Mpls. Public Schools to take over contract alternative school

Minneapolis Public Schools will take over a contract alternative school with mostly Somali students because of alleged irregularities and conflicts of interest by the nonprofit's board members.

Heritage Academy of Science and Technology was also operating at a deficit of more than $64,000, and did not offer a plan for paying back the debt. Abdi Abdulle, a spokesperson for one of two parent leadership groups at the school, said the group supports the district's action.

"This is not about race. It is not about Somali community tribal issues. It is about individuals that are very controversial in the community. They have their own agenda, their own self-interest," he said. "And to that we say no."

But Hassan Mohamud, a St. Paul imam and new member of Heritage Academy's board of directors, said he was told the school was operating with a financial surplus and doesn't think the school district is being fair to the board members or the Somali community.

Principal Jean Sorensen said the transition takes place next week and that students shouldn't notice a difference.

"Students will see the same teachers in their classroom, the school day will look the same, the school calendar will look the same," she said.

For the last seven years, Heritage has operated independently as a nonprofit.

Clarification (Oct. 28, 2015): The original version of this story was unclear on the nature of a parents group's concerns with how the school was run. The group, led by parent and teacher Abdi Abdulle, was concerned that the nonprofit board running the school didn't have plans for paying down its $64,000 debt, among other issues.