Anoka-Hennepin School Families Raise Concerns Over Social Worker Cuts
About 75 Full-Time Positions Cut From Budget for 2026-27
As the impact of an $8.1 million budget cut comes more clearly into focus, some families in the Anoka-Hennepin School District are concerned their school may lose a social worker.
The Anoka-Hennepin School Board, which governs the largest school district in Minnesota, unanimously approved its latest round of cost-cutting measures in December 2025, slashing about 75 full-time positions from the 2026-27 budget.
Those cuts will impact 26 social worker positions.
In some schools, that means social workers or counselors who were paid through one-time federal COVID-19 relief funds are out of a job.
District staff members who were let go started receiving notices on March 19.
“Last week, we were shocked to hear that a school of 1,114 students would be required to have only one social worker,” said Sarah Nelson, a district parent and teacher at Oxbow Creek Elementary in Brooklyn Park, speaking to the school board on March 23.
“We were shocked that social workers were ever considered expendable. One of my colleagues looked at me and said it’s an injustice to our students.”
Nelson called social workers her “front line” support system, helping kids through difficult situations like treatment for a serious disease, anxiety disorders and the death of a parent.
She was one of at least seven people with connections to Oxbow Creek that addressed the board with concerns about cuts to social workers.
District Response
A spokesperson for the Anoka-Hennepin School District said that the 26 K-12 social worker positions that were included in the cuts will impact the equivalent of about 14 full time jobs. In addition, six secondary school counselor positions were cut.
In some cases, schools can shift funds from other sources to restore positions that were cut in December, the spokesperson noted.
“The district is committed to one full-time social worker at each elementary and middle school in the district along with maintaining a system of support with student supports in the buildings,” the spokesperson said. “Board members have stated that they are aware of the reduction concern and that they will be monitoring this situation as the district budget for next year is finalized, although any restoration of positions already cut would need to be made carefully and with the possibility of shifting the cuts and creating another heartbreaking reduction for the district.”
Budget Constraints
Since February 2024, the district has cut $22.2 million from its budget through a three-phase plan.
More than 200 central office staff members were let go in a previous round of budget cuts.
Meanwhile, for the upcoming school year, 28 high school-level staff positions were eliminated “in relation to the number of students who leave campus for Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) and other opportunities,” according to the district.
Officials said enrollment, the elimination of federal pandemic funds, inflation, increased staffing costs and new unfunded mandates have all added pressure to the district’s budget.
New Leadership
The cuts come as the district is beginning to search for new leadership.
Superintendent Cory McIntyre recently announced he would not be renewing his contract at the end of this school year.
The school board expects hire a search firm to help recruit the district’s next top administrator.
