MPS School Board

My name is Abdul Abdi, and I have the privilege of serving as the Minneapolis Public Schools District 1 School Board Director and Chair of the Finance Committee. I am the parent of MPS students, so I understand firsthand the hopes and concerns families have for their children’s education.

Over the past four years, I have provided transparent financial leadership, strengthened accountability, supported our educators, and kept students at the center of every decision. During significant budget challenges and unprecedented disruptions, I worked with families, staff, and colleagues to protect classrooms while maintaining the district’s long-term financial stability.

I am seeking re-election because every student deserves a high-quality education and the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their background or neighborhood. I remain committed to strengthening literacy and academic achievement, supporting teachers and staff, investing responsibly in our schools, and ensuring every student feels safe, valued, challenged, and prepared for college, career, and life.

I believe schools should have meaningful flexibility within a strong districtwide framework that ensures equity, accountability, and high expectations for every student.

Principals, educators, and school leadership teams know their students and communities best. Schools need the flexibility to meet the unique needs of their students. Principals, educators, and families should have a meaningful voice in decisions about staffing, scheduling, and student support. That flexibility encourages innovation, empowers educators, and allows schools to respond to local needs.

At the same time, flexibility must be balanced with equity, accountability, and responsible stewardship of district resources. Every student, regardless of their school or neighborhood, deserves access to excellent teachers, rigorous academics, special education services, and the support they need to succeed. The district should set clear standards, ensure resources are distributed fairly, and hold all schools accountable for student outcomes, while giving schools the flexibility to determine the best way to meet those standards.

Last year, our work on class size caps demonstrated what is possible when schools, families, and district leaders collaborate to create better learning environments while keeping students at the center of every decision. That experience reinforced my belief that the best solutions come through partnership, transparency, and listening to those closest to our students.

I will continue advocating for stronger collaboration between school communities and the district so we can empower our schools, support our educators, and ensure every student receives a high-quality education.

Growing enrollment is an important part of the solution, but it cannot be the only strategy for ensuring the long-term success of MPS. Families choose schools where their children will receive a high-quality education, feel safe, and have the opportunity to succeed. That means our first priority must be delivering excellent schools through strong academics, effective literacy instruction, student support, safe learning environments, and meaningful partnerships with families.

We should continue investing in programs that families value, including career and technical education, dual-language programs, advanced academics, arts, and college and career pathways. We must also strengthen neighborhood schools while preserving high-quality choice options and making the enrollment process welcoming and accessible.

At the same time, we must recognize the financial realities facing our district. As Chair of the Finance Committee, I know we cannot rely solely on future enrollment growth to solve our budget challenges. We must continue making responsible, data-driven financial decisions, improve operational efficiency, pursue additional state and federal resources, and ensure every dollar is invested where it has the greatest impact on student learning.

That’s why I supported the districtwide Transformation Plan. While difficult, it was developed with extensive community input and focused on creating a stronger, more sustainable future for our schools. The goal is to align our resources with student needs, strengthen academic opportunities, and ensure every child has access to a high-quality education.

My commitment is to balance responsible financial stewardship with continued investment in our students, educators, and school communities. By maintaining that balance, we can build a financially sustainable district that continues to provide excellent educational opportunities for every student.

Parents, students, educators, and community members should be true partners in shaping the future of our schools. My responsibility as a School Board member is not just to make decisions, but to listen before making them. The best decisions come from meaningful community engagement, transparency, and open communication. Every voice deserves to be heard and respected, and every perspective should help guide our work. When families and communities are genuinely included, we build trust, make better decisions, and create stronger schools where every student has the opportunity to succeed.

Concerns about student reading achievement are absolutely warranted, and they should keep all of us focused on what matters most—student success. While we’re not yet where we need to be, we are making meaningful progress. Minneapolis Public Schools has implemented the Science of Reading across our elementary schools and invested in evidence-based literacy instruction and teacher training. We must stay the course by continuing to support high-quality instruction, ongoing professional development for educators, early screening and intervention for struggling readers, and strong partnerships with families to reinforce learning at home. Reading is the foundation for success in every subject, and every child deserves the opportunity to read at grade level. I will continue advocating for proven strategies, accountability, and the resources our educators need so every student has the opportunity to achieve their full potential.