Action of the School Board

October 24, 2022

Michelle Trelstad, executive director of community and government relations, and Tim Maurer, MCEA Region 6 representative, recognized the Anoka-Hennepin Adventures Plus program, district’s student services department, and Anoka County Job Training Center for their work with the Future Leaders Project. The Future Leaders program creates employment opportunities and job training for high school students, focusing on recruiting and retaining students of color.

Interim superintendent Kate Maguire updated the School Board on the upcoming magnet and specialty school application process. She informed the Board of an upcoming meeting between the Tribal Nations Educational Committee and school district leaders, which seeks to build relationships to ensure optimal support for American Indian students in the Anoka-Hennepin School District. Lastly, Maguire congratulated district athletes and teams taking part in Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) state tournaments and events so far this fall, including the Andover boys’ soccer team and tennis player Alex Repplier of Champlin Park High School.

Anoka-Hennepin Schools has conducted an annual community survey with Morris Leatherman for 20 years. This level of commitment for feedback allows the School Board to track data over time, monitor trends in the community, and adjust district operations to meet community expectations. Peter Leatherman presented findings and analysis from the 2022 community survey. The survey contacted 500 randomly selected residents from all areas of the district via phone during the month of July 2022.

Watch the board meeting discussion on the community survey results.

Dr. Josh Delich, associate superintendent for high schools, informed the School Board of the MSHSL Foundation Form A grant process and presented the application and resolution to the board for approval. The grant funds extracurricular activities and encourages participation in high school fine arts and athletics. The board voted unanimously to approve the resolution.

Dr. Delich provided the School Board with information on the Anoka-Hennepin Virtual Academy, a grade 9-12 online high school currently serving 134 full-time students and 405 part-time students. With COVID-19 federal relief funds set to expire, which funded the AHVA program, the school district is recommending a transition to the StepAhead Online format for the 2023-24 school year, which was used before the pandemic to provide online learning options for students. The StepAhead Online format offers both full and part-time learning options, both core and some elective offerings. The matter will come back to the School Board for consideration at its Nov. 7 meeting.

Watch the board meeting discussion on the Anoka-Hennepin Virtual Academy.

Dr. Joel VerDuin, chief technology and information officer, shared information with the School Board about Oct. 1 enrollment numbers in the Anoka-Hennepin School District. VerDuin said K-12 enrollment is up by 11 students over last year, though projections called for an increase of 317 students. Numbers are up for the K-5 age cohort by 334 students. Conversely, middle school enrollment is down by 45 students and high school enrollment is down by 278. VerDuin also noted a large increase in the number of students participating in the free and reduced lunch program, at 3,500 more students than pre-pandemic.

Watch the board meeting discussion on the October 1 enrollment report.

Dr. Johnna Rohmer-Hirt, director of research, evaluation and testing, led a comprehensive overview of the district’s efforts to meet the goals of Minnesota’s Best Workforce plan. The plan measures performance in achieving school readiness, reading well by third grade, closing achievement gaps, career and college readiness, and improving student graduation rates. The presentation also included key data points from achievement and integration programming and how they support the overall achievement goals for all district students. Anoka-Hennepin remains diligent in striving for continuous improvement in racial and economic integration, student academic achievement, equitable educational opportunities and the reduction of academic disparities based on student diversity.

Watch the board meeting discussion of the World's Best Workforce and Achievement and Integration overview.

1. Minutes from 10/10/22 Board Work Session.

2. Retirements, Resignations, Terminations, Layoffs and Recalls, Leaves and Modified Leaves of Absence, Appointments.

3. Cash Disbursements Report.

4. Cash Balance Report.

5. Donations & Scholarship Report.

6. Monthly Revenue & Expenditures.

7. MSHSL Co-op between Andover and Blaine High Schools-Girls Gymnastics.

8. National Sports Center Super Rink Ice Lease Agreement

9. City of Coon Rapids Ice Lease Agreement.

10. City of Coon Rapids Locker Room Space Agreement.

11. Fogerty Ice Arena Ice Lease Agreement.

12. WW Klus Realty Lease Agreement for Learning Readiness Preschool.

13. #23006B McKinley ES HVAC Replacement and Deferred Maintenance - Phase 1.

14. Immunization Exclusions as required by Statute 121a.15.

School Board meeting, Monday, November 7 at 6:30 p.m., at the Sandburg Education Center, 1902 Second Ave. Anoka, MN.

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