MPS to Host Informational Meeting on District Headquarters Proposals

MINNEAPOLIS – The Minneapolis Public Schools on April 8 will host an informational meeting to provide community members with the opportunity to learn more about the three proposals for right-sizing district headquarters that were presented to the Board of Education on March 23. At the meeting, representatives from each of the three firms under consideration will detail their proposals and provide the community with an opportunity to ask questions.

Currently, MPS operates administrative offices in four buildings: 807 NE Broadway, Webster, 1250 W Broadway and the Lehmann Center. The new headquarters proposals right-size the amount of administrative space to the number of employees, reducing administrative office space from 633,000 square feet to 275,000. Consolidating space into one facility will save approximately $10 million over the next three decades and provide administrative staff with an appropriate place to work.

The three proposals for review include:

• 1250 West Broadway: New build-to-suit structure for District Headquarters/Welcome Center. The proposal includes a partial renovation of the former Anishinabe building at 2225 East Lake St. for Welcome Center/Community Ed/Adult Basic Education. (This satellite option could be part of the 807 renovation as well.)

• 807 NE Broadway (current headquarters): Full renovation of existing district administration building

• 11th Avenue & 3rd Street South (Valspar Building): Lease of an existing single tenant office building with parking ramp

Childcare and Hmong, Spanish and Somali interpretive services will be available at the meeting. To RSVP for childcare, please call (612) 668-0230.

WHAT: Informational meeting on district headquarters proposals

WHEN: April 8, 2010, from 6:30-8 p.m.

WHERE: St. Maron Catholic Church, Cedars Hall, 602 University Ave. NE, Minneapolis, MN  55413-1937