FOCUS - December 2024
School Board action addresses $26 million budget gap for 2025-26 school year
The Anoka-Hennepin School Board endorsed a $26 million budget reduction and reallocation plan at its November 25 meeting, a decision that completes a process that unfolded over the past several months and allows planning for the 2025-26 school year to remain on schedule.
Three proposals were on the agenda for consideration. After recommendations one and two along with modifications to proposals were considered, the board voted unanimously in support of the Superintendentβs recommendation number 3.
By the numbers: The School Board action wraps Phase 2 of the Budget Reduction and Realignment Plan, reducing a total of $14.14 million in district administration and central services by reducing approximately 200 positions.
- Phase 1: $5.1 million reduction in district and central office/services effective July 1, 2024.
- Phase 2: $9.04 million reduction in district and central office/services effective July 1, 2025.
- No reductions to teachers or instructional staff at school sites for 2025-26.
- One-time use of district fund balance and reduction of $5 million in strategic investments to reach the budget reduction and reallocation goal.
- No requirement to pursue a referendum election.
π° Read the full update from the Nov. 25 School Board meeting.
π» Visit ahschools.us/budget to find updated progress and plans.
Preparing for the 2025-26 school year: Enroll, or explore school choices in Anoka-Hennepin Schools
β° Families have many choices for their studentβs education. Now is the time to discuss plans for the upcoming school year.
What Anoka-Hennepin families can expect: Students currently enrolled at an Anoka-Hennepin school are assigned to attend school based on their home address. Students transitioning to elementary, middle or high school next year received an initial placement email the week of Dec. 2, 2024, indicating the assigned school for each student.
βWhy it matters: Anoka-Hennepin wants to confirm plans for the upcoming school year with families as soon as possible to ensure a smooth transition to middle and high school.
Families that live outside of a school or district attendance area can act now to request an in-district transfer or open enrollment application for the upcoming school year.
If your family plans to stay at the school they are assigned to based on your home address, no additional action is needed.
Specialty and magnet school options provide family choice in Anoka-Hennepin
π Anoka-Hennepin Schools offers 12 schools that provide in-demand educational options such as the arts; science, technology, math, engineering and biomedical sciences (STEM/STEAM), as well as International Baccalaureate (IB).
Specialty and magnet school options are available to all students at no additional cost, designed to provide family choice. Students who live within the Anoka-Hennepin boundaries are eligible to apply to any of the specialty or magnet schools. The magnet schools belong to Northwest Suburban Integration School District (NWSISD) which provides transportation. Students may join the specialty programs using an in-district transfer process without transportation.
π¬ Learn more about specialty and magnet programs in Anoka-Hennepin.
Action of the School Board - November 25, 2024
Action of the School Board provides brief summaries of Anoka-Hennepin School Board meetings. View the latest Action of the School Board from the November 25, 2024 meeting.
For agendas, meetings and minutes visit ahschools.us/schoolboard.
New tastes put to the test: Students serve up opinions on future school meals
π§π»βπ³ When it comes to determining which new foods make the cut for school menus, Anoka-Hennepin asks the people with the most important palate: Students.
The Director of Child Nutrition, Noah Atlas, collaborated with Coon Rapids High School Family and Consumer Sciences teacher Aimee Halvorson and approximately 30 students in her Culinary and Nutrition class to sample and provide helpful feedback on food items under consideration for school menus this spring, and next school year.
π Read the full article to see food items sampled. π₯π³ππ₯π
π· View photos from the taste testing opportunity at Coon Rapids High School.
π° View another story about the taste testing in the Star Tribune.
Seasonal concerts at district middle and high schools
β If you are looking for holiday entertainment, look no further than your school community. There are various music concerts at district middle and high schools in December and January.
π€π·π»Those performing at a special location or requiring tickets include additional notes. All events take place at the stated school unless otherwise noted. π View a listing of upcoming music and other seasonal performances.
Kindness takes all of us: winners of annual kindness poster contest announced
π As part of Octoberβs National Bullying Prevention campaign, Anoka-Hennepin held its 21st annual kindness poster contest.
π¨ About the contest: This yearβs theme was Kindness Takes All of Us. Students were encouraged to create a poster with that message in mind and delivered a variety of themes to spread kindness in their schools. Nearly 150 posters representing each schoolβs winning submissions advanced to the final balloting at the ESC on Nov. 5. Voters were asked to select the best poster for each grade level and were able to submit their votes electronically.
π§π»βπ¨ Visit the district website to view the winning poster for this year's kindness poster contest.
District high schools to host Education, Employment, Enlistment Palooza on Dec. 14
πΌ Anoka-Hennepin career and college specialists from the districtβs high schools have collaborated to host the Third Annual Career and College Palooza on Saturday, Dec. 14 from 8:30-11 a.m. at Champlin Park High School.
What to expect: The event will highlight a variety of college, career and post-high school planning options for all high school students and families. The format will include a mix of scheduled sessions on focused topics. π» Learn more about the event and view the complete schedule.
College in the Schools delivers $1,000,000 in college tuition credit for students
Increasing academic rigor with college-level courses for 381 high school students has resulted in 1,895 credits and associated value through participation in the University of Minnesotaβs College in the Schools program (CIS) during the 2023-24 school year.
Why it matters: Students can get a money-saving running start into college by earning credit along with gaining exposure and rigor to challenging college coursework. Participation can help students make decisions about their post-secondary plans and how college can help them reach their goals.
Multiple benefits: With tuition at the U of M set at $557.55 per credit last year, the tuition-free credits earned by Anoka-Hennepin students in CIS classes equate to more than $1,043,355 in saved tuition fees. In addition, CIS enjoys strong support from participants with 9 of 10 students involved recommending it to others. Credits earned are recognized by the University of Minnesota along colleges and universities across the state and nation.
Learn more about the CIS program and its impact on district students.
District to host hiring event for operational and student support positions Jan. 16 at Champlin Park High School
The Anoka-Hennepin School District will host an in-person hiring event for operational and student support positions Thursday, Jan. 16 from 3:30-5:30 p.m. at Champlin Park High School. The hiring event will take place in the school cafeteria located at 6025 109th Ave. N (Enter Door E4).
Anoka-Hennepin Schools is a great place to live and work. Our communities work together to provide residents with safe and friendly neighborhoods, high-quality schools, a wide range of business and economic opportunities, beautiful parks and abundant recreational activities.
Join us to learn about employment opportunities and have a same-day, on-site interview for various positions. Participants are strongly encouraged to begin filling out applications ahead of time at ahschools.us/jobs and come prepared to interview with hiring managers.
π» Learn more about the Jan. 16 hiring event at Champlin Park High School.
District student-athletes celebrate signing letters of intent on National Signing Day
βπ» Student-athletes from Anoka-Hennepin high schools (Andover, Anoka, Blaine and Champlin Park) participated in events Nov. 13 to mark the start of the NCAA early signing period. At the events, student-athletes signed letters of intent from colleges and universities nationwide to continue their academic and athletic careers.
π Congratulations to all of these student-athletes, and those who will sign their letters of intent later. Anoka-Hennepin is proud! See who signed during the early period and view photos from signing day events on the district website.
2024-25 fall sports and activities round-up
With the fall sports and activities season wrapping up, hereβs a look at whoβs heading to state, and how they fared when they performed and played. Also included is information about postseason awards gathered by student-athletes and coaches.
ππ»ββοΈ β½ π Read the final fall sports and activities round-up with updates from girls swimming and diving, adapted soccer and football.
District seeking feedback on Wellness Policy
π Every three years, the Anoka-Hennepin School District and its Health, Wellness and Safety Committee conduct a review of Wellness Policy 533.5. The review of the Wellness Policy is required by law and is done to help maintain compliance, assess progress and determine areas in need of improvement.
As part of the review, Anoka-Hennepin is seeking feedback and comments from district stakeholders, including parents/guardians, students, members of the community and staff. If interested in providing feedback or comments regarding the Wellness Policy, the deadline is Jan. 3, 2025. π» Visit the district website to learn more and provide feedback on the district Wellness Policy.
β Winter classes and activities open for youth
Try something new! Have fun! Make friends! Registration is now open for youth enrichment classes and activities.
Anoka-Hennepin Community Education hosts a wide variety of classes, clubs, recreational activities, and events to enhance your child's academic and social experiences. Classes are offered after-school, in the evening and over the weekend β enhancing opportunities outside of the traditional school day.
