Teachers’ Union pushes back on proposed MPS school closures

What does the Minneapolis School District’s transformation plan mean for students and their teachers’ jobs? Those are some of the big questions we’re still trying to get answered after the district put out proposals for a major overhaul.

“There seemed to be a mushroom cloud of shock as it went across the district, and that has turned into absolute rage,” said Marcia Howard, president of the local teachers’ union, Minneapolis Federation of Educators, Local 59.

Howard says she’s heard the same sentiment over and over again as she’s visited schools and families in the week since the district released its three transformation plan options.

“I think it’s fair to say that in order to ensure that the public trusts the highest officials in MPS, we need a little bit more time,” Howard said.  “(Time) for them to start getting some act right before t...