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Minneapolis public school teachers who have accommodations to work from home cannot be forced to return to in-person work after a Hennepin County judge issued a temporary restraining order against the state’s third-largest district.

The ruling applies to any Minneapolis Public School staff member who has work-from-home accommodations or is currently seeking them. 

Greta Callahan, president of the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers, said Saturday’s ruling was a win for the union. Her group on Thursday filed an unfair labor practice with the Public Employment Relations Board and an injunction with the court.  

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“The judge’s order says if you are in the process of receiving accommodation, you can work safely from home,” Callahan said. “If nothing else, those who now can seek this can at least breathe a little easier knowing they can work from home.”

Teachers reported back to school buildings Monday to prepare for the resumption of in-person learning. The district is planning to welcome kindergarteners through second grade students back to classrooms the week of Feb. 8, and older students throughout the month. It will be the first time most students have been inside their classrooms since Gov. Tim Walz ordered schools to close in March to contain the spread of COVID-19.

District officials said the order affirms the work they were already doing. As of last week, the district had received 232 requests for accommodation, of which 172 were granted and 60 were in process. The ruling requires the district to notify employees that they still can make requests.  

“We are fully complying with the order,” said Superintendent Ed Graff in a statement Monday. “Our concern is making sure employees who qualify for ADA and FMLA accommodations are able to receive them, and that we follow the governor’s order to provide accommodations to the extent possible.”

Minnesota’s pilot program to vaccinate teachers

Representatives from the Minneapolis teachers union have said they want every staff member to get a chance at a COVID-19 vaccination before returning to in-person teaching. They’re also asking the district to implement class size caps and social distancing. 

The order, issued by Judge Susan Robiner, stated that 40 percent of district students have opted to remain in distance learning, so it’s reasonable to assume the district could keep the educators who have accommodations in remote instruction rather than sending them back to school buildings.

The next injunction hearing in this case will be held Feb. 9. 

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Correction (Feb. 1, 2021): A previous version of this story had incorrect information about when first and second grade students in Minneapolis Public Schools are returning to in-person classes. The above version has been corrected and updated.

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Elizabeth Shockman

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Minneapolis public school teachers who have accommodations to work from home cannot be forced to return to in-person work this week after a Hennepin County judge issued a temporary restraining order against the state’s third-largest district.

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