Minneapolis DFL signs on to Open Letter in support of Minneapolis Students, Families, and Educators
Minneapolis DFL tonight passed a resolution to co-sign the Open Letter by Minneapolis Federation of Teachers and Education Support Professionals (MFT59). Below is the Open Letter as drafted by MFT59 and co-signed by many allied organizations.
Superintendent Graff and Board of Education Directors,
We, the undersigned community organizations, publicly support the demands of the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers and Education Support Professionals (MFT59) to improve the educational environment and outcomes for all of our city's students, no exceptions.
While we work to improve the lives of those we advocate on behalf of and with, we believe MPS needs to do what it can to provide the best possible education to every student. And we trust educators when they say what they need to do this:
A living wage for Education Support Professionals to stabilize this critical workforce
Systemic changes to improve the recruitment and retention of educators or color
More mental health supports by improving student to SP ratios
Lowering class sizes
Competitive compensation for licensed staff to stop the exodus of teachers from MPS
With hundreds of millions of dollars in pandemic relief funds and new money from the State of Minnesota, the time is now to share power with our city's educators and use these new resources to meet their demands.
At a time when our communities have been impacted by the pandemic, the police murder of George Floyd and continued police violence, and an economic system that has created worsening material conditions for the families we represent, we believe that MPS needs to walk away from the status quo.
Clearly, the strike vote results of Minneapolis educators send a clear message that the time is now to make significant changes that our educators believe will improve outcomes for our students. And they are willing to do whatever it takes to make these changes.
Listen to them.
As community organizations that work to improve the lives of Minneapolitans from all parts of our city, we know that there aren't always resources to do every thing we want to do. But that is no excuse for power hoarding and failing to listen to those who carry out the critical work of providing public services.
We believe that something needs to change and support Minneapolis Public Schools educators in their demands that they believe will help create the schools our students deserve.
Respectfully,
Co-signed organizations.
If your organization would like to co-sign this Open Letter, please email solidarity@mft59.org.