Minneapolis School Board Unanimously Votes to End Contract with Police

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minneapolis school board has voted to end its contract with the Minneapolis Police Department following the death last week of George Floyd while a police officer pressed his knee to the man’s neck.

The Star Tribune reports the vote was unanimous Tuesday.

Minneapolis Public Schools will stop further negotiations with the Police Department. Schools Superintendent Ed Graff must come up with a new plan for school safety by the board’s Aug. 18 meeting.

School board chairwoman Kim Ellison said in an interview that she values “people and education and life.” Ellison said she’s now convinced, “based on the actions of the Minneapolis Police Department, that we don’t have the same values.”

The Minneapolis and St. Paul school districts have faced criticism over the use of school resource officers. Both districts have sought to transform the role to be more of a mentor than an enforcer.