A preschool in Minneapolis decided to close temporarily because of the continued protests and riots in the city.
The Gardner School notified parents on Wednesday that the school would be closed until the end of 2020 because of the unrest in the downtown area where the school is located. The decision affects the school’s 14 staff members and 28 children set to attend this fall.
“This [civil unrest] has been top-of-mind for The Gardner School administration and there has been an ongoing internal discussion to determine the best way to keep our students and staff safe,” the school stated in the letter, which was obtained by Fox 9. “Despite the safety measures we have already put into place, we have made the difficult decision to temporarily close The Gardner School of Minneapolis.”
The Gardner School is hoping to relocate students to four of its other schools in nearby suburbs. Officials noted that the school intends on reopening in 2021 if conditions in the city improve.
The downtown area of Minneapolis was the site of a riot on Aug. 26 after a homicide suspect took his own life. Rumors that a police officer was responsible for the suspect’s death prompted the Minneapolis Police Department to release footage of the suicide, but it did not deter the riots. At least four buildings were set on fire, and several other businesses were looted.
Minneapolis officials have struggled to maintain the peace since George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died in police custody in May.
