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District to hold facilities election in November; seeks community feedback to make schools 'Fit for the Future'
Following the recommendations from the Fit for the Future Task Force, the Anoka-Hennepin School Board is moving forward to ask voters for funding to address facility issues this election season.
Anoka-Hennepin has a long history of involving the community in large-scale facility changes. In that spirit, the School Board will be hosting community meetings in May to answer questions and gather input about initial construction plans. The meetings, which are organized in a conversational open house format, will run from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at each high school, and include a short 15-minute presentation starting at 6:35 p.m.
During the task force’s presentation to the School Board in January, they shared that district schools are making the most out of their existing spaces, but are in need of updates to better support educating students.
“As parents and leaders in the community, we aren’t feeling the full impact of the dire need in many of our buildings because of the excellence of our district’s teachers and staff. Their creativity, their flexibility, their commitment to the students has overcome a whole bunch of obstacles — and I’m grateful for their work in new and profound ways after my time serving on the task force,” said Cullen Tanner, task force participant, parent, and community member.
The task force told the School Board that now is the time to ask for educational funding needs. The district would be able to take advantage of favorable interest rates and low debt levels, the report said.
Remember, community feedback, like the meeting opportunities coming up in May, is vital in making Anoka-Hennepin facilities Fit for the Future. For the latest information visit ahschools.us/FitForTheFuture.
The funding generated from bond and operating levies will create appropriately-sized facilities, remove portable classrooms to increase safety, and provide flexibility for today’s classroom needs. That would mean: building two new elementary schools — one in Blaine and another in Ramsey; putting additions on the district’s five traditional high schools (Andover, Anoka, Blaine, Champlin Park and Coon Rapids high schools); and providing general upgrades on existing elementary and middle schools — focusing on science classrooms and library media centers.
(Photo: Students exit a portable classroom at Champlin Park High School on a cold winter day. The Fit for the Future Task Force identified portable classrooms like this, which are found at schools across the district, to be a safety concern.)
Anoka-Hennepin has a long history of involving the community in large-scale facility changes. In that spirit, the School Board will be hosting community meetings in May to answer questions and gather input about initial construction plans. The meetings, which are organized in a conversational open house format, will run from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at each high school, and include a short 15-minute presentation starting at 6:35 p.m.
- Wednesday, May 17, Champlin Park High School cafeteria.
- Thursday, May 18, Coon Rapids High School cafeteria.
- Wednesday, May 24, Andover High School cafeteria.
- Thursday, May 25, Anoka High School cafeteria.
- Tuesday, May 30, Blaine High School cafeteria.
During the task force’s presentation to the School Board in January, they shared that district schools are making the most out of their existing spaces, but are in need of updates to better support educating students.
“As parents and leaders in the community, we aren’t feeling the full impact of the dire need in many of our buildings because of the excellence of our district’s teachers and staff. Their creativity, their flexibility, their commitment to the students has overcome a whole bunch of obstacles — and I’m grateful for their work in new and profound ways after my time serving on the task force,” said Cullen Tanner, task force participant, parent, and community member.
The task force told the School Board that now is the time to ask for educational funding needs. The district would be able to take advantage of favorable interest rates and low debt levels, the report said.
Remember, community feedback, like the meeting opportunities coming up in May, is vital in making Anoka-Hennepin facilities Fit for the Future. For the latest information visit ahschools.us/FitForTheFuture.