The Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board is preparing to extend its rec center hours in the event of a potential teachers strike.
Teachers and district leaders have mediated nine times but still haven't reached agreement on a new contract. A strike could begin as early as next Tuesday, November 11.
Recreation Director Newmann Thomas says they're prepared to staff up nine rec centers from 12:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. weekdays if that happens.
"We have what we call our Spark Studios," says Thomas. "This is our tech center, different technical STEM-type programs. We'll have arts and crafts-type program as well as enriching programs. So there may be some programs regarding education and homework, help-type of things to enrich."
Thomas says they also have a plan to serve meals provided by Minneapolis Public Schools should a strike take place.
"This will be the plan that we will start," said Thomas. "We will go back to with our leadership team. If the potential strike happens and extends, we will go back to our leadership team and and reevaluate."
The two sides are currently in a cooling-off period after mediating multiple times.