Minneapolis Schools map program consolidations to tackle budget gap

Minneapolis Public Schools laid out a plan to address its long-standing budget shortfall by consolidating programs, redraw­ing attendance boundaries, and moving thousands of students to other schools. The district says up to 16 buildings could lose current programming (not officially closed) and roughly 12–14% of students could be affected. Drivers include chronic underfunding, declining enrollment, and past financial missteps, such as a corrected $10 million billing error and a $3 million health fund diversion. The district seeks public input through mid-October, with a board vote in November and potential changes starting in 2027–28; the proposal has drawn criticism from the teachers’ union and community members concerned about engagement and equitable impact.