Anoka-Hennepin School District board meeting, Sep 28, 2026

1 h 26 min · 2 public speakers

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What happened

What happened at this meeting

Anoka-Hennepin board adopts $16.5 million transfer to health insurance fund 30:41

  • A district staff member said the plan, called Option 2, would also earmark $10.5 million within the general fund that could be returned at any time. 27:47
  • The board voted 5⁠-⁠0 to adopt a resolution transferring $16.5 million from the general fund to the internal service health insurance fund. ~30:41
  • The board voted 5⁠-⁠0 to approve the preliminary tax certification for taxes payable 2027, after a staff member presented a proposed levy of $140,295,000, or a 3.5% increase. ~39:32
  • The board also heard a first reading of a new policy on the responsible use of artificial intelligence. 1:02:36

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Item by item (8)
  1. Opening, agenda and consent agenda 10:08
    • Dr. Michelle Langenfeld called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance. 10:08
    • The board approved the agenda 5⁠-⁠0 and the consent agenda 5⁠-⁠0. ~11:07
  2. Public comment on employee health insurance 11:48
    • Dr. Michelle Langenfeld said there were 2 speakers at public comment. 11:48
    • Speakers at public comment said employee health insurance costs had risen while coverage was reduced, and one thanked the board for a measure that would not add an additional 4% premium increase. 14:22
    • A speaker asked the board and district administration to consider supporting efforts to create a statewide health insurance pool for educators. 15:50
  3. Superintendent update and recognitions 20:03
    • The superintendent said the district began the school year with 229 new teachers and nearly 7,900 total staff members. 20:44
    • The superintendent said 3 district seniors were named semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program and noted September is School Board Member Recognition Month in Minnesota. 22:39
    • Jeff Simon said a new teacher reported that the district's new teacher workshop made the teacher feel ready for the first days of school. 26:31
  4. Health insurance fund stabilization 27:15
    • A district staff member said catastrophic claims and reduced revenues left the insurance plan with a $16.5 million deficit and that Option 2 would transfer $16.5 million from the general fund and earmark $10.5 million in the general fund. 27:47
    • One board member said the plan was the right choice for staff and estimated enrollees on the family plan could otherwise have faced about $7,725 per member. 31:11
    • One board member called it a good plan, and another board member said health care and benefit updates need to be regular board updates. 34:15
    • The board adopted the resolution 5⁠-⁠0 on a roll call vote. ~39:07
  5. Preliminary tax levy certification 39:07
    • A district staff member said the proposed levy for taxes payable 2027 is $140,295,000, or a 3.5% increase, and is certified as a maximum that can go lower but not higher. 39:32
    • Asked by Zach Arco what drove the increase, the staff member said it was inflation and prior year adjustments, including a $2.9 million swing. 50:44
    • The staff member said the estimated annual increase ranged from $25 on a $150,000 house to $93 on a $750,000 house. 52:37
    • The board approved the preliminary tax certification 5⁠-⁠0. ~1:02:09
  6. First reading of artificial intelligence policy 1:02:09
    • A presenter said Policy 625 is a new policy based on an MSBA template, that Google's Gemini is currently the only approved AI tool and that AI use in grades K through 5 is highly restricted. 1:02:36
    • The presenter said AI detection tools can be faulty. 1:02:36
    • Jeff Simon said at least one board member was very supportive of limiting electronics in classrooms, and a speaker said the policy would be on the October 26th consent agenda if moved to second reading. 1:07:09
  7. Board correspondence and communication 1:13:21
    • Kacy Deschene noted Orange Shirt Day on September 30th. 1:14:04
    • Dr. Michelle Langenfeld said the Federal Communications Commission is looking to eliminate or sunset E-Rate and that the district has used $3.6 million of E-Rate since 2020. 1:18:09
  8. Adjournment 1:15:19
    • Jeff Simon moved to adjourn the meeting. 1:15:19
    • The board voted 5⁠-⁠0 to adjourn at 7:45. ~1:24:50

Written by software from the meeting's transcript and checked sentence by sentence against it.

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Video: posted by the district as “Regular School Board meeting - Sept. 28, 2026”