>> ERIC: TODAY CLOSES OUT THE FIRST WEEK ON THE JOB FOR THE MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM'S NEW SUPERINTENDENT.

LISA SAYLES-ADAMS, PREVIOUSLY OF EASTERN CARVER COUNTY SCHOOLS, IS THE FIRST PERMANENT SUPERINTENDENT THE DISTRICT HAS HAD SINCE 2022.

SAYLES-ADAMS BEGAN HER TEACHING CAREER IN MINNEAPOLIS AND RETURNS TO LEAD THE DISTRICT AS IT FACES BUDGET CONCERNS, TENSIONS WITH THE TEACHERS UNION, AND DEBATES OVER SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULA AND STUDENT RESOURCE OFFICERS.

LISA SAYLES-ADAMS, WELCOME TO "ALMANAC."

WHY ON EARTH DID YOU TAKE THIS CHALLENGE ON?

>> EXCITED ABOUT THE FORTUNATE.

THE OPPORTUNITY.

I WAS A FORMER TEACHER IN MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS, SO THAT'S WHERE I STARTED MY CAREER.

AND WHAT I HAVE BEEN SHARING WITH PEOPLE, I LEARN MY HY AS AN EDUCATOR IN MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

SO THE IMPORTANCE OF PUTTING STUDENTS FIRST.

PARTNERING WITH THE COMMUNITY.

AND MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

AND IN THE OTHER PIECE, WHEN I WAS AN UNDERGRAD GETTING MY TEACHER'S LICENSE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, TYPICALLY THE PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS, THAT'S WHAT THEY CALL PEOPLE BEFORE THEY GRADUATE, EITHER WANTED TO WORK IN ST. PAUL PUBLIC SCHOOLS OR MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND I WAS LUCKY TO GET MY START IN MINNEAPOLIS.

SO I HAVE AN AFFINITY.

BUT I ACTUALLY STARTED MY LENLT CAREER IN MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS AT STANDISH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WHICH I KNOW IS NO LONGER THERE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I HAVE AN AFFINITY FOR MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE OTHER PIECES I THINK I CAN HELP.

>> Cathy: WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT HOW YOU'RE GOING TO HELP.

I BET THIS FIRST WEEK ON THE JOB IS LIKE DRINKING FROM A FIRE HOSE.

WHAT'S JOB ONE IN THE NEXT THREE MONTHS?

>> JOB ONE IN THE NEXT THREE MONTHS FOR SURE WILL BE BUDGET.

AND THEN CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS.

AND THEN ALSO LISTENING, SO I'M GOING TO DO A 100-DAY LISTENING TOUR, SO REALLY HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY, IN OUR SCHOOLS AND REALLY LISTENING TO LISTENING TO WHAT IS HAPPENING, WHAT PEOPLE'S REPRESENTATIVES ARE.

I AM A DATA-DRIVEN LEADER, SO I DON'T LIKE TO MAKE DECISIONS BASED OFF OF ASSUMPTIONS.

SO I WANT TO LEARN AS MUCH N AS POSSIBLE.

LOOK AT THAT INFORMATION, AND THEN WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE TO LEAD AFTER THE 100 DAYS AND GOING INTO THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR?

>> Eric: THE INSOLVENCY POTENTIAL IN 20 25RBGS FINANCIAL INSOLVENCY, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT IS DOABLE, ARE YOU GOING TO NEED MORE HELP FROM THE STATE?

CAN YOU TUT EXPENSES?

WHAT'S YOUR SENSE OF HOW THE BUDGET PROCESS IS GOING TO GO, GOING FORWARD?

>> SURE, SO WHAT I WILL LET YOU KNOW, SO MY FIRST WEEK HAS REALLY BEEN GETTING OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY, GETTING OUT INTO THE SCHOOLS.

I WILL RECEIVE A BUDGET UPDATE NEXT WEEK.

TO PUT EXAMPLES AND MODELS TOGETHER.

SO I'LL HAVE MORE INFORMATION NEXT WEEK.

>> Eric: IS MORALE A PROBLEM AMONG TEACHERS AND PARENTS AND KIDS?

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY -- HOW ENTHUSIASTIC ARE PEOPLE ABOUT THE FUTURE?

PEOPLE ARE VERY ENTHUSIASTIC.

STUDENTS HAVE BEEN VERY ENTHUSE KNACK.

STAFF HAVE BEEN ENTHUSIASTIC.

I'VE HAD SOME PARENTS REACH OUT TO.

THERE'S A BUZZ OF EXCITEMENT, A BUZZ OF HOPE AND AS A BUZZ OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE FORWARD.

>> Cathy: OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS WE'VE TALKED TO, EVERYONE'S GOT THIS PROBLEM.

SCHOOL ATTEND YENS, POST-PANDEMIC, IS PRETTY TOUGH.

I KNOW YOU'VE SEEN IT TOO.

AND IT'S IN THE MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

ANY IDEA, EARLY IDEAS AS TO HOW TO TACKLE SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND GET KIDS INTERESTED IN COMING BACK TO SCHOOL?

>> YEAH, I THINK BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR STUDENTS, ENSURING THAT THEY FEEL A SENSE OF PURPOSE, THAT THEY FEEL SEEN, VALUED AND HEARD IN OUR BUILDINGS.

MAKING CONNECTIONS WITH TEACHERS, WITH THEIR PEERS.

AND THEN MAKING SURE THAT SCHOOL IS ENGAGING AND EXCITING.

>> Eric: DO YOU HAVE ANY EARLY THOUGHTS ON RESOURCE OFFICERS IN THE SCHOOLS?

THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED IN MINNEAPOLIS RIGHT NOW.

>> WELL, WE DON'T HAVE RESOURCE OFFICERS, SO WE HAVE OUR OWN SYSTEM THAT'S BEEN IN PLACE, AND I'VE GOTTEN FEEDBACK TODAY FROM OUR PRINCIPALS THAT IT'S WORKING QUITE WELL.

GLSDZ WHAT'S THE SYSTEM?

>> SO WE HAVE STAFF THAT ARE NOT POLICE OFFICERS.

BUT THEY HAVE TRAINING IN SECURITY AND REALLY BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH STUDENTS.

AND THEY ACTUALLY PARTNER WITH OUR PRINCIPALS.

THEY HAVE A FEW SCHOOLS THAT THEY'RE ASSIGNED.

THEIR MOBILE.

AND THEY GET RIGHT IN AND THEY KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY, WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE DISTRICTS, AND THE PRINCIPALS FEEL VERY SUPPORTED.

>> Eric: HOPE YOU COME BACK AND SEE US OCCASIONALLY TO GIVE US AN UPDATE ON HOW THINGS ARE GOING.

>> OKAY.

>> Eric: THANKS A LOT.