Feelings remain polarized as MPS directors ready for May vote on district redesign
The April 14 Minneapolis Public School Board meeting was held virtually because of the coronavirus. Those tuning in saw only static images of the directors.
By David Pierini Staff Reporter
There were anxious voices begging the Minneapolis Public Schools board Tuesday night to postpone a controversial redistricting plan until the stresses of COVID-19 quarantines are lifted.
But the plan seemed to have more support than previously expressed in a public setting. A growing chorus says a plan that would attempt to end longtime racial disparities and a shameful achievement gap should not be postponed.
They urged the board to vote at its May 12 meeting.
Like most aspects of life during the pandemic, the live audio conference meeting was a disembodied experience. With no-in person meeting taking place, the public comment period was a three-hour broadcast of more than 150 phone messages, about half of the total number left on a hotline.
Those tuning in saw only a static picture of the Board of Directors. There was no way to gauge how closely directors were listening.
The live stream was glitchy at times and there were periods of silence that interrupted speakers in mid-sentence as the connection dropped. Some agitated critics already not feeling heard sounded frustrated having to leave a brief message on a hotline.
The anxiety of the pandemic experienced by some was palpable.
“I can not believe you would push forward with this controversial plan when we’re all focused on our families; we’re focused on getting our kids to college while our 529 [savings plan] gets decimated,” said one voice. “You are incredibly unprofessional.”
“Put the CDD away for another day,” said another. “Long-term planning isn’t done in the middle of a crisis.”
A vote on whether to adopt the CDD was scheduled for this month, but it was postponed one month as the district scrambled to get a distancing learning plan in place after schools closed.
The CDD aims to address a long-standing crisis: underserved communities of color, an alarming achievement gap and a projected $20 million budget deficit. Administrators say they can make structural changes by reassigning magnet status to schools closer to the center of the city.
A majority of the magnet schools are on the south side of the city, where much of the opposition to the plan lies.
The current district alignment has led to more segregated schools. The plan attempts to shift resources to North Minneapolis, bringing magnet school status to Bethune and Hall elementary schools and Franklin Middle School. North High School would become a tech center, bringing career training classes in coding, robotics and engineering.
Administrators say the looming budget deficit makes a vote on the CDD imperative. Students, long underserved, can’t wait either, supporters said.
The CDD is not perfect and may not address all problems. But it’s a start, they said.
“We can’t wait another year to do right by children,” said one MPS parent. “There is harm in waiting. Please, take the vote as soon as possible.”
“Distance learning has only exacerbated and shined a brighter light on those who are struggling,” said another caller. “When they return to a physical school building, the gap will have grown even more.”
Several critics are upset because the magnet schools their kids now attend would be reclassified as community schools. Parents fear their kids’ education would suffer.
Former school board member, Don Samuels, left a message of support for the CDD. He said parts of the district, like North Minneapolis, may have been reluctant to express support because previous administrations attempted to make changes folded from “pressure of well-heeled, well-connected people with resources. I support the CDD. The CDD is good for all students, it’s good for North Minneapolis.”
Supt. Ed Graff defended bringing the plan forward. He said the proposal took shape after more than two years of meetings and feedback from more than 10,000 people, he said.
As the digital meeting entered its fourth hour, directors raised questions and made comments hinting how they may vote next month.
District 4 Director Bob Walser, a likely no vote, said “I reject the sales pitch” and called for the board to “stop this failed process now.”
He said the plan may benefit some at the exclusion of others. He was incredulous by the number of phone messages that were left in support of the plan.
“The emails, something like 300, are from people opposing the CDD and only a handful are in favor, so that’s a startling disconnect for me.”
District 5 Director Nelson Inz responded with, “If this process shuts people out, why do you choose to amplify only the voices that are already included?”
In contrast, at-large Director Kimberly Caprini said “We are in a position right now to really dig deep, to look at what has occured over the last 20 years and see how many families have not been served. There’s so much to be said about centralized magnet schools about kids who have not had the opportunity to access those amazing opportunities.”