REFERENDUM 2021 PAGE 4
Referendum 2021 : Be informed . Vote .
Voters in Anoka-Hennepin communities will have the opportunity to weigh in on three questions on the ballot , Nov . 2 , considering a renewal of two levies for learning and investing in support for every student . Funding from the referendum would be directed to provide success , support and stability for every student .
Levies for learning
Questions 1 and 2 ask voters to renew past operating and capital projects levies for learning to maintain the services , programs and resources provided in Anoka-Hennepin Schools . If voters approve renewing the questions , there would be no tax impact . Current taxes will be extended .
Approval of questions 1 and 2 provides stability in school district programming for ten years . The funding for question 1 is used to support classroom learning and school operations - it is $ 34.5 million or 9.3 % of the school district ’ s operating budget . Question 2 is a renewal of $ 4.5 million to maintain technology tools and resources to support classroom learning .
Stability and support for all students
Providing additional resources for struggling students is important . Question 3 aims to allow Anoka-Hennepin opportunities to extend social emotional , mental health and academic support for all students even after the immediate impact of the pandemic - which our community indicated is a priority before 2020 . Question 3 can only pass if voters also approve Question 1 .
Anoka-Hennepin began receiving one-time federal funding to provide additional support for students in response to the pandemic in July 2021 . That funding will be expended by June 2023 . A total of 20 social workers and counselors and 30 academic support teachers were added with these one-time federal funds .
If Question 3 is approved by voters , the district will have the funding necessary to continue providing social emotional and mental health resources and additional academic support students performing below grade level once the federal funding is spent - for the next ten years . n
SUCCESS , SUPPORT AND
STABILITY FOR EVERY STUDENT .
NOV . 2
Did you know ?
Many school districts in the state of Minnesota rely on locally approved levies to help fund their schools . Anoka- Hennepin Schools is the largest school district in the state of Minnesota , but its per students operating levy is one of the lowest compared to the top 10 other suburban metro area school districts in the state .
Logical consequences if the referendum questions are not approved
The district would identify cuts beginning summer of 2022 .
Referendum 2021 was proposed after planning and community survey research was done in Anoka-Hennepin over the past year to inform the needs of students in the district . By asking the community to weigh in now , the school district will avoid the process of identifying cuts that would be required if the questions are not approved prior to the 2022-2023 school year .
What are the logical consequences if the referendum questions are not approved ?
If Question 1 is not approved , the district would consider cutting $ 34.5 million in resources to balance the budget , which is 9.3 percent of the district ’ s funding used to operate schools .
This could mean cutting $ 29 million dollars by :
• reducing learning opportunities , electives and options ,
• increasing class sizes at all levels ,
• changing school schedules ,
• and closing schools .
Initial estimates also included $ 5 million dollars related to school and district administration and support , transportation , student support and building operations .
If Question 2 is not approved , the district will need to reduce $ 4.5 from the budget in other areas to provide technology for students in the classroom .
The school district could also be faced with not maintaining the same technology tools and resources that have been added over the past ten years , such as :
• computers and chromebooks ,
• projectors ,
• broadband infrastructure and networks ,
• interactive technologies ,
• audio enhanced classrooms ,
• and more .
There is no tax impact of renewing questions one and two ; current taxes would be extended .
Question 3 can only be approved if voters also approve Question 1 . Last school year , schools received one-time federal funding which Anoka-Hennepin used to provide mental health , socialemotional and academic support for students in response to the pandemic . By 2023 , that one-time federal funding will be expended .
If question 3 is not approved , these new programs and staffing to support students will be discontinued .
If voters approve question 3 , the district will be able to continue offering those mental health and academic supports for students in schools for ten years - until 2033 .
Voters would not begin paying taxes for two years on Question 3 , until 2023 . n
PARENT ENGAGE 360 : EXPLAINING SCHOOL FINANCE - BONDS , LEVIES AND REFERENDUMS
PODCAST SERIES
The Parent Engage 360 Podcast aims to provide parents and guardians with knowledge from experts and tools to support their children . Anoka-Hennepin Schools hopes that providing timely and helpful information will strengthen that bond between school and home with resources parents and guardians can use and share with others .
Current episode : School finance can be a confusing topic . Liz Burgard , Parent Involvement Coordinator , explains school funding with Supt . David Law : bonds , levies , referendums . Visit ahschools . us / ParentEngage360 to listen .