Anoka-Hennepin Schools is planning to start the 2020-21 school year in the hybrid learning model, a system that uses a combination of in-person school and learning at home. The direction follows guidance from state leaders on July 30. 

The Minnesota Safe Learning Plan allows schools to open in one of three formats depending on public health data, specifically COVID-19 cases by county over 14 days. Using an initial review of the most recent data and the trends in the number of cases in both Anoka and Hennepin counties, Anoka-Hennepin is planning to open schools in the hybrid model at 50% capacity for all preschool through 12th grade students. Please know that the district will continue to evaluate the most current data on COVID-19 cases to guide decision making on any learning format changes. Anoka-Hennepin parents/guardians will also have the option to select distance learning for their student(s).  

In a hybrid learning model, Anoka-Hennepin kindergarten through 12th grade students will attend school in-person two days per week and through the virtual learning model three days per week. Specific days for each student and family will be known no later than Friday, Aug. 14, as the district balances transportation and classroom needs.

Yes. Depending on guidance from state and federal governments, and health officials, school could change between each of the three scenarios. If a change is made, families and employees will be communicated through regular outlets:

• AHlert (voicemail, email, text).
• District and school websites. 
• District and school e-newsletters.
• District and school social media pages (e.g. Facebook, Instagram and Twitter).

Privacy and protection of student data is a serious matter for Anoka-Hennepin. 

The data from the survey sent to parents/guardians is hosted and maintained behind secure firewalls and only personnel with a need to know responses have access to the information. Our survey response data is also encrypted while stored onsite.

Based on outreach from our community, we have also added SSL encryption to the data as it is submitted via Secure Socket Layer (SSL). This measure will be added to all future surveys anonymous or otherwise. For surveys sent prior to SSL encryption, there is no evidence of problems associated with non-SSL transactions.

Thank you for reaching out with this concern. Because of your outreach, we have improved our system security for all users.

Yes, students will be able to transition within the hybrid model at any time to distance learning. However, high school students enrolled in StepAhead Online High School may only make changes at the end of the trimester.

Anoka-Hennepin is working hard to provide information regarding the learning format and all aspects of the return to school this fall for parents/guardians to make a decision. It is understood that there are many questions. The district can only share information it can confirm and we will be updating our documents and website as soon as that information is known. Thank you for your understanding and support of your student and our schools.

The Anoka-Hennepin transportation department and its two transportation vendors, First Student and Kottkes, are committed to getting students back and forth to school safely. For the 2020-21 school year, students will continue to be transported to school in scenarios one and two. 

In scenario one, students will ride the bus as normal. In scenario two, fewer students will ride – about 50% of the capacity of the bus. Stay tuned for details on the riding schedule for scenario two. 

A variety of safety measures are being added to school bus rides: 

• Students will ride with extra space between them in scenario two. 
• Masks or face coverings will be used by bus drivers and students. 
• Disinfection and cleaning will be increased. 

Anoka-Hennepin Schools will follow the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines regarding safety measures provided in school. The safest environments will be made possible through cooperation from students and staff in alignment with the following measures as noted below. Please see this page for further details. 

• Limited building access to visitors 
• Passive temperature screening 
• Social distancing 
• Masks and face coverings
• Classroom management/desks 
• Hand hygiene  
• Disinfection and cleaning 
• Case management

A July 22 state order requires the wearing of face coverings indoors, with exceptions. Settings that face coverings are expected to be used include: time spent with other people, in hallways, riding on school transportation, as well as public areas such as restrooms. Social distancing, keeping at least six feet between yourself and others, is considered the best way to protect yourself and others. The face covering is not a substitute for social distancing.

The wearing of face coverings is part of a system of health and safety protections that include social distancing, hand hygiene, limiting building access, and other strategies in operation at Anoka-Hennepin Schools. Please see this page for a number of FAQs on face coverings. 

Because every school is unique, your student’s school will communicate passing procedures. These may include staggered passing times.

Because each school is different, locker assignments will be determined by the principal. Your child’s school will have more information.

The child nutrition program is dedicated to providing high quality, nutritious meals to the students in Anoka-Hennepin. For the 2020-21 school year, meals will be offered using the regular price structure.  

Families must submit an application before receiving free/reduced meals. Apply through SchoolCafe via ahschools.us/freereduced or request an application from Child Nutrition at 763-506-1240.

A variety of safety measures are being added to school cafeterias if the entire district or an individual school is in scenario one or two. These precautions make getting a meal at school an entirely touchless process:   

• Transparent partitions, also known as sneeze guards, are being added by food. 
• Face coverings will be used by Child Nutrition employees serving food. 
• Students will use a barcode from their student ID or mobile device to purchase meals. 
• Students will eat socially distanced. 

If the entire district or an individual school is in scenario two or three, families requesting meals for learning days at home, will be required to submit this request the week before. Stay tuned for details on how to submit these requests and what the pick up process will look like.

Students will have recess each day, with limitations on group size to ensure physical distancing. Playground equipment will be cleaned every evening.

The Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) Board of Directors voted Aug. 4 on the direction of fall sports for the 2020-21 school year. Girls tennis, boys and girls cross country, girls swimming and diving and boys and girls soccer will begin Aug. 17.

Volleyball and football seasons will be moved to this spring. The MSHSL will go with a “four-season” plan with fall and winter as scheduled, spring from mid-March to mid-May and summer from May until early July. Spring sports will move to the summer schedule.

The MSHSL also voted to allow spring sports that lost their season last year to hold practice this fall. Volleyball and football programs will also have the opportunity to practice this fall.

Registration for fall activities begins Aug. 5.

High schools are following direction from the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) and Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). 

In scenario one, these activities will be offered as usual. In scenario two, these offerings will be limited, and in scenario three, they will not be offered. 

Visit the activities menu from your high school website for the latest information on clubs and groups.

If you’re sick and exhibiting symptoms of a cold, such as a sore throat, runny nose, coughing, sneezing, headache and body aches, the CDC suggests people stay home, and not go to work, school or daycare until symptoms have run their course. This means limiting exposure to others outside of your home in the community. In the event you have flu-like symptoms, such as a fever or chills beyond those of a common cold, the CDC suggests 72 hours after a fever with no fever reducing medications, and no sooner than seven days after the first symptom - whichever is longer.

If you have a question about a family member's health or your own, contact your primary care physician. School health staff cannot diagnose illnesses. If a student or employee is sent home from school, a follow-up should be done with their own primary physician. 

The outbreak of COVID-19 may be stressful and evoke a wide-range of emotions and behaviors of individuals. Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children.

School supports available during this time for students: 

• School counselor
• School nurse 
• School psychologist 
• School social worker
• School-based mental health therapist 

Support is available through Medica Optum for employees needing help with the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic.

School districts do not have the authority or the means to monitor the personal travel of students, families or employees, or to restrict school attendance as a result of travel.

We request that our school communities be aware of, and comply with, the recommendations of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with regard to travel domestically and abroad, particularly to areas with Level 3 Travel Health Notices. If families choose to travel to areas on the list, the CDC recommends a 14-day self-imposed quarantine. School districts do not have authority to impose or monitor quarantines for individual students, families or employees, but request that they comply with these recommendations.

The district will review all trips using the travel recommendations and advisories by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for guidance.

The safety of our community is our top priority. At this time, Community Education will not offer most summer programs for youth, adults and families. Visit discovercommunityed.com or ahschools.us/COVID-19_CommEd for specific program updates. 

Community Education is currently offering programs via online platforms through Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE), preschool classes, adult learning and adult basic education (ABE). We will continue to monitor guidance from the Minnesota departments of education (MDE) and health (MDH), and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to determine if and how we can continue to offer limited online and/or outdoor programming over the summer months.

As always, Anoka-Hennepin strives for effective communication. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s vital that district families and employees understand the information shared and have their communication expectations met. In order to meet these goals, Anoka-Hennepin is:

• Bringing the messaging to where families and employees already are or are viewing district content, such as AHlert, AHSchools.us and Facebook.com/AHSchools.
• Striving for a timely, consistent and candid flow of accurate information.
• Including compassion and empathy in all messaging with a way for families and employees to ask questions and get answers to those questions.
• Providing more opportunities for two-way communication. 

Please stay tuned to the following communication channels for the latest information: 

• Focus newsletters. 
• District and school websites. 
• District and school e-newsletters.
• District and school social media pages (e.g. Facebook, Instagram and Twitter). 
• Family AHlert (voicemail, email, text).
• Community meetings and forums. 
• Communication and public relations employees email. 
• Employees workshops. 
• Facility signage. 

Reach out to comm.pr@ahschools.us with any questions or concerns on communications.

Thank you for your support of Anoka-Hennepin students, we appreciate your generosity. During this unprecedented time, we're leaning on our community for support - we're stronger together!

At this time, the district is unable to accept food donations or to provide volunteer opportunities. However, here are some ways to support Anoka-Hennepin students:

Financial support: The Anoka-Hennepin Educational Foundation is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic by asking for donations to meet the emerging needs of students and staff. Your donations will give the capacity and flexibility to meet the not yet known (and not necessarily budgeted for) needs to ensure students and staff are able to effectively implement distance learning. Donate now at AHEF Agility Fund to keep kids connected, engaged and learning. 

Providing time or items: Consider supporting a local organization currently working to meet the needs of our students and their families (district and community resources listed).