General Information: Rumor Alert!

Rumors about kindergarten program (various)

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 00:00:00 -0600

Rumor: I heard that Anoka-Hennepin schools will go back to having half-day, every-day kindergarten next year. Is this true?

The facts: No. Anoka-Hennepin will continue the all-day-every-other-day kindergarten schedule it has had since the 2002-03 school year. The School Board approved the change from a half-day kindergarten schedule to the all-day-every-other-day kindergarten schedule in January 2002 as part of a budget-balancing plan that included approximately $10 million in cuts and fee increases. This change was made, in part, to save on transportation costs. The change saves more than $800,000 each year on transportation.

Rumors about curriculum, grades, etc.

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 00:00:00 -0600

Rumor: As a result of "globalization," Anoka-Hennepin high schools no longer teach U.S. history other than in general social studies courses. Is this true? (from March 2006)

The facts: This rumor is false and baseless. Anoka-Hennepin students start learning about the United States in detail in grades four and five, which focus on citizenship, U.S. geography, and early American history including the establishment of government. In grade seven they study U.S. history from the first Americans to the American Revolution and the early 19th century. In grade nine, all Anoka-Hennepin students are required to take U.S. Political History and Government. They learn about the formation of our system of government, including the founding documents, the branches of government, and the responsibilities of citizenship. In grade 10, students again have a U.S. history requirement that covers the Jeffersonian era (approximately 1801) through the present. In grade 12, all students are required to take economics, law and politics, which deal in depth with public policy and law, including the Constitution. In total, Anoka-Hennepin students have three years of U.S. history plus 1.5 years on the study of citizenship, law, the Constitution and government. Anoka-Hennepin students are taught ancient history and world history in grades six, eight and 11. High school students can choose to take social studies electives to learn more about U.S. history and government, as well as world history and international perspectives.

Rumors about high schools (various)

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 00:00:00 -0600

High school stadium lights
Rumor: The high schools waste lots of money and energy by leaving their stadium lights on all night long. (from October 2009)

The facts: High schools do not regularly leave on stadium lights overnight, but during homecoming week some turn on a few lights at night in order to discourage vandalism. In the past, damage to fields and stadiums has cost thousands of dollars in emergency repairs and overtime to restore the field for the homecoming game. The short-term expense to power a few lights for several hours outweighs the cost of damage to the field and stadium.

High school schedule and credit changes
Rumor: Now that the elementary schools have implemented the trimester concept, it is a foregone conclusion high schools also be on a trimester schedule. (from April 2009)

The facts: All Anoka-Hennepin elementary schools began operating on a trimester schedule this fall. The change was recommended by the Elementary Task Force as a way of addressing teacher workload concerns. In addition, this change will provide consistency throughout the district's schools. (For a number of years, some elementary schools were organized on a four-quarter schedule and others on a trimester schedule.) In all elementary schools, student report cards will be issued once each trimester and parent-teacher conferences will generally be scheduled near the middle of the trimester, though conference dates vary from school to school. The grades 1-12 school calendar will not change to reflect the new elementary schedule. The end-of-quarter staff planning days will remain on the calendar.

The elementary schedule change and the High School Credit/Schedule Committee research/data gathering are not connected or dependent on each other in any way. The Board-created Elementary and Secondary Taskforces have never met together and their work is not connected in regard to schedule/requirements.

The High School Credit/Schedule Committee process and research/information gathering stage is currently taking place and will be ongoing. The committee's goal is to review the data that has been collected and then make recommendations to the Secondary Taskforce. The Secondary Taskforce will then determine which proposed schedules will be sent to the High School Credit/Schedule Committee taskforces. The School Board will act on these proposals within the timeline already published and agreed upon by the Board. Click here for committee timeline.

Rumor: The district has already decided that the current four-period day schedule in the high schools will be eliminated. (from April 2009)

The facts: This is not true. The High School Schedule and Credit Committee, the Secondary Task Force and the School Board are now studying the possibility of changing the high school schedule beginning in 2010-11. They have considered a number of potential schedules. At this time, the Task Force and School Board have selected three schedules for further consideration. The current four-period day is one of the three selected for further study.

Champlin Park High School drug and gun searches
Rumor: I have heard rumors that Champlin Park High School had multiple drug busts last week and that guns were found in students' cars. (from April 2007)

The facts: Champlin Park High School conducted a pre-scheduled search activity in the school's parking lot during the morning of Apr. 19, 2007. The search was conducted by Brooklyn Park police officers with trained police dogs. Champlin Park administration and parking lot supervisors assisted in the search.

The dogs are trained to detect chemicals in enclosed areas. The purpose of this search activity, which is commonly conducted at high schools throughout the United States, is to identify students who are in possession of chemicals on school property. It also increases awareness among students and the community that possession and use of alcohol and illegal chemicals is not tolerated.

When searches of this type find illegal chemicals or weapons, students are disciplined according to the guidelines of the district Student Discipline Policy.

All Anoka-Hennepin high schools work hard to maintain a safe school environment that is free of alcohol and illegal chemicals, to provide awareness and prevention to help students avoid using alcohol and chemicals, and to provide support and assistance to students who are using chemicals.

The police and their dogs successfully identified vehicles in the parking lot which contained chemicals, such as marijuana and alcohol. No guns were found. School administration said that the search activity was organized and smoothly facilitated with minimal disruption to the school day.

Champlin Park High School illness
Rumor: I heard that there were over 200 students ill at Champlin Park High School on Friday, Nov. 3rd, 2006. Was this food poisoning? I also heard that the Department of Health was called because of the large number right away in the morning. What caused this illness? (from November 2006)

The facts: A number of Champlin Park High School students were absent or got sick at school Friday with a stomach illness. By the end of the day Friday, a total of 234 students either stayed home or went home ill. This represents an 7.1 percent absence rate, which is significantly higher than the average rate of three to five percent. It is still unknown how many of those illnesses were actually related to a possible stomach virus.

At this point there is no reason to believe the illness was the result of food poisoning related to food served in the school cafeteria. "With the majority of more than 3,000 students eating food prepared in the cafeteria, you would expect a much higher rate of illness if the cause was cafeteria food," said Cindy Hiltz, lead school nurse for the district. Some students who became ill did not eat school lunch and it is not known if all students absent Friday had the same type of illness. Hiltz said an illness rate of 10 percent is generally needed to trigger an in depth investigation into the cause of an illness. She reported the illnesses to the Minnesota Department of Health.

Health inspectors from the City of Brooklyn Park inspected the school kitchen Friday afternoon. Following the inspection, Jason Newby, environmental health specialist for Hennepin County, said the school facilities and the procedures followed by cafeteria staff were "excellent and unlikely to be the cause of the illness," according to Allison Bradford, Director of Child Nutrition for the district.

According to Newby, the Hennepin County epidemiologist has not yet ordered a complete investigation because the number of cases thus far has not reached the 10 percent threshold. If the number of cases climbs, there may be a full investigation.

Champlin Park High School uniform policy
Rumor: My son heard a rumor that Champlin Park High School was interested in initiating school uniforms for the school. Are there any plans within the next four years to put a uniform policy in place? (from June 2006)

The facts: Champlin Park High School is not looking into having uniforms next year or for any years to come
.

High school prom events
Rumor: I heard that some high schools help students make arrangements for hotel rooms for prom night. (from May 2006)

Rumor: I heard that some high school students have alcohol at prom. (from May 2006)

The facts: Anoka-Hennepin high schools do not assist students in making hotel arrangements for prom night and alcohol is not allowed at prom events. School officials make sure that students have a fun and safe experience at prom by doing the following:

Some schools go over event rules with students before prom.
Alcohol wands and breathalyzers are on site, if needed.
Some schools provide meals at the event location.
Administrators, teachers, parents and police officers are present at the event.
Some schools do not allow students into the event after a set time and do not allow students to re-enter after they leave.
Exits are monitored by staff.
Some schools interview the dates of students who are older than 21 or have a non-student sign a contract.

Rumors about boundary changes

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 00:00:00 -0600

Rumor: The portion of the school district north of Country Road 20 will become part of the St. Francis School District if the levy is not approved. (from November 2009)

The facts: There are no plans to change district boundaries or shift an area from one district to another. To do so would require a complex process and agreement by both districts. This has not been considered or discussed.

Rumor: I heard a rumor that, as part of the potential school closings beginning with the 2010-2011 school year, district boundaries may be impacted and students who live south of 105th Avenue may be changed from the Anoka-Hennepin School District to the Osseo School District. Is it true that this is an option under consideration or are the attendance area changes under consideration all within the current Anoka-Hennepin district boundaries? (from August 2009)

The facts: It is true that there may be school attendance area boundary changes next year, but it is not true that there will be changes to district boundaries. Changing district boundaries requires a vote by residents of both districts. It is a lengthy, complicated process.

Rumor: Cedar Elementary School in St. Francis has a sign outside the building saying is going to be purchased by Anoka-Hennepin. (from March 2009)

The facts: The Anoka-Hennepin School District has no plans to purchase Cedar Elementary School.

Rumor: I heard that the Anoka-Hennepin School District is going to annex the St. Francis School District. (from March 2009)

The facts: The Anoka-Hennepin School District has no plans to annex the St. Francis School District. There is no process in law for one district to annex another. School districts can merge through a process known as consolidation. This process requires a vote of citizens in both districts.

Rumor: Andover High School students who live south of Andover Boulevard will go to Coon Rapids High School next year. (from March 2009)

The facts: At this time there are NO plans to change high school attendance boundaries for next year or in the near future. In general, high school boundaries have changed only when a new high school has opened. A committee will begin looking at the potential of closing schools because the district is experiencing declining enrollment, especially at the elementary level. At this time, there is no excess space at the high school level so it is very unlikely the committee will recommend closing a high school and realigning high school attendance area boundaries.

Combined Questions and Rumors: My folks live in Coon Rapids and I live in Andover. Their neighbor heard from a teacher that the School Board is changing school boundaries for the 2009-2010 school year and has slated some schools for closing. The neighbor didn't know which schools were going to close. (from August 2008)

Our family is purchasing a home in Anoka-Hennepin and we've heard from several people that the area of Brooklyn Park (where we will live) is going to be turned over to the Osseo School District, specifically that Monroe Elementary School will be closed and students living south of highway 610 would be sent to Edinbrook Elementary School, Brooklyn Jr. High School and Park Center Sr. High School. Are the district boundaries between Anoka-Hennepin and Osseo under consideration for change?

Rumor: I have heard a rumor that L.O Jacob will be closing next year. Is that true or just a rumor, if it is true, when would the public here about it?

Response: The School Board has not discussed changing school attendance area boundaries within the district or closing specific schools. The School Board will begin a public discussion process this fall to consider issues related to declining enrollment. Changing school attendance area boundaries and closing schools may be discussed as part of that process.

There are no plans to discuss possible school district boundary changes with Osseo or any other school district.

Rumor: The school district is planning to change attendance area boundaries for middle school students living in a portion of Andover. Is this true? (from February 2007)

The facts: There are no current plans to change any school boundaries for existing neighborhoods. There has been some discussion about assigning undeveloped land that is being platted for development to specific schools, but there has been no discussion of changing boundaries for any existing neighborhoods. Historically, Anoka-Hennepin rarely redraws its secondary school boundaries. What usually prompts a change is the opening of a new middle school or high school. Other than that, they tend to remain the same. There is always an extensive process of public input during boundary changes, and those opportunities would be advertised in the newspaper, on the district Web site and by other methods. Again, there are no boundary changes currently under consideration anywhere in the district.

Rumor: There is a rumor circulating that East Bethel is building a high school and that North Andover is going to East Bethel and that North Coon Rapids will be going to Andover. Is there any truth to the rumor? Are the school boundaries going to be changing in the next few years? (from August 2006)

Rumor: I recently heard that the Brooklyn Center School District will be merging with the Anoka-Hennepin School District because Brooklyn Center's levy did not pass. Is this true? (from June 2006)

The facts: The Anoka-Hennepin School District has no plans to take over or merge with the Brooklyn Center School District. When school districts merge, the process is known as consolidation. This process requires a vote of the citizens. Our School Board has not discussed the possibility of consolidation with Brooklyn Center School District.

Rumors about employees

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 00:00:00 -0600

Rumor: The district plans to lay off 500 teachers and rehire them at lesser positions so they don't have to pay them as much. (from March 2010)

The facts: The district is not expecting to lay off 500 teachers. Anoka-Hennepin does anticipate that a number of teachers, maybe as many as 500, will be involuntarily transferred into a different position, will have their probationary contract terminated or will be placed on an unrequested leave of absence as a result of closing schools and declining enrollment. Teachers who are involuntarily transferred retain all of their seniority. Teachers placed on an unrequested leave of absence maintain their step and lane, but they do not accrue an additional step while on leave. They may also seek other employment while on an unrequested leave. The last ones placed on leave are the first ones called back, based on the license area that is needed. All of this is part of the negotiated agreement between the teachers' union and the district, specifically Article XVII of the teachers' contract.

Rumor: I heard that if the teachers contract is not done by Jan. 1 that the district loses $1 million dollars in state funding. Is this true? (from December 2007)

The facts: Yes. The district would lose $25 per student in state funding, or approximately $1 million, if the contract is not settled by Jan. 15. The district and the teachers have now reached a tentative agreement. The teachers will vote on the agreement in early January. If they approve it, it will go to the School Board for approval on Jan. 14.

Rumor: The district is paying a maintenance worker to work eight hours a day, yet this employee works only five hours per day. Is this true? (from 2003)

The facts: The Supervisor of Operations is aware of no situations in which an employee is working five hours and getting paid for eight hours. In some cases a person may work fewer hours because of doctor's orders after an injury, but when that happens, the person is paid only for the hours worked. It is possible there is a situation in which an employee on a night crew is leaving his/her shift early or coming late. If the district is made aware that is happening, the employee would be disciplined appropriately. If an employee is leaving after only five hours of work, he/she is probably not completing all assigned work. Each Anoka-Hennepin custodian is responsible for cleaning 32,500 square feet daily in comparison with a regional average of 20,720 feet. In addition, each grounds worker is responsible for maintaining 142 acres in comparison with a regional average of 32 acres.

Rumors about land donations and owernship

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 00:00:00 -0600

Rumor: The land under Washington Elementary School in Anoka is not owned by the school district. (from September 2009)

The facts: The district has paperwork going back to 1852 that outlines ownership of the Washington Elementary School site. The last parcel of land that is part of that site was deeded to the district in 1953.

Rumor: I hear the school district spent millions of dollars on a site for the new Andover High School when the City of Ramsey was willing to donate land. Is this true? (from 2003)

The facts: No city offered to donate land for the new high school.

Rumors about middle schools (various)

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 00:00:00 -0600

Jackson Middle School observatory
Rumor: Is it true that students from Jackson or other students in the district have not yet used the new observatory at Jackson Middle School (as of June 2006)? Is this telescope being controlled from outside the district?

The facts: Students have been inside and toured the new observatory. They have seen how the equipment is used and some students have recently used the equipment to capture images. However, cloudy weather during the early part of this year and additional camera alignment issues have prevented other students and staff from capturing useful images. There are plans to have more student access and use during the coming summer months.

The observatory telescope is not being controlled from outside the district or by an outside company. The telescope is operable from a secure teacher's station inside the observatory classroom. A monitor in the classroom can display images captured from the telescope that can be shared throughout the district or across the world through an Internet connection.

Rumors about building new schools, additions to existing buildings

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 00:00:00 -0600

Rumor: How can the district afford construction projects at a time when it needs to be saving money? (from March 2010)

The facts: The district is not building any new schools or facilities and is closing schools at the end of this school year. There will be some construction at Park View and Jackson Middle School to create an effective campus for the new elementary specialty school there. In addition, renovations are needed at Washington to make it suitable for sixth-grade students and the middle school curriculum. All of these expenses are coming out of capital funds, which must be used for facilities, they cannot pay for teachers or other expenses of providing educational programs (textbooks, supplies, heat and lights, transportation, etc). One other expense for the new specialty school is installation of portable classrooms and those are paid out of lease levy funds, which, like capital funds, have a specific purpose and cannot be used for personnel costs.

Apart from that, the district has an obligation to maintain its facilities - which were built through an investment from taxpayers. Every year, the district has a small portion of funds to use exclusively on building maintenance and it prioritizes those funds based on needs across the district. Districtwide annual building maintenance needs regularly exceed the available funds.

Rumor: The district is closing schools, but has enough money to pay for a new front office for Franklin Elementary School. (from March 2010)

The facts: The current Franklin Elementary School was constructed in the 1910s, with two additions in the 1950s and 60s. For almost 100 years the school has served Anoka and surrounding communities. The school's population will increase in the 2010-11 school year with the close of Washington Elementary School.

The plan is to move the main office from the middle of the building to one end of the building. This will improve security with a more controlled entrance, and it is a more convenient entrance for families coming into the building. The move also will improve the health services office. Existing furniture and equipment will be reused so the major expense is construction. The cost will be paid out of capital funds, which by law cannot be used to pay for classroom teacher salaries or other employee costs.

Every year, the district and some buildings have a small portion of funds to use on facility maintenance. This is necessary to protect the investment made by the community and taxpayers in their public schools.

Rumor: This district is dumping lots of money into Washington School to convert it to part of a middle school for the arts. This doesn't make sense because the district doesn't have the money to do it and they plan to use the building for only a few years until enrollment declines further. (from March 2010)

The facts: The expenses to establish Washington as a sixth-grade campus for Fred Moore Middle School Center for the Arts help preserve the public investment in education made by past generations. The school will continue to be used by Anoka-Hennepin students, and enrollment in the Ramsey area (which attends Fred Moore) is not expected to decline as sharply as other areas of the district. Some of the improvements in the building would have been needed even if the school remained an elementary school.

In addition, Fred Moore is a specialty school and could expand open enrollment if needed in order to maintain its enrollment. Also, if the school was not renovated, the district would incur ongoing transportation costs and disruption to the school day in order to transport sixth grade students back and forth between Fred Moore and the Washington building. The preference of educators and parents is to keep students at the site for the duration of the school day and the renovations will make that possible.

Rumor: I heard the district is planning to double the size of Andover High School. (from January 2007)

The facts: There are no plans to build an addition to Andover High School at this time. Andover High School was designed to accommodate 1,400 students with the potential for an addition to accommodate another 400 students. Voter approval of a bond issue would be needed to pay for the cost of the addition.

At this time, student enrollment is beginning to decline in Anoka-Hennepin School District and it does not appear an addition will be necessary in the near future. Portable classrooms are being used at Andover High School and elsewhere in the district to economically provide additional space as needed. The district has been able to handle fluctuations in enrollment with the use of portable classrooms and leased space rather than building more schools and then needing to close them when they are no longer needed. This strategy has resulted in the district having a very low amount of bonded debt in comparison with other school districts around the state and nation. It has also resulted in lower property taxes for district homeowners.

Rumor: I understand the district is planning to build a second high school in Andover. (from August 2006)

The facts: There are no plans to build a second high school in Andover. The district cannot build a school without getting citizen approval through a bond referendum to finance the project. There have been no discussions of bringing a bond referendum proposal to the voters for another high school in Andover.

The original design of Andover High School anticipated the potential need for future expansion of that building and allows for additional classrooms to be built accommodating 400 more students if the need arises. Any expansion of the school would also require school board and voter action to fund it and the current projections for student population growth do not show a need. We are, however, in regular contact with the City to determine if housing projects will create additional student population in that area and, at the present time, no large housing projects are moving forward.

Rumors about activity fees

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 00:00:00 -0600

Rumor: I heard that a portion of dues paid for fall 2006 activities was reimbursed to parents of dance team members at one of our high schools. Is that true? (from December 2006)

The facts: The district does not have a reimbursement scheduled for any dance team member. Each participant pays a fall fee and then a winter fee if they participate in both seasons.

Rumors about elementary schools (various)

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 00:00:00 -0600

Evergreen Park Peace Pledge and Pledge of Allegiance
Rumor: I have heard that Evergreen Park World Studies Elementary School students recite the Peace Pledge rather than the Pledge of Allegiance. (from October 2006)

The facts: That is not true. Students at Evergreen Park World Studies Elementary School recite the Pledge of Allegiance regularly. According to Evergreen Park School Principal Jill Griffith-McRaith, students begin each week with the entire student body reciting together the Pledge of Allegiance first, followed by the Peace Pledge. The rest of the week individual classrooms start each day with the Pledge of Allegiance and then the Peace Pledge.

Evergreen Park has been a recognized international peace site for several years. As part of this recognition, the school incorporates aspects of peacemaking. All students in the Anoka-Hennepin School District recite the pledge one or more times per week in accordance with School Board policy.