The consent agenda also included $500,000 in grant money for the Youth Coordinating Board. According to the district, it will be the first observatory of its kind at an elementary school in Minnesota. Part of the approval includes a $1.4 million contract for the construction of a rotating observatory on the rooftop of Hall STEM Academy, the district’s new STEM K-5 magnet school. The consent agenda was approved unanimously by the board without discussion. The consent agenda includes items that don’t require a separate vote by the board for approval, including many contract approvals. The first voting item on the agenda was approval of the consent agenda. He stressed that the district will resume its school-by-school approach to determining school or classroom closures, if necessary, and thanked students, families and staff for their flexibility. Graff noted that the district continues to work with its regional partners, including the Minnesota Department of Health, to mitigate and monitor COVID in district schools. This past week the focus was getting students reacclimated to their school day routines. Superintendent Graff updated the board on the return to in-person learning. In light of the recent killings of Jahmari Rice and Amir Locke, Board Chair Kim Ellison and Graff both acknowledged the ongoing toll that gun violence and the police killing of civilians is having on MPS students, particularly Black students. Other public comments were about extending the superintendent's contract to only one year, with additional years dependent on improved academic outcomes of students. Several people commented on the ongoing negotiations between the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers (MFT59) and the district, specifically the demand to add contract language that would protect teachers of color from layoffs outside of the typical seniority order. The meeting opened with nearly an hour of public comments. In addition to these actions by the board, the meeting included an update from Superintendent Graff and nearly an hour of public comments. The board also voted to approve a new student calendar for the next three school years, which will include days off during the school year for students for both significant religious holidays and professional development days. 8 where the board voted to approve a new strategic plan after vigorous discussion. The Minneapolis Public Schools’ Board of Education held a regular business meeting on Feb.
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