Action of the School Board Action of the School Board 01/22/18

ACTION OF
MEETING RECAP I
Tom Heidemann
Board Chair
Tom Heidemann
Marci Anderson
Vice Chair
Marci Anderson
THE
SCHOOL BOARD
ISSUE 35, VOL. 10
Bill Harvey
Treasurer
Bill Harvey
Jeff Simon
Clerk
Jeff Simon
I
William Fields
Director
Nicole Hayes
01/22/18
Nicole Hayes
Director
Anna Dirkswager
Communications, delegations and petitions
The School Board did not receive any communications, delegations or petitions.
Elementary and secondary education
Special education action plan
Cory McIntyre, executive director of student services, Melissa Hayes, director of elementary special education,
and Stacey Dahlby, director of secondary special education, provided an overview regarding service delivery
in special education services district-wide. Presentation content included strategies, barriers and goals for
students using a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS). The overall objective is to increase student growth and
close achievement gaps. Strategies, barriers and goals to design a multi-tiered framework for mental health ser-
vices across district schools and programs were shared. Improved staffing and communication systems along
with efforts to recruit and retain a high quality workforce were covered. Anoka-Hennepin is focusing energy on
key strategies to align systems and support all students. Performance measurement would be coordinated
through an action team with scheduled reports to be shared with the School Board.
Finance
Human resources, payroll, finance system replacement
Michelle Vargas, chief financial officer, and Nicole Tuescher, executive director of human resources, combined
on a presentation regarding replacement and upgrade of a system to support human resources, payroll and
finance functions. Vargas covered the considerable review and comment period and evaluation to determine
the system the bet met the district’s needs moving forward. All Anoka-Hennepin employees are impacted by the
implementation of the system. The new system would be in place for Jan. 1, 2019. A recommendation for ap-
proval of a contract is expected at a future meeting.
Award resolution bond series 2018A
The School Board approved the sale of $150 million in general obligation bonds which will provide funding for
the first phase of building projects included in the Fit for the Future referendum. A competitive bidding climate
attracted seven firms submitting proposals. Stacy Childers representing Springsted, Inc., district financial advi-
sor, announced that Robert W. Baird and Company, Incorporated and syndicate submitted the winning proposal
with a true interest rate of 3.2675 percent, beating analysts estimates by .27 percent. Related to the bond sale,
Anoka-Hennepin was also awarded a bond rating upgrade to Aa1 through Moody’s Investment Service. Accord-
ing to Moody’s, the upgrade to Aa1 from Aa2 reflects the district’s sizeable and growing tax base, well-managed
financial position, healthy reserves and stable enrollment. The rating further incorporates the district’s overall
leverage related to long-term debt and pension liabilities, which is moderate relative to the district’s operating
budget position but elevated in relation to the tax base. The resolution was approved on a 5-0 vote.
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