September 23, 2022

The district has a system in place to ensure students are receiving a high-quality education while maximizing the efficiency of the educational supports, programming and resources. By acting now, the district aims to equitably serve all students for years to come. Watch a three-minute video to get insight into the need for boundary changes, now.

District leaders explained initial attendance boundary change proposals for elementary schools and Blaine-area middle schools at community meetings held Sept. 14-22. A formal presentation of all proposals and initial feedback from the community will be presented to the School Board at its regularly scheduled meeting Monday, Sept. 26.

• View proposed boundaries.
• Learn more about the timeline for implementation.
• Read updates shared districtwide, and by community clusters.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The school district is compiling frequently asked questions (FAQs) received from the community and employees related to the process for establishing new attendance boundaries for schools. Visit ahschools.us/boundaryFAQs to review a list of answers and explanations.

Feedback

Attendance boundary feedback is being formally collected at ahschools.us/boundaryfeedback. Families and community members are encouraged to complete the survey to ensure ideas, concerns and input are considered in future planning and discussions. The Anoka-Hennepin School District appreciates and values family and community participation in the boundary change process.

Anoka-Hennepin Schools, with support from the district’s employee wellness program, Where Wellness Matters, will offer flu shots at several schools and sites Sept. 26-Oct. 13.

Due to limited staffing, employees are required to schedule appointments to attend and complete an immunization screening questionnaire when registering (photo of UnitedHealthcare insurance card required). Participants should stay home if feeling sick.

Members of an Anoka-Hennepin UnitedHealthcare health insurance plan may receive the flu shot without a co-payment at one of the available sites. Anoka-Hennepin’s self-insured health plan will cover the cost of the shots for all covered employees.

All employees that are not covered by an Anoka-Hennepin health care plan may receive a flu shot for $45, which may be paid at the clinic site via cash or check.

Learn more about the flu shot clinics and register for an immunization appointment.

The Anoka-Hennepin School Board is seeking community input as they begin the process of hiring a new superintendent. Community input meetings are set for Tuesday, Sept. 27 at 6 p.m. at both Champlin Park High School and Coon Rapids High School. Stakeholders can select the meeting site that is the most convenient, they will both follow the same format.

Dr. Kenneth Dragseth and Dr. Antoinette Johns from the firm School Exec Connect will organize the meeting to determine the strengths, challenges, and the characteristics or skills to search for in the next superintendent. Additionally, anonymous written feedback can be provided to the consultants by completing a survey at ahschools.us/superintendentsearch. This information will be used to develop a profile of the desired skills and characteristics in the next superintendent. All replies will be anonymous. Please submit feedback by Oct. 4.

The Anoka-Hennepin School Board will conduct interviews and complete the superintendent hiring process by early December. The new superintendent will begin service with the 2023-24 school year.

Anoka-Hennepin and Allina Health have partnered to provide district teachers and staff with a library of resources to support employee health and mental wellness.

New episodes of the SupportingYoU podcast have been added and cover the topics of: feeling validation, progressive muscle relaxation, effective communication strategies, recognizing unhelpful thoughts and celebrating small successes.

Listen to the SupportingYoU podcast to learn how you, an educator, can help support student mental wellness in your classroom.

Listen by visiting our website at ahschools.us/supportingyou.

A total of 286 students from the five traditional high schools in Anoka-Hennepin Schools were named Advanced Placement (AP) scholars based on scores on AP course exams taken during the 2021-22 school year.

Anoka-Hennepin offers more than two dozen different AP courses to high school students which have been audited and approved by the College Board, a nonprofit organization of colleges, universities, secondary schools and higher education institutions focused on college readiness programs. Students who complete an AP course can take an optional exam and earn college credit, depending on their score on the exam and admission requirements at the college or university they attend. An AP exam score of 3 or higher (on a scale of 1 to 5) earns credit at many of the nation’s colleges and universities.

Learn more about AP Scholars and see who was recognized from Anoka-Hennepin high schools.

The Anoka-Hennepin School Board approved pay rate increases for substitute positions at the work session on Sept. 12. While the district continues to fill open positions each day, the greatest number of openings remains in operational, seasonal and substitute positions. Anoka-Hennepin is working diligently to fill vacancies across the district.

Anoka-Hennepin is seeking applicants for substitute positions in the following operational areas with hourly wage rates of:

• Child Nutrition - $15.30/hour
• Custodial - $16.50/hour
• Secretary/Clerical - $15/hour
• Paraeducators
  
  • Bus - $16/hour
  • Elementary, secondary, supplemental programs, ESL - $16.50/hour*
  • Special Education, technology, COTA, Health - $17.50/hour*
  • LPN, SPED-LPN - $23.50/hour
• School monitors - $16.50/hour
• Education Support Professionals
  
  • Early Childhood Screener - $29.80/hour
• Job coaches - $16.50/hour

*Experienced substitutes who were paid a higher rate in 2021-22 will continue to be paid at that rate.

Substitute teachers can earn $180/day or a prorated amount for a half day assignment. Anyone with a bachelor’s degree is eligible to become a substitute teacher. For more information on how to become a substitute teacher, contact the Employee Services department at 763-506-1100 or email Debbie Richter at debbie.richter@ahschools.us.}

Temporary or seasonal position pay rate increases:

• Custodial - $16.50/hour
• Clerical - $15/hour
• Weight room/camp non-certified - $16/hour
• Weight room/camp certified - $26/hour
• Transportation router - $26.02/hour

Whether you’re looking for part-time, full-time, or seasonal employment, Anoka-Hennepin has opportunities for any phase of your work life. Visit ahschools.us/jobs or call 763-506-JOBS for more information and to apply today!

September is National Suicide Awareness Prevention Month, a time to reinforce that suicide is preventable and an effort that benefits from a community-wide approach.

Are you or someone you love struggling with a mental health crisis? 24-hour mental health support is available in the Twin Cities Metro area by visiting justcallmn.com. Just Call is an online resource to help you find the support you need.

For those who need immediate support, you are not alone. 24-hour support is available by phone by calling or texting the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or on the Crisis Text Line by texting MN to 741741.

Jefferson Elementary School assistant principal Sarah Duffy had a musical experience of a lifetime when she was hired to play in the orchestra that supports Michael Bublé’s tour, which made a recent stop at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

“It was a thrilling experience,” Duffy said. “I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to perform.”

Read more about Duffy's performance.

Technology plays an important role in preparing students for life, and Chromebooks are utilized as a daily learning tool in Anoka-Hennepin middle and high school classrooms. Anoka-Hennepin students in grades 6-12 are assigned a Chromebook from the school district to ensure access to technology systems that support classroom learning.

New this year: Device Protection Plan.

Encourage students, families to visit ahschools.us/techprotect to learn more and select or decline coverage on their district-issued Chromebooks. Flyers will be available in middle and high school buildings prior to parent-teacher conferences in October.

Metro North Adult Basic Education will be hosting free community sessions to help those who are not familiar with services in their area understand what is available. The New Americans Academy will take place over seven weeks and will feature classes on fire and police, emergency medical services, the legal system, the library, healthy eating, adult education and more. The first session is scheduled for Monday, October 3. Get more information, register to attend an upcoming community session.

The Parent Involvement office will be offering free workshops again this school year for PTO, booster club and other nonprofit members. The first, ‘Starting the Year Off Right’, will be held October 11 at the Educational Service Center in Anoka. Session topics will include the importance of meeting agendas, minutes, working as a team and much more! Visit www.ahschools.us/ptoboosterworkshops to get more information about each session and submit your registration!

• School Board meeting preview, Sept. 26.
• Resources available for teachers and staff serving students who have a seizure disorder.
• SEED seminars to be held for staff again in 2022.
• Adult school meal prices to increase for the 2022-23 school year.
• Parent/guardian participation needed for district Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC).

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