Cyclone Chronicles

We had such a positive response with our apparel fundraiser, we are having another opportunity to order before the holidays! They will make amazing gifts!

The store is going to be open through November 8th if you would like to order. Remember a dollar of every item purchased will go to special education students to help fund their community outings.

Click on the picture to place your order!

The Forgotten Girl by India Hill Brown

When Iris sneaks out at night to make snow angels, she was not expecting to raise the ghost of Avery Moore, a girl her own age; but bringing to light the segregated cemetery seems like a good idea for the school project about the history of her small North Carolina town, --only it seems that if Avery gets everything she wants, Iris will join her as a ghost, best friends forever.

This month, students at Lincoln Elementary School for the Arts and AMSA embarked on a one-of-a-kind project that combined creativity, collaboration, and a whole lot of imagination. In a fun twist on peer mentorship, first graders became monster designers, and eighth grade WEB leaders brought those designs to life—one stitch at a time!

After a week of sewing and stuffing, the monsters were delivered to the 1st graders. As the eighth graders presented the finished monsters to their first-grade partners, the room filled with laughter and excitement. To share the love for reading that started the monster project, AMSA students read books to their younger buddies.

We welcome our 8th grade families to join us for a STEAM information session, tours with our current students, and an opportunity to view STEAM projects in development and on display.

Interested in applying to the STEAM Certification Pathway at Anoka High School?

Students can apply at nws.k12.mn.us

Athletics

November

Wrestling Clinic- Try it out week Grade 6-8 Co-Ed starts November 11

Wrestling Grade 6-8 Co-Ed starts November 18

December

7/8 grade Boys Basketball- starts December 2, 2024 (limited space, register early)

7/8 grade Girls Basketball- starts December 3, 2024 (limited space, register early)

Enrichment

December

D&D Mini Campaign- start December 4th

Cooking 103- starts December 5th

Ski/Snowboard club- 5 Fridays starts December 6th

For more information please reach out to

Stefanie Nelson,

Community Schools Coordinator at 763-506-5012

A number of factors converged in early 2024 that led to the need to reduce district expenditures by $26 million. Anoka-Hennepin acted quickly in the spring to plan a two-phased budget reduction and realignment process.

• Phase 1: $5.1 million in central administration and services were reduced for the 2024-25 budget in an effort to mitigate the impact of additional cuts for the 2025-26 budget.

• Phase 2: The district is currently determining a solution to address a $21 million budget reduction gap. Community meetings were held Sept. 25 - Oct. 10 in combination with a feedback process on two recommendations. A final decision is expected in November.

Factors impacting the district budget: The elimination of federal pandemic relief funds, higher than budgeted employee contract settlements, the impact of inflation on transportation and other operations, limited new revenue from state and federal sources and new requirements without funding support have developed a need to reduce expenditures by $26 million by the 2025-26 school year.

Proposed solutions: Anoka-Hennepin Schools have followed School Board direction to provide a reduction plan that cuts away from the classroom, particularly for the district’s youngest learners. The draft budget solution recommendations impact central services before schools with 53 percent of the reductions taking place at the district office/central services area, and 47 percent impact at the school level. The board is also studying a plan that would make additional central services and administrative cuts but spare reductions in schools allowing community members to decide on that impact through a levy referendum election in the fall of 2025.

Two options have been proposed for School Board consideration:

• Option 1: $21 million total reduction.

• Option 2: Make additional central services/administrative reductions and authorize an operating referendum election in the fall of 2025.

Looking ahead: Following robust community feedback for an initial draft plan, draft proposals are expected to be shared at the Monday, Oct. 29 school board meeting and eventually adopted at the Monday, November 25 school board meeting. This timeline is required ahead of key planning decisions on student registration and staffing decisions prior to the 2025-26 school year.

Provide feedback: School Board expectations provide for a process that encourages robust community and staff input prior to approval of the final recommendation.

• Community meetings were held Sept. 25-Oct. 10.
  View the community meeting held at Coon Rapids High School on Sept. 25, which was live streamed and archived on the district YouTube channel. The same presentation will be given at the following four community meetings.
  
  

• Provide your feedback for school board consideration.

Embed video in e-news: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yqhw7cC2Oqw&t=2s

Learn more: ahschools.us/budget