Whereas Minneapolis Public Schools has a history of mismanagement of public funds and unethical affairs, as seen in the examples listed below, we, the undersigned registered voters - teachers, parents, and residents of the City of Minneapolis - request a thorough audit of Minneapolis Public Schools. 

30,000+ children and their families have been negatively impacted by poor management and questionable practices of the Minneapolis Public Schools' administration over the last 6 years. Schools are now forced to operate under bare-bones budgets. There appear to have been at least two conflicts of interest, violations of MPS Policy 3000.

1. Director Josh Pauly who, while serving on the MPS School Board, was also employed by Paper, Inc., a large for-profit tutoring company. During this time MPS contracted Paper for possibly $125/MPS student. MPS The Source website states that Paper services are for all MPS students, but that would total over $3,000,000. This contract was not voted on by the MPS School Board.

2. Bryan Flemming was Director of Enrollment Management and paid to promote MPS, but who, at the same time, continued his personal consulting firm, Fleming Education Group, LLC. The services provided by his personal business include school placement advising and “VIP Best Fit School-Placement Solutions.” His actions may have lead to MPS declining enrollment.

During the pandemic, MPS administration pushed the Comprehensive District Design (CDD) through, dividing up families and staff and leaving buildings, some newly renovated, well under capacity. Some schools are beyond capacity. Some families now send their children to school further away from home. This is further evidence of MPS’ mismanagement. The public needs to know the benefits that came from CDD. The public feels that CDD could further divide and disempower schools, and communities.

In addition, it is not clear how the recent federal COVID-relief funds, ESSR III in the amount of $159.4 million, is being spent. There is a list of expenditures on the website, but the community still doesn't exactly know how the money is being spent with items such as:  “Formal Student Collaboration City Wide Board and YPE to review ESSER investments: $434,125,” and “Staff/Program Continuity: $74,628,539.”

We are also concerned about the affairs of Eric Moore, Chief of Research, Accountability, and Equity. He did not negotiate the recent MPS Teacher and ESP contracts in good faith since he, at the same time, was vying for the superintendent’s job and offered MFT president quid pro quo. 

The public school system was once a pillar of Minneapolis. We demand transparency in spending and that fiscal decisions be made in good-faith. 

The entire cost of the audit, requested herein, must be paid for, under the law, by the Minneapolis Public Schools.