Minneapolis Public Schools want $60 million, but they aren’t specific what they will do with the money

It’s the old shell game once more from the MPS, and they keep missing the core issues. The school administration is asking for the already strapped taxpayers to cough up another roll of dough for another eight years. This for a failing school district that just doesn’t seem to get it. The last time they came to the citizens asking for money, they ended up not really holding up their end of the deal. Keeping class size low was the deal, but they continue to play with the numbers and not produce results leaving parents feeling that the district has on “auto pilot” for the past eight years. Their words, not mine.
This time the referendum comes with the “promise” of change in the academic approach and focus on some of the basics like reading, math and science. Shouldn’t they have been doing that all along? When pressed for details on where the money is going to go the administration representatives give vague answers and say that ‘we’ll get back to you”. When, after the November election?
In every meeting I attend the administration and supporters of the school system are very quick to blame everyone else but themselves for the problems the education system faces. They blame the governor, state house, and senate. Hello, is there anyone home here? Public confidence in MPS has waned a great deal, so much that they “must hold the vote on the referendum this year during the presidential election cycle for maximum DFL number of voters or face possible failure”. Their words, not mine. What is really needed here is a huge change in the fundamental approach to funding education. On previous postings I have laid out a number of steps that need to be taken. Are they really up for the task?