Statement from Jazz Hampton on Minneapolis Educators’ Contract Negotiations

Our educators are the backbone of Minneapolis. They deserve fair compensation, manageable class sizes, and the support required to give every student the education they are promised. When negotiations stall and our teachers feel that the only way to be heard is through a strike vote, it is a clear sign that the system itself is failing the people who keep it running.

Minneapolis Public Schools is under real financial strain. Years of inconsistent oversight and absent long-term planning have pushed the district to a fiscal cliff. That does not mean our teachers’ demands are unreasonable. It means we have to confront the truth that teachers and students have been carrying the burden for decisions they did not make.

This moment calls for partnership. It calls for transparency about how funds are managed, accountability for choices that created this crisis, and a shared commitment to sustainability. Responsible budgeting is not austerity. Responsible budgeting protects classrooms, protects support staff, and protects the future of public education in Minneapolis.

I stand with educators in their fight for respect, stability, and fairness. I also expect district leadership and state partners to meet this moment with candor and urgency. The Legislature must step up to secure long-term funding, and the district must rebuild trust through honest planning that keeps students and teachers at the center.

Minneapolis can lead the nation in how a city responds to challenges: by unifying around solutions instead of pointing fingers. Our students and teachers deserve nothing less.