Over 100 people gathered in the Sanford School auditorium on July 8, 2026 to learn more about Minneapolis Public School (MPS) plans for building a new Anishinabe Academy school on the Cooper School grounds at 3239 44th Ave S.
Panelists at the meeting included Laura Sullivan, Anishinabe Academy Principal; Jennifer Simon, Director of Indian Education; Louise Matson, Division of Indian Work and Steering Committee Member; Sam Olbekson, and architect, Full Circle Design; as well as Tom Parent, Senior Operation Office and Dan Goemann, MPS Director of Facilities.
The project is expected to cost between $90 and $105 million. Concerns have been raised about the high cost of a new building while the district is facing a budget shortfall. Some are also concerned about the loss of public access to the green space, field and recently completed new playground.
The funding for the construction of the building would not come from the school’s general operating funds where there is a projected shortfall, but would come from separate funds through capital improvements bonds or borrowing that would need to paid back over time.
While no vote was taken, several observers said that, based on the comments, and in the audience response to comments, that the project has both support and opposition among the community.
The meeting was co-hosted by the Longfellow Community Council and Ward 12 Council Member Aurin Chowdhury, who asked questions of the panelists that were submitted online.
An estimated 25 people also attended the meeting online and a recording of it is expected to be released soon.
The meeting included a review of the plans shared earlier with the board as well as new renderings with perspectives from all four sides of the building. There were details of how the design was intended to incorporate Native American culture, educational needs specific to the students being served, and nature and green space throughout the site.
The renderings also showed a soccer field that spanned the length of block and an entrance to underground parking.
According to Parent, and other panelists, while the final design is still in process, the grounds, including the two planned playgrounds and field area, will be open to the public in the evenings and weekends like all other MPS schools. The school district is also committed to saving and using the new playground equipment at the new school or another in the greater Longfellow area.
District officials also clarified that enrollment would be open to students from the neighborhood and community wide, and that the plans will be shared again with the school board in November.
MPS Project Manager and architect Mauricio Ochoa confirmed that a traffic study will be completed but it is unclear when.
“I think it went well and of the people who got up and spoke, the vast majority were for the Anishinabe Academy at the former Cooper site,” said Cynthis Towne who is generally supportive of the proposal.
If people have ideas about how to be informed as this project is planned, both the Longfellow Council and Council Member Chowdhury expressed interest in getting feedback.
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