School Board approves
bond sale Public input sought
on boundary changes Virtual reality brings learning to
life at University Avenue Blaine High School’s Hana Tadesse
wins Donaldson Science Award
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FOCUS
ANOKA
-
HENNEPIN
SCHOOL
ON ANOKA-HENNEPIN SCHOOLS
Voters approve Fit for the Future
referendum; construction to begin in spring
DISTRICT
WINTER 2018
Building for a
better future
with support from
our community
By Superintendent
David Law
As we begin
2018, Anoka-
Hennepin will
begin to
construct new
schools, remove
portable class-
rooms, create new space,
pursue improvement projects
and address class size at almost
every educational site.
Monroe Elementary School for Mathematics, Science and Children's Engineering, in Brooklyn Park, was one of several district schools
that were polling places during the Nov. 7 election. Voters overwhelmingly approved both Fit for the Future referendum questions on
election day.
vote — while 8,586 people voted no on the question,
which was 33.98 percent of the vote.
On Nov. 7, Anoka-Hennepin voters approved a request
for new funding, which will allow the School Board to
address facility and class size challenges found across the
district.
The Fit for the Future plan will create safe and secure
learning environments, construct additional schools and
classroom space, provide solutions for maintaining quality
schools, and address class sizes at all levels.
“The support our community shows for our students and
their future is amazing,” said Superintendent David Law.
“We have already begun putting these funds to work, and
the community will see the impact of these resources
beginning this spring.”
The election
Voters approved question one, an operational levy
request that asked voters for $226.20 per pupil, or $9.5
million annually, to fund operational needs of new spaces
proposed in question two, and also promised to provide
relief to class sizes across the district. The question was
approved with 16,681 yes votes — 66.02 percent of the
Meanwhile, voters also approved question two, which
was a bond issue asking voters for $249 million in funding
to build two new elementary schools, construct additions
on nine schools (including all five traditional high schools),
and improve science labs, media centers and/or flexible
learning areas at all district schools. With the additions,
the School Board also promised to remove all 62 portable
classrooms found at schools across the district. Question
two was approved with 16,579 yes votes, or 65.65 percent
of the vote. Some 8,675 people voted no on the measure,
or 34.35 percent of the votes cast.
Now what?
With spring approaching, work has already begun on
bringing the Fit for the Future plan to life.
Anoka-Hennepin has purchased land at the two proposed
elementary school sites — one in Ramsey and one in Blaine.
The first is a combined 38-acre parcel of farmland, along the
east side of 170th Avenue NW and County Road 5 (Nowthen
Boulevard) in Ramsey, which cost a total of $2.3 million.
Meanwhile, Anoka-Hennepin also purchased a 37-acre parcel
of land on the northwest corner of Lever Street and 125th
Avenue NE (Main Street, Highway 14) in Blaine for $2.8
million.
continued on page 2
Thanks to voter approval of
the Fit for the Future referen-
dum questions in November, a
new set of realities emerged
for our schools and students.
Nearly two years of community
input and concept-level facility
planning has transitioned in
just a few months to final
design and construction time-
lines. There is much to do in
preparation for the opening of
new schools in the fall of 2019
and the phasing of numerous
projects across our schools
over the next several years.
We are moving forward quickly.
On Jan. 22, the School
Board approved the sale of
$150 million in bonds to
finance the first phase of con-
struction, with another bond
issue offered closer to the time
the next phase of projects
begins. Two factors about this
transaction stand out. First, the
bonds were sold at an interest
rate of 3.26 percent, beating
analysts estimates. Second, the
district received a bond rating
upgrade to Aa1, placing Anoka-
Hennepin in the top six of all
continued on page 3
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