Adriana Cerrillo, 50, represents District 4 on the Minneapolis school board and is running for reelection. District 4 represents downtown and parts of south Minneapolis. Cerrillo is running unopposed.
Name: Adriana Cerrillo
Age: 50
Current day job: Has a business doing contract political work to advance the rights of immigrant and refugee communities; incumbent school board member.
Kids in district: One nephew graduated from MPS Online School, another attends Roosevelt High School.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Why are you running for reelection to the Minneapolis school board?
Because we must continue the great work that we are doing. Because representation matters. Because my community is asking me to continue being in this position so that we can continue to dive deeper into what needs to be done, and I am the person to do it. I’m not afraid of speaking the truth and holding each other accountable. So that we can deliver together for our kids.
What do you love about Minneapolis Public Schools?
More than anything, it’s our kids, it’s our children, it’s our youth. What’s not to love about them, right? Our staff. Not all of our staff. [laughter] Did she say that? Yes, I did. Some of our staff, let me rephrase that. The superintendent. The board, as well, even though it’s very challenging times.
Currently working a lot with the Minneapolis delegation, state representatives and state senators, and also with the county board and the [City] Council of Minneapolis, with new MFT [Minneapolis Federation of Teachers] leadership, also the ESPs [education support professionals].
We know the challenge: the system is the problem, not each other. We must unite and advocate for our kids. As a matter of fact, MFT is also doing some advocacy for the continuation of the ESSER [Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief] funding. So I’m doing everything that I can.
Minneapolis Public Schools enacted painful budget cuts last year when COVID relief funding expired and is expected to cut more this year. How do you think the school district should approach budget cuts when they’re necessary? What do you think needs to happen to shore up district finances so cuts are not necessary in the future?
What I’m doing is what I mentioned to you. I was the school board member that, along with Representative [Frank] Hornstein, brought together the Minneapolis delegation, the Hennepin County Board — currently doing work with Chair [Irene] Fernando and also Commissioner [Marion] Greene.
They are very incredible leaders, but I mean, I have reached the point that every single governing body has a responsibility and an obligation to invest in our kids. So we’re having those conversations currently. I’m not waiting, I’m doing it right now.
Basically, I’m bringing all of us together. I’m not going to stop until people get the point. We want change. We must invest in our babies. Shame on people that don’t see it that way, and that get politics in the way, and that is for both Democrats and Republicans. I’m the person that is not afraid to speak up the truth. I’ve got nothing to lose.
What are your thoughts on the school transformation process? Do you think the district needs to close or consolidate schools? What else do you hope comes out of the transformation process?
We’re too late. We should have started a long time ago with this. But it is what it is. I mean, we have gone through a lot. When Ed Graff decided to leave, and then having an interim [superintendent], and then a new superintendent. So it should have started earlier, bottom line.
Anyway, I don’t know where we are, because we have not started the process, but what I can tell you is that we have a lot of newcomers. That is poetic justice in the sense that we’re talking about money, first of all, that is not being accounted for. I don’t know where we are going to be. I don’t have a response to that.
What are the most important steps you think the district can take to reverse enrollment declines?
That’s the thing. I don’t feel like our numbers are declining. We have gained, I don’t know what’s the exact number of newcomers to the district. In that sense, immigrants, we are saving the district from lack of enrollment. We are, in some schools, at full capacity. I don’t think that we are talking about those realities. Even schools like Hmong International, a lot of our newcomers are there, and their numbers were really low.
What needs to be done for the families now that are being let down by the district? Because there has been a culture of unaccountability. It’s being present in the community. Number one is to put accountability in leadership, and that means school leadership: principals. What needs to be done is holding people accountable so that we can better serve our families.
There’s a growing demand in the district for language and cultural programs. How do you think the district should respond to those demands in a time of financial strain?
I actually started to advocate for the expansion of the Spanish dual-immersion program since Rochelle [Cox] was our interim [superintendent]. There is a popular demand — not just a demand, it’s a popular demand, from all of our families, not only families that speak Spanish. It’s an investment to really help to create bilingual leaders.
So it’s going to come to a point when we understand where we are with our buildings and the programs, and we continue the advocacy. How do we do it? We only do it together. I’m very hopeful because I will not stop advocating to fully fund our schools.
How do you think Minneapolis Public Schools can support and retain new immigrant families?
I feel like we are doing it. The first day of school, I came to help a family that was looking [at] options to come back to MPS. And when I came into the Davis Center, the admissions office was packed. It was overflowing with newcomers. I ended up staying for two hours to help translate.
We have an amazing welcoming staff who are mindful when it comes to newcomers and immigrant families. I’m very proud of the staff. The work they have done is incredible. My advocacy to bring in more diverse staff is paying off.
What are you proud of from your service on the school board?
So many things. Bringing interpreters to all of our school board meetings. That was hard work before getting elected, and then allocating the funding after getting elected. The communications department: now, everything that comes out to our families, it’s in our native tongue. That’s huge! That did not exist before.
Now, you go to the website, at least we can cover some of the most spoken languages. It gives you the option: Español, Somali, Hmong. Change of leadership. That’s historical. The first Latine academic department created in the history of this district, for goodness sake. The Anishinaabe resolution that I introduced, my first resolution ever, for something that was long due.
The relationships with our new leadership, with the board, I feel like it’s the fruits of the labor. It has not been easy. And when I take my nephew to school every day, I get to see our beautiful kids. I’m connected. So what I’m proud of: it’s community, the positive things that I do see, the endless possibilities.
What’s another school board priority of yours we haven’t talked about?
Holding each other accountable. My priority is to hold myself accountable and to deliver for our children.
