Minneapolis Public Schools has hired former St. Paul Schools District facilities director Tom Parent as its senior operations officer.  Karen DeVett left the position and the district in 2022.

Parent worked at St. Paul Public Schools for 13 years where he held multiple facilities roles, including leading a utilization analysis of district buildings when the district closed schools in 2021. Minneapolis Public Schools is about to go through a district "right-sizing" process, which is a similar process to what Parent led St. Paul Public Schools through in 2021.  

During his time at St Paul Public Schools, at least two women in high-level positions in the district quit due to Parent's "misogynistic treatment," according to the Pioneer Press. St. Paul Public Schools also paid a $16,000 settlement in 2019 to a former coworker of Parent who said he harassed her. Multiple women spoke out after the settlement about their own experiences of harassment while working for Parent.

"Minneapolis Public Schools conducts a thorough pre-employment vetting process for all its employees. This process includes checking references, past employment records, and background checks," a Minneapolis Public Schools statement reads in response to the hiring of Parent. "According to his supervisors and references, Mr. Parent displayed excellent leadership in St. Paul Public Schools, has been promoted, and remains in good standing with colleagues, supervisors, and supervisees within the St. Paul Public Schools community. We look forward to welcoming him to Minneapolis Public Schools."

Minneapolis Public Schools has also hired Ty Thompson, formerly of the North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale School District, for the district's new position of deputy superintendent. Thompson will supervise the district's associate superintendents and the communications, external relations, and climate and equity teams.

Parent and Thompson are the first two senior leaders Minneapolis Public Schools Superintendent Lisa Sayles-Adams has hired since she started as superintendent of Minneapolis Public Schools in February. Sayles-Adams was an associate superintendent in St. Paul Public Schools from 2014-2020.