The Anoka Hennepin School board unanimously voted Monday night to cut hundreds of central office jobs to save the district millions of dollars.
The plan also protects teachers from any layoffs in the short term. However, the district will have to reevaluate reductions again next year.
The decision comes after months of discussion when the board learned it was facing a $26 million shortfall. It blames a convergence of factors including limited growth, elimination of pandemic relief funds, inflation and no additional revenue from the state or federal sources.
There were ultimately three options Superintendent Cory McIntyre recommended the board could choose from. The six-person board spent three hours discussing the options and whether to include any amendments – all of which failed.
Option one would have required the board make all the necessary cuts immediately and included 53% of reductions at central services and 47% at the school level. That would have increased class sizes and included cuts to buildings and grounds, community education, special education, student services and more.
The second option included delaying some reductions and using some of the $11 million the district saved earlier in the year, including not buying certain text books. It also would have proposed a referendum election in November 2025.
The third and final option the board eventually agreed to includes no plan for a referendum, delaying staff reductions, but making $9 million in cuts immediately to central services. That equals about 202 jobs.
The district had already agreed to making about $5 million in central office jobs for 2024 that included 40 positions.
The district says those are deep cuts that will decrease the number of cabinet members, which is the primary administrative decision-making team for the district. It will also impact the chief data officer and volunteer service coordinators.
The board also wants to lean on the legislature for new revenue streams, especially as its makeup is changing after the recent election.
“I think all six of our board members do share an interest in doing what they think is best for kids and when we have a tie, what does it do? It forces them to keep working through it,” said Superintendent McIntyre. “There were five votes tonight but they got to a solution. It may take more time and conversation, but I’m proud of them for getting to a decision because we do need to move forward.”
Anoka Hennepin is one of several dozen districts across the metro area that are a facing a combined $300 million shortfall. Residents and employees can start to see these changes happening by this coming spring.