Mpls superintendent candidate holding four public meetings this week

The woman being tapped to run the Minneapolis School District will take part in four meetings this week to meet the community.

Bernadeia Johnson has been an administrator in Minneapolis for a few years - most recently as deputy superintendent. These meetings will be the first time she faces the public as the only candidate for the top job after current superintendent Bill Green retires in June.

The school board announced earlier this month that Johnson was its only candidate for the job. She had long been considered a leading candidate, but the move still surprised some people for its suddenness. It means Minneapolis won't conduct a national search or even consider a list of a few semi-finalists, as St. Paul did last year.

The community meetings will be held Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights. The board will then have a job interview with Johnson on Thursday and a vote to formally hire her could happen as early as next week.

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Community Meetings:

- Monday, Feb. 1, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m., Mpls Park Board HQ, 2117 W. River Road

- Tuesday, Feb. 2, 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m., Mpls American Indian Center, 1530 E. Franklin

- Wednesday, Feb. 3, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., Field School, 4654 4th Av. S