This is in response to Mr. Trainor's e-mail regarding Minneapolis Technical Training Academy, an alternative school that has a contract with the Minneapolis Public Schools to provide an educational program for 225 9th and 10th grade students.
Last night, the MPS board voted to accept the Superintendent�s recommendation to terminate the contract with MTTA. Why? The facility is beautiful, the equipment, impressive, the class sizes small. The problem? Gross overspending and fiscal mismanagement. MPS staff determined that the debt of the school was $3.5 million, and revenues raised were $20,000. The money flows through MPS, as per the contract. While the MPS was paying $94,000 per month to the school, revenue based on enrollment, MTTA failed to pay its Federal and State withholding taxes, its teachers paychecks bounced, and its venders were calling MPS about unpaid bills. As the fiscal mismanagement came to light this past month, top administrators at the schools resigned, and their departure left in question the integrity of the program. While many students and families are upset about the contract termination by MPS, they should be looking to Mr. Keith Hammond, Executive Director of the school, for some accountability. He is in charge of the fiscal health of MTTA, and clearly the situation is dire. MPS is having a meeting for all concerned parents and families Thursday night. The MPS district will work to insure that these students will be allowed back into programs they left or will work to find a suitable placement. I understand the appeal of that program, as do others in the MPS district. We are working hard on high school reform because we know we have to do a better job serving our high school students. In regard to the funding of our schools, the state of MN decides how much money per pupil it will give each district, and that is what each district receives. While districts can hold elections on excess levy referenda, these are expensive campaigns. MPS did just have a referendum in Minneapolis last year to raise money to pay for smaller class sizes. Raising money is one thing, managing money prudently is another. The reality is educational concepts and good intentions need to be balanced with good fiscal management, and this is not happening at MTTA. The Board struggled with the decision to terminate this contract because it was obvious that the parents and the students love the school. As MPS Board members, and trustees for the community in public education, we have a fiduciary responsibility to our taxpayers. Audrey Johnson MPS BOE 10th Ward _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
