Hopes Of A Deal Soon As Minneapolis Educator Strike Enters 14th Day

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- An educators' strike that's kept thousands of kids out of classrooms is now threatening to enter its third week. Monday marked the 14th day on the picket lines, with both sides looking close, but still unable to reach an agreement.

A large group of educators rallied for a deal outside the Minneapolis school district's headquarters Monday afternoon. Monday also marks the 10th day students have missed classes due to the strike.

Publicly the teachers' union has indicated they are very close on issues, including the salaries for education support employees, but other areas -- including a cap on class sizes that the union wants in the contract -- have not been agreed to

Teachers have maintained a unified front as they enter their third week without a paycheck.

"I have a Master's degree, I work full-time, I have a 150 students every day, and I don't make enough to pay my rent and utilities," educator Rhea O'Shion said.

Earlier, union negotiators said board members walked away from negotiations that were headed in the right direction.

"We appreciate the move from the district. We are much closer on where we need to be to get this done. There are still some outstanding issues," union president Shaun Laden said.

Parents WCCO talked with say they are holding up.

"It's been challenging for everybody at home, but we try to stay busy," Louis Luna said.

One family WCCO spoke with has also pulled a younger child out of the Minneapolis schools because of unpopular new boundary changes.

"Our junior high would have been five blocks from our house. Instead they want to put her on a 45-minute bus ride," parent Angie Merlin said said.

Those 2020 boundary changes appear to be a self-inflicted wound on the district, which was already hemorrhaging students. That is one of the many problems in negotiations, making guarantees based on a number of students that the district may not have.

Over the weekend, Minneapolis Public Schools said they have made their best and final offer. That includes pay of $23 an hour for 85% of education support professionals (ESPs). They would also get a $6,000 bonus. And the district would invest more than $3 million to give ESPs additional hours.

In response, the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers said they appreciate the school district "getting to where they are," but that they know the district can get to $35,000 for ESPs. Educators said they were "ready to hold the line until we get there."