Action of the School Board 03/27/23
March 27, 2023
RECOGNITIONS
Anoka Halloween Donation
Leaders of the Anoka Halloween community celebration provided a donation to Anoka-Hennepin Schools for the purpose of benefiting media centers for Anoka area schools. Bill Bendiske, president of Anoka Halloween joined Breeanna Olberding, vice-president and Angie Eaton, treasurer in making the donation.
Growth Recognition rewards
The School Board recognized Anoka-Hennepin students whose growth in math, reading, and/or language acquisition ranked in the top 5 percentile at each grade level, when comparing scores on the same assessments from the beginning to the end of the 2022-23 school year. The students recognized for this achievement include:
- Dayton Elementary- Harrison Neel, Colt Pierson, Liam Bartell, Jack Kasper, Mason Giller, Blake Klabo, Logan Klungseth, Nolan Katorosz.
- Evergreen Park Elementary- Michaela Bice, Faris Ebrahim, Zuhayb Shire, Aloysius Songor, Salman Ali, Maryem Abdurehman, Blair Bazant, Elora Passal, Edgar Reyna Sanchez, Jayce Rood, David Wallace.
- Champlin-Brooklyn Park Academy- Tram Hoang, Remi Beyer, Maya Hoogers, Julian Munoz, Thabit Ebrahim, Harlan Jorgensen, Aidan Rivers, Asher Vang, Jihan Abdule, Andrew Chaloupka, Mohamed Donzo, Eli Maas, Conlin Mcgregor, Henry Vien.
- Monroe Elementary- Andersson Enriquez Retana, Tristin Chang, Oluwadamilare Oke, Cora Roche, Jarius Yang, Yasmine Ouattara, Nadia Hott, Harrison Meyer, Parker Nelson, Joseph Thao, Matthew Tran.
- Oxbow Creek Elementary- Diesel Bachmeier, Maren Deroche, Noah Miller, Brady Nguyen, Abbigale Shaffer, Rijan Shrestha, Minh Thu Mai, Michael Miller, Lacie Oxley, Arthur Rashid, Aiden Andrews, Evan Barber, Renee Vang, Kendrick Vue.
- Jackson Middle School- Brand Olivera Diaz, Della Rimbey, Kaibeh Yelobah, Sumeya Aden, Mesa Baker, Andy Deras-Hernandez, Azure Kla-Dilhbah, Tyler Marshalek, Laura Ondimu, De’Mario Porter, Maliahnee Vang, Jacob Villalta, Kurtis Chham, Beau Halling, Xavier Kahnke, Rita Melikiore, Faith Nyaega, Caleb Olson- Rohrer.
View recognition photos from the March 27, 2023 School Board meeting.
Champlin Park High School Advanced Placement (AP) Scholars and International Baccalaureate (IB) candidates
Ashley Brown, IB/AP coordinator at Champlin Park High School, recognized AP Scholars, IB career-related program candidates and IB diploma candidates. Brown said this year there are 298 AP students taking 575 AP exams. For IB, 364 students are earning IB exam scores on 428 exams.
AP Scholars are students who earn a score of three or higher on at least three AP exams. AP Scholars with Honor are granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams, and AP Scholar with Distinction are granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams. The AP Scholars include: Oliver LeMay, Abraham Nguyen, Samantha Blachowiak, Gracie Brausen, Sophia Breuckman, Elle Heimer, Owen Keillor, Gwendolyn Myhre, Jake Nord, Elise Oldroyd, Claudia Ratajczyk, Colin Schellenberg, Benjamin Schnabel, Livia Sell, Shalina Singh, Megan Smythe, Caiden Spinner, Addison Stover, Noah Vetter, Rebecca Wehrung, Andrew Hollingsworth (with honor), Hawa Cabdullahi (with honor), Tyler Korton (with honor), Melia Lachinski (with honor), Connor O’Hanlon (with honor), Maura Wahl (with honor), Madeline Evenson (with distinction), Yulia Horton (with distinction), Rachel Miller (with distinction).
The IB career-related program and diploma program candidates include: Dade Blake, Zoe Boock, Madeline Evenson, Dave Francischelli, Ezra Her, Yulia Horton, Haja Kamara, Owen Keillor, Connor O’Hanlon, Timmy Phothirath, Heidi Santillan Ortiz, Ashley Seth, Amina Sherif, Damaris Sibrian, Nikhil Siyani, Noah Vetter, Aned Abdurahman, Imisioluwa Agboola, Olaoluwa Asekun, Claire Babcock, Mya Benson, Olivia Chapik, Isabelle DeSchepper, Jason Dexter, Kedeja Franks, Teagahn Hanson, Jayden Jalloh, Nichelle Jameson, Akanimo Jones, Allison Koeppl, Eliza Lister, Katrina Lunde, Nyla McGee, Aliya Morgan, Riley Ping, Grace Wheeler.
COMMUNICATIONS, DELEGATIONS AND PETITIONS
The School Board received testimony from Steve Lyons, Linda Hoekman, Lisa Iverson, Scott Coggins, Lisa Thompson, and Angie Koos.
EMPLOYEE SERVICES
The School Board took actions regarding employees and positions in the district in relation to a reporting timeline needed to comply with contracts and state requirements. Matt Brain, director of employee services, presented items for approval and one item for information only. Resolutions were approved with a unanimous vote.
Resolution discontinuing and reducing educational programs and positions.
The School Board approved the resolution that adjusts full-time equivalent positions due to student registrations and staffing efficiencies.
Resolution relating to the termination and non-renewal of teaching contracts of probationary teachers.
The board approved the resolution in compliance with Minnesota Statute 122A.40, sub. 5. The action is considered a routine matter conducted annually by the board.
Resolution relating to the termination and non-renewal of principals/assistant principals.
The board took action to approve the resolution on a unanimous vote. The action is considered a routine matter conducted annually by the board.
For information only: Long-term substitute teachers, intern teachers, re-employed retired teachers.
The board reviewed a listing of employees whose contracts with the district are due to expire at the end of the school year.
Resolution Proposing Immediate Discharge of Continuing Contract Teachers.
The board took action to approve the resolution on a unanimous vote.
FINANCE
Wells Fargo OPEB Trust Investment Update
Merle Waters, CFA, senior vice president at Wells Fargo Bank, provided an overview of the district’s trust investment fund performance and historical overview of the fund. Resources from this account are used to satisfy obligations of the district in regard to Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB). Waters highlighted how past decision-making by the School Board and investment portfolio investment decisions have provided financial stability.
Preliminary FY24 and FY25 General Fund Budget
Michelle Vargas, chief financial officer, presented a timeline for decision making and a series of financial planning assumptions the district is considering in preparation of budgets for the next two school years. A conservative revenue and expenditure forecast will serve as the foundation of budgeting based on uncertainty with state funding support. Vargas presented three funding scenarios under consideration from the legislature and governor and their impact on the district’s financial situation. The School Board will aim to maintain services while also protecting the district’s financial strength by maintaining an unassigned fund balance goal of 10%, an amount within board policy. A proposed budget will be presented for review and comment at the May 21 meeting with final approval considered at the June 26 meeting.
ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
Elementary Science Pilot Results and Curriculum Recommendations
Mary Wolverton, associate superintendent for elementary schools; Ann Sangster, director of elementary curriculum, instruction and assessment; and Anne Norsted, TaLS for elementary science, social studies and health provided the board with elementary science curriculum materials recommendations. Information regarding a four-phase adoption process was shared along with feedback from teachers who piloted materials with students. The conclusion led to a recommendation for twigScience as the preferred curriculum for K-5 science to begin in the fall of 2023 at a cost of $2,627,935.61 which was approved by the school board on a unanimous vote.
GENERAL COUNSEL
Roseann Schreifels, associate general counsel, presented information regarding a settlement agreement between the State of Minnesota and opioid manufacturers and distributors and how the Anoka-Hennepin School District has an option to “opt-in” to the settlement and benefit from proceeds. She noted that under the terms of the agreement, school districts with student enrollment that exceeds 25,000 are eligible to participate. The settlement is expected to provide $235 million dollars to be shared between the state, counties and cities and would likely be provided to the district through grant programs. The School Board will consider participation in the settlement agreement at a future meeting.
CONSENT AGENDA
All items were approved by the school board on a unanimous vote.
- Minutes from March 6, 2023 School Board meeting.
- Retirements, resignations, terminations, layoffs and recalls, leaves and modified leaves of absence, and appointments.
- Cash disbursements report.
- Cash balance report.
- Donations and scholarship report.
- Monthly revenue and expenditures.
- Bid #23043-Adams Elementary School Office Renovation Project.
- Immunization Exclusions as required by Statute 121a.15.
NEXT MEETING
School Board work session, April 10 at 5:30 p.m., at Educational Services Center, 2727 N. Ferry St., Anoka, MN.
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This School Board meeting summary is published by Anoka-Hennepin Schools. Questions, comment or concerns about Action of the School Board? Contact us.