Board Chairwoman Zuki Ellis took the rare step of responding to the crowd following the public comment period. Reading from a statement, she noted all seven board members were endorsed by the teachers union and that teachers helped choose the new superintendent.
Ellis warned that a strike authorization would hurt positive momentum in the district.
“We have all worked hard to get to this point. Now is not the time to divide and disrupt,” she said.
Teachers, as well as the bargaining units for educational assistants and school and community professionals, will vote Wednesday afternoon whether to authorize a strike with 10 days’ notice.
The St. Paul Federation of Teachers says results will be released either late Wednesday or early Thursday.