Minneapolis Public Schools Considers Closing 16 Schools Without Significant Spending Reduction
Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) is evaluating a proposal to consolidate and potentially close up to 16 schools. Superintendent Lisa Sayles-Adams has presented the Minneapolis School Board with three options, each involving the closure or merger of more than a dozen schools. District administrators acknowledge that this restructuring would not substantially reduce overall spending. Instead, the primary objective is to reallocate funds from building maintenance and overhead costs towards direct student support, staff, and educational programs. These programs include enhancing classroom staffing, expanding elementary music offerings, increasing pre-kindergarten availability, and providing more consistent services across all Minneapolis schools. The district currently has physical capacity for approximately 42,000 students but enrolls only about 29,000, indicating significant underutilization of facilities. While enrollment has recently seen a modest increase, it remains well below the level required for effi...
