Kingfield Neighborhood Association

Day 9: Minneapolis Teachers are still on the Strike Line

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Learn more about the ESP’s they are also fighting for in this article by MPR News.

Article by: Elizabeth Shockman, 

…The majority of Minneapolis’ ESPs are people of color and work as special education assistants, associate educators, school success program assistants and child care assistants, among other roles. The starting wage for the lowest paid of these positions is $24,000 per year. The Minneapolis Federation of Teachers is asking the district to raise the starting wage to $35,000 per year. Over half of Minneapolis ESPs have second or third jobs, according to the union.

The district agrees it needs to raise ESP wages, but it is still millions of dollars apart in negotiations from what the union wants. As of Wednesday, the union was asking for a 23 to 44 percent wage bump for ESPs over two years. The district was sticking to a 9 percent wage increase over two years. *(Editor’s NOTE: a large difference in this wage request would be the movement of ESP to full-time salary employees vs the part-time status they currently have. To see details of the MFT/MSP negotiation requests visit the MFT Safe and Stable School site here.

…The Minneapolis NAACP supports the union’s push for higher ESP wages.

“This is unacceptable,” said Minneapolis NAACP president Cynthia Wilson. “Our ESPs need to be paid and our Black teachers need to be retained. Period.”

—Multiple studies have shown that educators of color can improve students’ performance. Black students see academic and graduation gains when paired with Black teachers.

In Minneapolis Public Schools, 63 percent of students are kids of color — closer to the percentage of Minneapolis ESPs than classroom teachers, nearly 80 percent of whom are white.

… The NAACP has a demand for the union, too:  The association wants more protections from layoffs for teachers of color written in the contract.

Childcare Resources During the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers (MFT) Strike

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Tuesday March 8th, 2022 is the first day that the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers (MFT) and Educational Support Specialists (ESP) Strike in Minneapolis.  

All preK-12 classes are now canceled and families should plan for child care.

MPS will provide emergency child supervision on an extremely limited basis to families with young children for whom child care presents a significant hardship. Beginning on the first day of the strike, families should reach out to their schools for more information if they need emergency child supervision. Pre-registration is not possible and schools do not currently have the information you need – but will if a strike starts.

  • Leonardo’s Basement:
Registration is open for workshops for Minneapolis and Saint Paul families on Tuesday, March 8. All-day (9:30 AM – 3:00 PM) workshops will be offered throughout the strike(s). You will need to register for each day separately, with registration open as soon as we know that schools will not be open the following day. The fee is $85/child/day, and less for families eligible for free and reduced-fee lunch ($30/child/day).
  • Blaisdell YMCA:
The Blaisdell YMCA is offering full-day care, 7am-5:30pm, each day during the strike. They have space for up to 40 children – https://www.ymcanorth.org/child_care__preschool/school_age_care/locations/blaisdell_ymca/school_release_days. $45 per day. So far, care is available for this week through 3/11. If the strike extends, registration will open Thursday after noon for the following week of full-day care needed.
  • Minneapolis Parks

Ten Minneapolis Parks are serving as Hubs and are offering extended hours and services IF a strike happens. 12-3 PM will be for registered participants K-8 grade, and 3-9 PM will be drop in for all youth. The closest parks with this additional programming to Kingfield & Lyndale residents is Bryant Square and Whittier Recreation Centers. Other sites will retain their 3-9 PM programming including YouthLine workers for teen engagement.

Additional Resources:
  • A meal will be provided by Minneapolis Public Schools with one breakfast and one lunch beginning Wednesday March 9 and can be picked up at your school every day the strike continues.
  • School based clinics and mental health services will continue to be available at your school for youth.
  • Varsity athletics will continue but all other after school activities will cease.

Kingfield SOUPer Bowl Sunday was Super Because of You!

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Thank you to the neighbors that cooked, cleaned, organized, shoveled, greeted, and ATE SOUP! It was an amazing day in and outside of Butter Bakery, raising funds to support youth and affordable housing!

Thank you restaurants for sharing your amazing food that fed so many people and helped raise funds for even more!

Thank you volunteers for your time and commitment and flexibility as we figured out the cold, a new set up and location, volunteers being out sick leaving gaps, AND cold technology!

 

Thank you neighbors for coming and supporting this event, supporting youth at Nicollet Square, and supporting KFNA!

Preliminary numbers are good with 260 people taking food to go from outside and 61 dining indoors for a total of 321 tickets. Donations appear to be tracking at that amount which is impressive for the three hour event!

If you have any questions (or tips on what could have been handled better, smoother, more clearly!) feel free to email KFNA directly at


Guide on How To Tackle Hunger on ‘SOUPer Bowl Sunday’ (a pregame event!)

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Sunday February 13, 11 AM – 2 PM, Butter Bakery Café, 3700 Nicollet

Bring on Your Best Team (and your proof of COVID-19 vaccination) to Tackle Hunger and support Kingfield Empty Bowls!

  • Step 1: Bundle up and go to Butter Bakery, 3700 Nicollet, on Sunday Feb 13 from 11 AM to 2 PM.
  • Step 2: Visit the Outdoor Bowl Tent and select a beautiful artist-created, pottery bowl to take home!
  • Step 3: Move to the Donation Table and make a donation (suggested at $25 per person) to support Nicollet Square & KFNA as we fight hunger in your community.
  • Step 4: Decide if you want to dine at Butter or take soup home for later.

Those opting to take soup-to-go will choose one quart of any of the three delicious varieties donated by Simpls; packaged with bread and cookies to travel (plus a coupon for another quart in the future!)

Those opting to dine on site (indoors or out!) can share their proof of vaccination and enjoy soup from either Victor’s 1959 Café, Clancey’s Meats, or Butter Bakery themselves. This will be served with crusty, fresh bread from Sun Street and Great Harvest, and a choice of delicious dessert from The Lowbrow, Royal Grounds, or Metro Meals on Wheels and Open Arms!

Want to Volunteer? Visit here!

Questions or want to support the event as a sponsor? ">Contact Sarah Linnes-Robinson, KFNA Executive Director

Community & Developer Conversation About the Development of 3030 Nicollet (former Wells Fargo site)

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Hosted by the Lyndale Housing Committee and open for all interested neighbors.

Monday December 6, 7-8 PM,

on Zoom (Contact to get a link)

Please join us for a conversation about 3030 Nicollet, a proposed development by Project for Pride in Living at the site of the former Wells Fargo that includes 110 units of affordable housing over a rebuilt Wells Fargo branch bank and commercial condos. At this meeting we will share information about several items, including:

  • The proposed site, pocket park and exterior design

  • The shared parking lot entrance on Nicollet used by the former Wells Fargo and the businesses at One West Lake (the blue 4-story building at the SW corner of Lake and Nicollet)

  • The vision for 31st Street between Nicollet to Blaisdell

  • Commercial condo RFP targeted at local BIPOC-owned businesses

  • PPL Community Room and potential community uses

  • Sustainability features

  • Project funding and timeline

  • Any questions you have

Questions should be directed to ">Project Manager Faith Cabel Kumon.