THE MPS COMMUNICATOR

Issue #1, December 3, 2007

Welcome to the first edition of The MPS Communicator. We have
introduced this special communication – which will be available in
many formats – to keep you updated on the talks between Minneapolis
Public Schools (MPS) and the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers
(MFT). Everyone is eager to reach accord on a teachers' contract for
2007 -2009 term, so that our full attention can be given to our
students.

As these talks continue, The MPS Communicator will be the main
source of information between the District and you on this subject.
The hope is to generate clear, accurate information that dispels
false rumors and misinformation, and provides you with the facts.

By now, you may know that after nearly eight months of talks between
the two sides, the District and MFT have entered into mediation, at
the request of the MFT President. The first mediation session was
held on Dec. 1. The mediator assigned by the state is now in charge
of the negotiation process.

The mediator has tentatively set eight more mediation sessions to be
held between now and early January 2008.

District officials, teachers, the families of our students and
community stakeholders all share common goals for our school system:
We want to see the success of all of our students maximized, to
eliminate the academic achievement gap, and to ensure that all of
our students are ready for college when they graduate.

In order to achieve these goals, the District is developing a
strategic plan that serves two important main purposes: to provide
schools with the tools and resources needed to improve student
achievement, and to help resolve the budgetary constraints the
District currently faces. Many of those reforms are contingent upon
provisions included in the District's contract proposal.

It is hoped that, through the mediation process, both sides will be
able to reach a tentative agreement by the state-mandated Jan. 15
deadline. The financial impact to the District, if resolution of
this agreement isn't reached by this deadline, will affect everyone.

The District is committed to instituting the reforms necessary that
will enable our teachers and our students to succeed, and many of
those reforms will require shared sacrifices on all of our parts.
Everyone with a stake in our public school system has a common goal
of creating a better learning environment for all of our students.
The District is committed to working in partnership with teachers to
make this happen. The District leadership believes that with shared
sacrifices will come shared success now and in the future.

On behalf of the District, thank you for your interest in this
process and the future of Minneapolis Public Schools. Upcoming
issues of The MPS Communicator will address education reform,
District finances, financial and community stewardship, the needs of
students, and other topics that relate to these talks. Because of
misconceptions that have already been brought up, the next issue
will provide the real facts. Topic suggestions can 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