent and her team to come up with a plan to address the needs, the academic experience of our students was number one for us,” Vice-Chair Kim Ellison said.Ellison said disparities between some schools are at the center of the district’s transformation plans. She said the board is now looking for ways to increase enrollment and address those gaps.“Yes. And the superintendent talked about that when she first started three years ago. She spent the first 100 days visiting all the schools, and she said, ‘You know, I can see a difference, and we need to address that,'” Ellison said.Before the board stopped closures for next school year, Chair Collin Beachy said during that Tuesday evening meeting that the process was driven by concerns about unequal education across the district.“We didn’t begin this process because we wanted to close schools. We began this process because we know not every child in MPS is receiving the same education,” Beachy said.So far, Ellison said the board is considering expanding pre-K to grow enrollment and retention, and changing school start and end times to save money. She also said past cost-saving steps, including staff cuts this school year, deepened disparities.“That’s one of the reasons we’re spread so thin, and we need to address that as well,” Ellison said.The district said it did not have a representative available for an interview Tuesday. In an email response, a spokesperson said the district would “follow the direction and will of the school board” on a revised plan.“It’s not entirely off the table,” Ellison said when asked if a final plan were likely to include some level of school closures or consolidations. “We’re going to have to address everything. I don’t know, though, what the final plan will eventually look like.”Ellison said those discussions will resume later this month as part of budget talks. She also said upcoming elections could reshape the conversation because the board is likely to have at least a couple of new members come January.See the full statement provided by Minneapolis Public Schools below:“Minneapolis Public Schools is prioritizing continued engagement with staff, families, and the broader community as we work to ensure that every student has access to what they need and deserve. Three options aligned with the parameters outlined in the School Board’s June 2026 resolution were presented on September 15, along with a community engagement process and timeline, as requested by the Board. Thousands of community members have participated in that process, and the survey will remain open through October 16. In response to significant community feedback, the School Board passed Resolution 2026-0078 at its October 13 regular business meeting. This resolution will guide the district’s next steps.”See questions 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS sent to Minneapolis Public Schools and their complete response below:5 EYEWITNESS NEWS:“What is the next step for the district as Board discussions continue? Does the district expect to create an entirely new option(s) to meet the goals initially laid out, including growing enrollment, equal learning opportunities for all, and addressing financial challenges?“So far, the initial three options all involved the consolidation of schools. Does the district expect a revised plan would include some level of school closures/mergers/consolidation?“Roughly when does the district hope to present a new option(s) to achieve the transformation plan to Board members for a vote?”Minneapolis Public Schools:“School Transformation will continue to be processed by and guided by the school board. Staff will follow the direction and will of the school board. The resolution passed last night outlines the focus areas for next steps, and forthcoming discussions will determine timelines and deliverables. The board meeting schedule is available on the MPS website.”