MPS finances still under stress with missing board members
The district is currently facing a $50 million budget deficit and its annual audit, due Dec. 31, 2025, is still not complete.
Minneapolis Public School board members have been notably absent during routine meetings, including the finance meeting on Feb. 24, as reported by Minnesota Documenters.
“The finance committee had only three of the five (board members) present. Directors Cerrillo and Skjefte have missed numerous meetings in the last few months, and recently, Directors Callahan and Norvell are missing meetings.
“Add this to the five high-level positions open in the district, the late audit, and the budget deficit, and it seems to indicate a district in disarray. All questions have been declined with a ‘data privacy’ response,” reports Al Zdon of Minnesota Documenters.
All three top financial officers in the district were put on administrative leave in December without explanation, and the district has hired a consulting firm in the interim. The transportation supervisor and culinary director positions are also currently open.
Schools helping families impacted by ICE
As students still fear waiting for the bus, school leadership asked community members for help driving students to school at a community meeting held in late February.
“I was supposed to have 10 kids coming back in person this week, and two ended up back,” ESL elementary school teacher Jessi Wightman said during the meeting, hosted by Council Member Elizabeth Shaffer on Feb. 22. “They came one day, and their parents said that they were afraid to go to the bus stop the other days.”
Our reporting on the meeting includes links to Southwest Minneapolis schools’ fundraising sites and what the schools specifically need help with.
“Most of us are going back to our everyday lives, and yet there’s still so many needs,” Erin Wise, a parent representing a Southwest middle school, said.
Creating ways to keep support coming in
As we have been reporting, the initial surge in donations for food and rental assistance for people impacted by Operation Metro Surge is decreasing.
Joyce Food Shelf in Uptown has seen a 70% decrease in donations since January. The City of Minneapolis estimated 76,000 people became food insecure in February.
To make a dent in the need, a fundraiser for Lucy Laney Elementary School’s mutual aid fund was started by Kingfielder David Brauer. He designed and launched a t-shirt campaign over the weekend that has raised almost $20,000.
Arizona Tacos in Seven Points
The New Hope taco restaurant is taking over the large space left vacant by Arts & Rec (with a quick rebrand as Uptown Collab) in June 2023. The owners, Sheila and Marcos Ayala, anticipate a spring opening and plan to offer salsa dancing and other live events.
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