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School board elections in Minneapolis are held every two years. In 2026, Districts 1, 3, 5, and two at-large seats are up for election.

District 1 Map

District 1

Includes all of Northeast and most of University.

  • Edison High
  • Las Estrellas Elementary
  • Northeast Middle
  • Pillsbury Elementary
  • Pratt Elementary
  • Waite Park Elementary
  • Webster Elementary
Abdul Abdi - Candidate Profile Photo

Abdul
Abdi

District 1

I’m running for re-election to keep students at the center by listening to families, supporting educators, and working together to ensure every student feels valued, challenged, and prepared for the future.

Tell us about yourself and why you are running for MPS school board.

I’m Abdul Abdi, your District 1 School Board Director, Finance Chair, and an MPS parent. I’m running for re-election to keep students at the center by listening to families, supporting educators, and working together to ensure every student feels valued, challenged, and prepared for the future.

What are your thoughts on giving individual schools more autonomy over budget, staffing, curriculum, and scheduling decisions? What are the benefits and risks of school-level flexibility?

Schools need flexibility to meet their students’ needs, and their input is essential in decisions about staffing, scheduling, and student support. That flexibility should be balanced with equity and accountability. Last year, schools and district teams partnered on class size caps to create better learning environments and keep students at the center of every decision. I would encourage stronger collaboration between the school community and the district.

MPS enrollment has dropped by roughly 8,000 students since 2017, and it is projected to keep declining. Is increasing enrollment a viable solution to the budget crisis? If yes, what's your strategy? If no, how would you rightsize the budget instead?

Growing enrollment is part of the solution, but not the only one. We must provide great schools while making responsible, data-driven decisions. That’s why the Board moved forward with a districtwide Transformation Plan that includes community voices and builds a sustainable future for our students.

What do you see as the role of parent, student, and community voice in decisions that affect the Minneapolis Public Schools?

Parents, students, educators, and community members should be partners in every major decision. My role is to listen before acting. The best decisions come from meaningful engagement, transparency, and ensuring every voice is heard and reflected in the future of our schools.

A recent poll found that over 90% of parents are concerned that children in MPS are not reading on grade level. What steps will you take to address these concerns and improve grade-level reading?

Concerns are warranted, and they should keep all of us focused on improving student achievement. We’re not where we need to be, but we are making progress. I’ll continue supporting the Science of Reading, evidence-based instruction, teacher training, early intervention, and strong family partnerships to help every student read at grade level.

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