Minneapolis Public Schools Adjust Budget Cuts Amid Community Pushback

Minneapolis Public Schools Adjust Budget Cuts Amid Community Pushback

In response to significant community feedback, Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) has revised its budget plans, partially restoring funding to the Office of Latine Achievement (OLA) while maintaining substantial cuts to the Office of Black Student Achievement (OBSA).

Facing a projected $75 million budget deficit for the 2025–26 fiscal year, MPS initially proposed a 71% reduction to OLA's budget, which would have decreased funding from $1.1 million to $340,000. Following public outcry, including a petition initiated by OLA Director Marion Tizón and signed by over 300 staff members and community supporters, the school board approved a revised budget on May 13, 2025. This adjustment restores OLA's budget to approximately $832,000, a 29% reduction from the previous year, allowing the retention of Tizón's position and three academic coaches.

Despite similar advocacy efforts, OBSA will experience a budget cut of approximately $750,000, reducing its funding from $2.2 million to $1.45 million. This reduction will significantly impact OBSA's programming, including halving its high school course offerings and scaling back initiatives for elementary and middle school students. OBSA's "Building Lives, Acquiring Cultural Knowledge" course, currently serving around 400 students across the district, will be among the programs affected.

School board member Joyner Emerick expressed concern over the disproportionate impact these cuts will have on Black female students, noting that due to seniority policies, female staff members are more likely to be laid off. Emerick emphasized the importance of considering equity in budget decisions, stating, "Are we comfortable cutting student-facing programming that specifically impacts our young Black women in our schools?"

MPS officials attribute the reductions in OBSA's budget to the expiration of COVID-19 relief funds, which had temporarily increased the office's funding in previous years. The district asserts that OBSA's budget is now returning to pre-pandemic levels.

The budget adjustments have sparked a broader conversation about equity and the prioritization of resources within the district. As MPS continues to navigate its financial challenges, community members and stakeholders advocate for transparent and equitable solutions that support all student populations.