Minneapolis Public Schools superintendent opposes plan to close over a dozen schools

Twin Cities News Minneapolis Public Schools superintendent opposes plan to close over a dozen schools By WCCO Staff Updated on: October 13, 2026 / 6:46 PM CDT / CBS Minnesota Add CBS News on Google The Minneapolis Public Schools superintendent said Tuesday evening that the district should not move forward with a controversial plan that would have closed more than a dozen schools."I must recommend now that the school board does not move forward with any school closures or mergers at this time," Superintendent Lisa Sayles-Adams said at a school board meeting on Tuesday.Last month, the district announced three proposals, each of which suggests closing 15 or 16 schools.  The schools targeted are operating below capacity. Minneapolis Public Schools also faces budget constraints, and district leaders pointed to the fact that schools receive funding based on enrollment.  The district said the idea was to consolidate services and programs to help more kids, not necessarily to save more money. The district has been struggling with declining enrollment for years; it has buildings for 43,000 students, but has about 30,000 students right now. Minneapolis Public Schools held a series of listening sessions to hear feedback regarding the plans earlier this month. The plan has not been very popular, as parents have pushed back against the proposals.This is a developing story and will be updated. In: Minneapolis Featured Local Savings Minneapolis firefighters hurt battling fire; Indigenous archive at risk State's largest Dakota language archives feared lost in Minneapolis fire 2 hurt in shooting across from former Minneapolis Kmart site, police say Man shot dead early Sunday in northeast Minneapolis, police say Marietta superintendent uses bonus to help students pay college application fees Parent arrested over 3D-printed gun at Romulus High School Gov. Josh Shapiro to announce major investment plan to expand the Port of Philadelphia Monroe Schools sued over alleged transgender athlete on visiting team