Three options, 14 schools, and a vote on Nov 10
MPS presented three Transformation options on Sept 15. Fourteen schools, campuses or programs close in all three; three more close in some. Public input runs through Oct 16, and the board plans to vote Nov 10.
On Sept 15, 2026, Minneapolis Public Schools presented three options to the school board in a 118-slide work session. No vote was taken and there was no public comment.
Across the three options, MPS would take 14 or 15 of its own buildings out of service. Fourteen schools, campuses or programs are on the list in all three options: Kenny, Lake Harriet Lower, Loring, Hmong International Academy, Pratt, Anwatin, Bethune, Lake Nokomis Wenonah, Hiawatha, Field, FAIR, Heritage Academy, Longfellow and Wellstone. Cityview, Webster and Howe close in some options.
Seven of the buildings that close in every option are ones the district's own map codes orange, meaning large enough for the MPS student experience.
Asked how much of the district's deficit the closures solve, Deputy Superintendent Ty Thompson said closures are "not something that's like a huge cost savings... that hasn't been the intent." The only dollar figure in the presentation is $560,000 to $705,000 a year in utility savings, against a $39.7 million shortfall.
What happens next: the district survey is open through Oct 16, pathway community meetings run Sept 30 through Oct 9, staff report initial feedback to the board on Oct 20, and the board plans to vote Nov 10, one week after the Nov 3 election.