Who decides
Nine elected members of the Minneapolis Board of Education make the final call. The superintendent, Dr. Lisa Sayles-Adams, develops the options. Kenny sits in board District 6.
Five seats are on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot, but new members aren't seated until January 2027. Decisions for fall 2027 are expected by Nov 10, so the current board will almost certainly make them. Kenny's District 6 seat isn't up this year. Two at-large seats, which represent every voter, are. Confirm your district with the Board Member Finder.
Eight of nine members spoke. Four said the presentation delivered what the board asked for (Emerick, Norvell, El-Amin, Ellison), and the chair thanked staff in closing. Three said the engagement window is too short (Callahan, Abdi, El-Amin). One rejected the options outright (Callahan). One did not speak (Skjefte). Nobody asked a question about Kenny, Lake Harriet, Armatage or Windom. Director Callahan asked for three answers by the Oct 13 meeting: per-school savings, how many displaced students are expected to stay, and what it would take to keep each listed school open. Where each member stood and every question and answer.
The board
Backgrounds from MPS and public reporting. Records include only votes and on-the-record statements, now including the Sept 15, 2026 work session.
On the record: Sept 15, 2026 work session: read the list of schools proposed to close, including Kenny, and rejected all three options: "I find these options offensive... three options that close more than a dozen schools is not what we ask for." Asked for three answers by Oct 13: per-school savings, the share of displaced students expected to stay in MPS, and what each listed school needs to stay open. Said principals were phoned just before the meeting. Did not ask a question specific to Kenny or Southwest. Earlier: voted for defining the "sweet spot" as 70-89% capacity (failed 2-6) and for Resolution 2025-0045. During her 2024 campaign, criticized closure proposals, saying such talk sends families fleeing (Star Tribune).
On the record: Sept 15, 2026 work session: asked seven questions, including whether options can be combined (staff: yes), what success metrics are (no target or date given) and how much of the deficit the plan solves (staff: "not a huge cost savings"). Thanked staff in closing. Earlier: voted against defining the "sweet spot" and for Resolution 2025-0045. Said in Aug 2026 he did not anticipate an immediate, large-scale closure initiative (MinneapoliMedia).
On the record: Sept 15, 2026 work session: "You guys brought back exactly what we asked you to do... I think I have enough information." Asked no questions requiring answers; suggested an Afrocentric program and raised safety of adult Wellstone students at South. Earlier: voted against defining the "sweet spot" and for Resolution 2025-0045.
On the record: Sept 15, 2026 work session: thanked staff, said the board has discussed this for three years and the process is not rushed. Asked for each school's enrollment against the "optimal size" number and how far each is from it; no one answered. Asked whether implementation would be phased; no answer. Earlier: voted against defining the "sweet spot" and for Resolution 2025-0045. On closures: "folks are ready to know" (Star Tribune, Jun 2026).
On the record: Sept 15, 2026 work session: "Is one month really enough?" Asked why pre-K is not universal (staff: details after the board picks an option) and whether Northeast can absorb Heritage and Sullivan students (not answered). Earlier: moved the "Heritage Language Programs" amendment (adopted 8-0). Voted against defining the "sweet spot" and for Resolution 2025-0045.
On the record: Sept 15, 2026 work session: thanked staff and said the presentation delivered what the board asked for, but the timeline is "definitely too short" and "we do owe it to our families to give them more than two months." Was not expecting school names. Priority is academics and resources for Black and brown students on the North Side. Asked the superintendent to reconsider the timeline; no response recorded. Earlier: voted against defining the "sweet spot" and for Resolution 2025-0045. On closures: "I think it will have to happen. We just have to decide, with the parents, where this will take place" (Star Tribune, Jun 2026).
On the record: Sept 15, 2026 work session (attended virtually): endorsed Director Callahan's request for per-school savings ("it's very important to see exactly how much exactly that we are saving") and asked for a clearer engagement plan for families and students. Earlier: voted against defining the "sweet spot" and for Resolution 2025-0045.
On the record: Sept 15, 2026 work session (attended virtually): the plan's strongest supporter on the board. Said staff "followed direction exquisitely" and the plan is "courageous"; "If there was a different way to do this, collectively we would have figured it out by now." Asked nine questions on North Minneapolis equity, walk zones, dual language, inclusion, interventionists and libraries. Earlier: proposed defining the "sweet spot" as 70-89% capacity (failed 2-6). The only vote against Resolution 2025-0045.
The key vote so far: Oct 14, 2025
Resolution 2025-0045 asked the superintendent for information on closing, consolidating and repurposing schools. Before the final vote, Director Emerick moved to replace the undefined enrollment target "sweet spot" with "efficient at 70-89% capacity." Under that definition, Kenny (80% on the official Oct 1, 2025 count) would have counted as efficient. It failed. [Official minutes]
A note on the record: the posted PDF of Resolution 2025-0045 doesn't include the "Heritage Language Programs" amendment the minutes say passed 8-0, and its vote table is blank. The minutes also contain clerical errors, including a motion line copied from the prior item.