Consideration of repurposing Franklin Elementary for use as a special education school are driven by the following factors. 

• Attendance at Franklin Elementary is currently at 330 students and continues to decline. 

• The School District is considering boundary changes for elementary schools which would take place for the 2023-24 school year. The process to determine new boundaries will take place between September and December of this year. This process was moved forward one year due to enrollment issues across the district. 

• Elementary schools that serve the Anoka High School attendance area have available classroom space to serve the current Franklin students with the same curriculum, high quality programs and teachers.

• The school district is committed to maintaining the schools in the City of Anoka as schools for the long term. 

• Anoka-Hennepin Schools has a defined need for school space for students in the Bridges and Pathways special education programs. These students currently attend school in shopping center locations in Coon Rapids and Andover. 

• The timing of all these factors together has led to this consideration with the goal of maintaining quality education and efficient use of taxpayer resources for schools. 

It is likely that Franklin students will attend schools that border the current attendance boundary with available space. Proposals will be shared for community review and comment in September and are expected to be finalized by November. Families would receive communication in December.

There is no impact on students who have an in-district transfer, they would remain at their current school.

Students would return to their assigned attendance area or home distinct unless they apply for attendance for another school in the district. Keep in mind this change is programmed to start in the fall of 2023.   

Visit ahschools.us/franklin for an overview. Also view a presentation at the June 27, 2022 School Board meeting where this proposal was discussed.

The School Board will follow their facility naming policy regarding the name of the repurposed facility.

Participation in these events is determined at the school level. Students at Anoka High School and Anoka Middle School for the Arts do have opportunities to march in parades and participate in other activities.

The School Board will review feedback provided through the online form, hold a public hearing on Monday, Aug. 22 and then consider the input and recommendations prior to making a decision at their regular meeting schedule for Monday, Aug. 22. Should the repurposing plan be endorsed, additional information will be shared with families as part of the boundary adjustment process. The repurposing plan would begin in the fall of 2023.

The School District looks at enrollment each year. School Board policy calls for 5 years of permanency in boundaries for elementary schools and 10 years for middle schools and high schools. It is anticipated that boundary decisions made this fall for the 2023-24 school year will meet these standards.

A process to determine new boundaries for elementary schools will happen between September and December 2022. The district will provide proposals and collect community feedback prior to any decisions by the School Board. Information about the public meetings and opportunities to provide feedback will be shared in school district websites, newsletters, and other communications outlets. School Board policy provides five year permanency for elementary school boundaries and ten years of permanency for middle school and high school boundaries. The district understands the emotional and operational issues surrounding boundary adjustments and works hard to minimize the impacts on families. 

Student transportation schedules and bell times will be determined as part of this process when it is determined which options are being considered. 

The need for larger school busses will be significantly reduced. Students will be transported through vans and smaller buses for their education. Parent/guardian traffic during arrival and dismissal should be less than what is experienced currently and on-site parking needs are anticipated to be greatly reduced.

If Franklin is repurposed, the shifts on staffing will be in alignment with current contract language. In September, the district will enter into the boundary process.  Staffing is adjusted throughout the district each year because of continual fluctuations in enrollment.

Students will have access to Adventures Plus programming at their school of attendance.

Middle and high school attendance boundaries would not change. Students will continue to attend Anoka Middle School for the Arts and Anoka High School.

Information on open enrollment and in-district transfers is posted on the enrollment/registration page at ahschools.us/enroll.

If Franklin Elementary is repurposed, the current Franklin attendance area will be integrated in the boundary process this fall. The boundary process at the elementary level, will consider enrollment at all elementary schools. Transition plans and supports for students will be planned and implemented.