Anoka-Hennepin School Board Averts Budget Shutdown

Summer classes at the Anoka-Hennepin School District will proceed uninterrupted after the school board came to a budget agreement this week.

According to the district, a majority of the six-member board said they’d approve the 2024-2025 budget after a nearly six-hour work session.

This comes after a board member posted plans to hold up the budget process on social media. 

Anoka-Hennepin School Board Member Matt Audette wrote on Facebook that he, as well board members Zach Arco and Linda Hokeman were planning to vote against the budget.

According to Audette’s post, these board members oppose teaching and training related to race and gender identity issues.

The three board members also were opposing a state-required curriculum standard and want to change district discipline procedures. 

According to the district, if the board didn’t approve a budget by July 1, it could have resulted in a shutdown. That means payment to district employees like teachers would stop, and summer classes would be on hold.

The Anoka-Hennepin School District says a majority of school board members will agree to a budget.

The board met for a work session on April 23, a day after students, parents and teachers flooded a board meeting to speak on the budget. 

During the meeting, the board agreed to discuss curriculum issues separate from the budgeting process. 

Meanwhile, the district — which is Minnesota’s largest — says it’s expecting to cut $5.2 million from the 2024-25 budget. Those cuts will include a reduction of 45 administrative positions.

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