For-Profit Firm To Run District In Minneapolis

By Joanna Richardson

The Minneapolis school board last week tapped a private, for-profit consulting firm to take over the duties of superintendent of the 44,000-student district.

Although other private companies have managed selected schools and services in other districts, or run a system on a temporary basis, the board's arrangement with Public Strategies Group Inc. appears to be the first of its kind.

Public Strategies, which is headed by Peter Hutchinson and Babak Armajani, both former state finance officials, could be under contract with the Minneapolis board as...