Charter school destroyed in civil unrest to open at Mall of America
A charter school that was destroyed in the civil unrest following the killing of George Floyd has a new temporary home at Mall of America.
The Minnesota Transitions Charter School (MTCS) will open a school site for its secondary school and its district offices on the third level of the Bloomington mall for the upcoming school year as their school is rebuilt at its original location in Minneapolis, a news release says.
“The destruction of our offices and school site was tragic, however, it has given us an opportunity to continue rethinking education," Brian Erlandson, superintendent for MTCS, said in a statement. "It has given us a chance to come back stronger and more innovative than ever.
“This new Mall of America school site allows us to do things differently by offering a variety of learning options for students who have not thrived in a traditional school model. Mall of America represents the center for our community, and we are beyond thrilled to enter into this unique partnership that we believe will create endless possibilities for our students," he added.
The release says the 17,000 square foot space will be "uniquely built to create a dynamic learning environment" that includes classrooms and common spaces to accommodate 150 students in grades 7-12. Not only that, but students will have the opportunity to learn from the business aspects of the mall through shadowing and internships.
Furnishings for the space are being donated by IKEA and TCF Bank is funding technology needs, the release says.
MTCS is starting the school year off with distance learning until at least Oct. 14 due to COVID-19, however the space at Mall of America will open Sept. 8 for staff and support for students who need one-on-one education.
