Anoka-Hennepin School District — Transcript
Monday, August 24, 2026
Story
Anoka-Hennepin Board Divides Over Social Studies Curriculum, Policy 604.4
Recognition of Music Education Program
Northern Lights Third Edition for Grade 6 Minnesota Studies Adoption
Superintendent's District Update
Votes (3)
Northern Lights, third edition for grade six Minnesota studies
Dissent: Co-chair Hookman, Director Simon, Director Duchaine voted against tabling the motion.
Moved by Director Arco [01:04:15] · Seconded by Not explicitly stated, but implied as discussion and vote proceeded.
The board discussed the necessity of adopting the Northern Lights third edition textbook due to the deterioration of the current second edition and its expiration in 2027, as well as alignment with new 2021 state standards, specifically including ethnic studies. Concerns were raised about the textbook's delayed release, limiting teacher and board review time. Director Arco suggested an alternative approach using publicly available online resources to meet standards, questioning the need for the new textbook and its potentially divisive content. Superintendent Cole clarified that any policy review (604.4) aimed for clarity, not a return to past neutrality policies. Multiple motions regarding purchasing the book immediately, tabling the decision, or creating guidance documents failed due to a 3-3 split vote, leaving the curriculum adoption unresolved.
Motion to take next steps, guidance, and future vote on new materials
Dissent: Co-chair Hookman, Director Simon, Director Duchaine voted against this motion.
Moved by Director Langenfeld [01:06:50] · Seconded by Director Adet [01:07:37]
Following the failed motion to table, Director Langenfeld proposed a new motion to allow the board to define guidance for teaching controversial issues in collaboration with the superintendent and ensure all board members had access to current materials within about a month, before returning to vote on the textbook. This aimed to address concerns about vetting and guidance for the new curriculum.
Motion to purchase Northern Lights third edition and utilize two-step UBD verification
Dissent: Co-chair Hookman, Director Arco, Director Adet voted against this motion. No action was taken on the textbook.
Moved by Director Simon [01:13:06] · Seconded by Director Duchaine [01:13:16]
After the previous motion failed, Director Simon moved to purchase the Northern Lights third edition and use the existing two-step verification process, where the board would review Unit-Based Designs (UBDs) before implementation. Director Duchaine supported this, citing it as a past compromise for curriculum adoption. Director Adet and Arco expressed concerns that this process wouldn't be sufficient for the 'special' nature of this curriculum, particularly the ethnic studies strand, and reiterated calls for a policy update or different approach.
Notable Quotes (7)
The intention of including policy 604.4 four on the sixth grade curriculum materials options you'll hear tonight is to consider evaluation of the policy so that it ensures it provides further clarity to staff as they teach topics that are likely to lend themselves to controversy. ... There is no intention to return to the neutrality policy that existed more than 14 years ago.
And one of the one of the primary we see we have five. I'm just I need this for clarity too. We have five strands includes history, civics or citizen citizenship and government, economics, ethnic studies and geography. Within that the new piece that wasn't in the previous is ethnic standards. Is that correct?
The state of Minnesota gives broad discretion to school districts to on how they're how they can choose to meet benchmarks and standards.
I think that it is disrespectful to our students to put ourselves as board members in the position of curriculum writers when we have a a team and staff and dedicated teachers that that are qualified and committed to doing that work.
I personally would throw the new standards in the garbage. I don't I don't think the state did a good job in writing them.
My preference is that we buy this book and again that two-step process let the UBDs come back to the board to look at confirm and verify that that's not happening which I'm confident it's not and not and not tie 604.4 to that.
You need to quarantine and minimize that. And so while I can agree what's in the UBDS, I I want special consideration for strand 5, which is why I think we need some kind of policy update. And in the absence of that, I do agree with what director Adat was saying that the book itself is just such a bad source that I I wouldn't trust it anyways, no matter who was using it, even if I trusted the person completely because they're still going to give the book to the students and it's a very misleading text.
Ordinances & Resolutions (12)
Award recognizing support and commitment to music education.
Respectful Learning Environment policy, subject of discussion for potential clarity modifications.
Current 6th-grade Minnesota studies textbook, physically deteriorating and subscription expires June 2027.
Proposed 6th-grade Minnesota studies textbook, aligned with 2021 standards.
Organization moving the state cross country meet to a new location.
Previous digital ticketing platform used by the district.
New digital ticketing system adopted by the district.
Optional technology tool for families to control internet access on district devices at home.
Authorized artificial intelligence platform for students and staff, complying with data privacy laws.
Community group that asked the school board to put a levy on the ballot.
Pertains to closed sessions for labor negotiation strategies.
Pertains to closed sessions for attorney client privilege information.