All: Below is the text of the press release we sent out this morning. Needless to say MPS staff are overjoyed at the news. Thanks to members of the issues forum who sent Carol supportive e-mails over the last few days. Superintendent Carol Johnson to Remain in Minneapolis Declines offer for similar position in Nashville Tuesday, June 26, 2001 ----Minneapolis Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Carol Johnson today announced that she has declined an offer from the Nashville Board of Education to become that district�s next Director of Schools. She will remain in Minneapolis, where she has been superintendent since 1997. Minneapolis School Board Chairwoman Catherine Shreves acknowledged Johnson�s nearly 30 years of service to the district and commended Johnson for her visionary leadership during her last four years as superintendent. �We are deeply gratified that Carol is choosing to continue to lead the Minneapolis Public Schools,� Shreves said. �There has been an outpouring of community support for Carol in the past week, and, it is obvious to us that her value to this community is extraordinary.� In recognition of her value to the district the Board has offered the superintendent a salary increase to $190,000. They also have agreed to extend her contract for another year for a total of three years. In addition, the board will act to ensure that Johnson receives additional administrative support to help her better balance her extremely demanding workload, Shreves said. Over the past year, the district�under Dr. Johnson�s leadership�has launched a number of initiatives including the Twelve Point Plan to Improve the Academic Achievement of Students of Color, a 95 percent mandatory attendance policy and an aggressive plan to radically transform the district�s high schools in an effort to increase the four year graduation rate and significantly reduce the number of dropouts. Johnson renewed her commitment this morning to that agenda. �This decision is perhaps one of the most difficult ones I�ve had to make,� Johnson said. �The outpouring of support from the Minneapolis community has been truly overwhelming. Ultimately, I decided to stay in Minneapolis because I do not believe my work here on behalf of the children is done.� ### Profile information about Superintendent Johnson, excerpts from recent speeches or a summary of her 2000 evaluation from the MPS Board please check the district web site: http://www.mpls.k12.mn.us/about/board/superintendent.shtml _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
