Today marks the end of our first week of distance learning. It’s hard to grasp the changes we‘ve all experienced in just a few weeks. This has been an unprecedented team effort by all of us in Anoka-Hennepin and there are so many reasons to thank each and every student, parents/guardians and employees for pulling together to support our students. Thank you!

As kitchen tables and living rooms have turned into classrooms, students and those who support them, have experienced education like never before. Our school system has worked equally hard to provide the support to make it happen. In just five days of distance learning, 20,000 video conferencing sessions were conducted, 3,000 classroom hubs were created by teachers and 80,000 digital documents were created by staff and students a day. Keep in mind that all this activity took place using current district resources, computer equipment and systems the district already owns. 

Along with distance learning, our district has met the challenge of the state’s directive for child care for emergency workers and a student meals program. Our schools have supported hundreds of families of Tier 1 and Tier 2 workers so they’re able to provide essential services to protect the health and safety of the community. Nearly 4,000 students a day are receiving lunch and breakfast at over 30 locations throughout the community in our student meals distribution plan, an effort which continues to adjust to meet needs and serve as many families as possible.  

We understand the significant challenges the state’s stay-at-home order and social distancing directives have placed on all of you. While our schools are still at the beginning of the distance learning period, we’re off to a strong start with a resolve to continually improve. Our students benefit from your support, and we all look forward to what can be accomplished for their benefit in the weeks to come. 

Sincerely, 

David Law, superintendent