THE MPS COMMUNICATOR
Issue #6, December 21, 2007

Welcome to the sixth edition of The MPS Communicator, a newsletter
providing information about the talks between Minneapolis Public
Schools (MPS) and the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers (MFT)
regarding the 2007 - 2009 teachers' contract.

As we all prepare for the well-deserved respite of winter break, it
is a good time to reflect on the challenges and opportunities our
district faces. District leadership is beginning to develop
strategies for 2008-9 that address the strategic planning
recommendation that the board adopted Dec. 11. Even as the process
goes forward, talks between the district and teachers continue --
and will continue -- during the break. These talks, too, hold both
challenges and opportunities for our shared futures.

It can prove challenging any time people who share the same mission
have different views on how best to meet that mission. During these
most recent talks between the district and our teachers, the tone
and tenor of expressing these different views has been professional,
respectful and sometimes passionate. Our students and our community
should expect nothing less when our goal is how best to educate our
children. At this point, we can confirm that everyone involved is
working toward improvement in these areas and that goodwill and good
spirit remain at the heart of these discussions.

At the end of the day, we are united by our common goal of educating
children. We have worked together before, during and after talks on
many different projects and initiatives, and our mission-driven
spirit has served us all well. Everyone involved in these current
talks will be working hard in the hopes of reaching a tentative
agreement for the
2007-2009 Teachers' Contract during the coming days and weeks. If we
focus on our shared mission, this can be done.

On behalf of the District, thank you for your interest in this
process and the future of Minneapolis Public Schools. Feedback and
topic suggestions for future issues may be directed to The MPS
Communicator in care of communicator@mpls.k12.mn.us.

Pam Costain
Minneapolis Public Schools Board of Education Chair

Dr. Bill Green
Superintendent, Minneapolis Public Schools