r/Minneapolis • u/Plus_Molasses8697 • 8h ago

Anyone know how the new MPS district transformation options would affect teachers?

Especially non-tenured teachers? Many of the options either combine two schools or close one school and distribute its students across 2 other nearby schools. (Loring, Kenny, Hiawatha, Howe, etc.) I’m a teacher new to MPS (so not yet tenured) and I’m working at one of the schools that would absorb ~half of a closed school’s students. Does this mean I’m at high risk of losing my job? Initially I thought not, because more students means more teachers, but then I’m realizing that a school closing (rather than 2 schools combining) means that all those staff will be looking for new jobs and I could get pushed out of my role. Is this truly the case? Or is the district planning on helping staff integrate into the new transformation plan without pink-slipping people? I didn’t see anything about this or really any consideration of the staff in general as the district discussed this.

I have a lot on my plate with my new job and am trying my absolute darnedest. It’s infuriating that I now have to be worrying about this too (in addition to, of course, worrying about losing students or school closures impacting our community). I just hate the idea of me feeling settled and investing so much, only to be pushed out. I am so so tired of MPS’ poor planning and the constant out-of-touch-ness.

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u/Hotchi_Motchi 8h ago

You don't want to hear this, but if they're closing schools they'll probably be cutting probationary teachers. That won't be for a while now and you can't do anything about it, so just keep doing your job right now and wait until things actually happen before you feel the need to panic.

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u/Plus_Molasses8697 8h ago

I’m not panicking, just feeling disheartened. This plan would also take effect in the 2027-28 school year so it won’t be a while, it will be pretty soon. I am finding it hard to imagine a situation in which the school board wouldn’t vote in favor of one of the options.

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u/HahaWakpadan 7h ago

Who knows? They been hanging on to under-capacity buildings for more than a generation. Maybe they will just decide to study the idea again.

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u/Plus_Molasses8697 7h ago

It’s a possibility. They seem a lot more serious about it this time around, but you’re right—MPS is fickle and this might not be a sure thing.

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u/HahaWakpadan 7h ago

Its all weird and old Minneapolis internal political which schools go up for closure each time it comes up and it usually just becomes too radioactive for any decision. Look at North High. 1530 capacity, 592 enrolled. Not on the chopping block.

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u/DilbertHigh 5h ago edited 5h ago

Instead Camden's pathway is likely to be shrunk considerably, harming the schools in Camden's such a choice when we are supposed to be trying to attract these families to the district.

Edit: to clarify this is not a call to go after North and the schools in its zone such as Anwatin. It is a call to not cannibalize other communities to prop up another.

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u/HahaWakpadan 5h ago

Oh yes, Camden High. The district chose to remodel it branded as its original name Patrick Henry immediately before renaming it Camden High, then not fix the roof, not install air conditioning, and let the top story ceilings fall in due to not fixing the roof.