The 2022 election was a big election for the Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) Board of Education and the upcoming year will be similarly important for the MPS Board. Five new school board members will join four board members whose seats were not up for election this year.

“One of the first things I'd like to do is get a handle on our Comprehensive District Design," said Collin Beachy, one of the new MPS Board Members in a KARE 11 article. "The most important decision is going to come right in the first six months, and that is we're hiring a new superintendent.”

Five new Board Members were elected last week making up more than half of the new Board of Directors: 

Special education teacher Collin Beachy won an at-large seat. Beachy chose to run after the murder of George Floyd, according to an interview with KARE 11.

Sonya Emerick, an MPS parent of a special education student, won the second at-large seat, narrowly beating out former Board Member Kerry Jo Felder who once represented District 4.

Abdul Abdi, an MPS parent, ran unopposed in District 1 in Northeast Minneapolis.

Fathia Feerayarre, another MPS parent, ran unopposed in District 3 in South Minneapolis.

Lori Norvell, a former MPS math teacher, will represent District 5 in South Minneapolis

2022 was a challenging year for the entire MPS community. Spring 2022 beget a three-week teacher’s strike. Additionally, MPS Superintendent Ed Graff stepped down from his position. And the district is settling into its Comprehensive District Design and the Board must hire a new superintendent within the next six months.

The new Board Members will join MPS Board Members Sharon El-Amin (District 2), Adriana Cerrillo (District 4), Ira Jourdain (District 6), and Kim Ellison (at-large).