District Warns Minneapolis Parents: School Will Go Well Into June

MINNEAPOLIS — Officials with Minneapolis Public Schools are telling families to prepare for classes to go well into June due to the ongoing teacher strike.

As of Tuesday, students have missed 11 days of classes since the strike began on March 8. Under state law, public school districts must offer 165 days of instruction. Schools must also fulfill grade-specific requirements for total hours of instruction.

Minneapolis Public Schools are now six days under the annual state requirement. The last day of school was originally scheduled for June 10.

Administrators for Minneapolis Public Schools Sunday said they've offered their "best and final" offer to the teachers union, which has been on strike since March 8.

As of Monday, 10 days of school have been canceled due to the impasse between teachers and district administrators.

Officials said their latest offer — which they say raises starting wages for 85 percent of current teachers $23 per hour or more — will require budget cuts in the near future.

"MPS is reaching beyond its financial means on behalf of our [teachers] and will need to make more than $10 million in reductions for the next school year as a result," the district said.

Here are the details of the districts "final" offer:

• Increase starting wages for 85% of current ESPs to $23 per hour or more, bringing most full-time teachers close to $35,000 annually
• Increase wages over two years between 8.2 percent and 34.6 percent (depending on job classification), with an average increase of 15.6 percent
• Advancement on the salary schedule
• Move lowest-paid teachers from $15.45 per hour to $18.0 per hour
• Pay teachers $6,000 in bonuses ($3,000 in each of the next 2 years)
• $3.5 million to additional hours for ESPs; and
• Four additional paid duty days for professional development and collaboration

In response to the offer, Shaun Laden — the president of the Education Support Professionals (ESPs) chapter of the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers — told the Star Tribune that "While we appreciate MPS getting to where they are, we know they can get to $35,000 for ESP. It won't take much more on their part to settle this strike and get our students and educators back to school."

The Minneapolis Federation of Teachers did not respond to Patch's request for comment.