Take a look at the chart below, or find your property’s specific figures by using the tax impact calculator on the district website, ahschools.us/TaxImpact.

$150,000

$74.49

$45.38

$200,000

$99.32

$250,000

($32.03)

$132.26

$11.02

$124.15

$84.55

($41.69)

$167.01

$13.93

No matter the outcome of the referendum, boundary adjustments at the elementary and middle school levels will be required.

$300,000

$148.98

$104.14

($51.35)

$201.77

$16.82

$500,000

$248.32

$179.70

($88.58)

$339.44

$28.29

$750,000

$372.45

$292.01

($143.98)

$520.48

$43.37

$1,000,000

$496.60

$449.25

($221.50)

$724.35

$60.36

$3,000,000

$1,489.80

$1,347.75

$5,000,000

$2,483.00

$2,246.25 ($1,107.50) $3,621.75 $301.81

$1,680,000

$0.00

$181.14

($148.81)

$32.33

$2.69

$0.00

$493.82

($405.68)

$88.14

$7.35

160 acres

$3,360,000 320 acres

$6,720,000

Commercial/ industrial

Agricultural non-homestead

640 acres

$1,680,000 160 acres

$3,360,000 320 acres

$0.00

$18.12

$362.28

($297.61)

$64.67

$5.39

$0.00

$724.55

($595.23)

$129.32

$10.78

$1,449.10 ($1,190.46) $258.64

$21.55

$0.00

$1,000,000

$496.60

$3,000,000

$1,489.95

$5,000,000

$1,218.37 ($1,000.91) $217.46

$0.00

$6,720,000 640 acres

($664.50) $2,173.05 $181.09

$2,483.00

$691.84

($341.11)

$847.33

$70.61

$2,129.45 ($1,049.62) $2,569.78 $214.15 $3,567.04 ($1,758.71) $4,291.33 $357.61

Note: Data provided by Springstead Incorporated. The figures in the table above are based on school district taxes for the proposed referendum only. Monthly figures are estimated and may vary by a cent.

Similar to the Fit for the Future task force that looked at facility needs, the community and district families would be brought in to review and provide feedback in regard to attendance area and boundary change proposals before they are implemented. The scope of boundary changes will be determined during this process. It will begin after the election when the amount of usable space at each school building is known.

Question: Isn’t a school already being built in Blaine? Answer: No. The elementary school being built in the city of Blaine, next to the National Sports Center, is part of the Spring Lake Park School District, not Anoka-Hennepin. A charter school, DaVinci Academy, was also just built in Ham Lake. That school is not part of Anoka-Hennepin either.

Question: Didn’t the district just close schools in 2010?

3

If School District Question 1 is approved, shall the school board of Anoka-Hennepin Independent School District No. 11 also be authorized to issue its general obligation school 4 building bonds in an amount not to Yes exceed $249,000,000 to provide funds for the acquisition and betterment including the 5 construction and equipping of No of school sites and facilities, new school facilities; the 6 construction and equipping of additions to and the 7 remodeling and upgrading of various school sites and facilities to 8 replace existing portable classrooms at elementary, middle school and high school facilities, to address safety and 9 space issues resulting from student population growth and to provide 10 safe and secure learning environments; and the construction of secured entrances and security and safety improvements at various school facilities?

E L P

M A S

BY VOTING “YES” ON THIS BALLOT QUESTION, YOU ARE VOTING FOR A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.

Answer: Not at all. At the end of the 2009-10 school year, six schools were repurposed, and are now home to programs that used to be housed in malls, storefronts and other leased space that cost the district millions annually in rental fees. Thanks to repurposing the schools for new uses, the district has saved more than $3 million a year over the past seven years.

1 Funds will be directed to address class size issues at all levels of the district - elementary, middle and high schools. Funds are also required to open new schools and provide staffing for additional spaces. Funding would be split equally in each area.

Go to ahschools.us/RepurposedSchools for details on how the following sites are thriving: River Trail Learning Center at L.O. Jacob, Champlin-Brooklyn Park Academy, Riverview Early Childhood Center, Sorteberg Early Childhood Center, Anoka Middle School for the Arts - Washington Campus, and the Sandburg Education Center.

2 This request is typically called an operating levy, or levy, in district informational materials. Levies are for learning.

Today, as the Fit for the Future task force found, significant growth is happening in portions of the district that are located several miles from where schools were repurposed. Simply moving students from Andover or Blaine into repurposed schools in Coon Rapids, for example, isn’t an option, the community task force said.

3 Voters would need to approve the operating levy in order for the bond question to pass. The district is not able to open new schools and spaces without additional operating revenue. 4 Bonds will be issued in two phases to minimize interest payments and impact on taxpayers.

5 Planned construction of two new elementary schools, one in Blaine and one in Ramsey. 6 Planned building projects at all five high schools, Anoka Middle School for the Arts, Champlin-Brooklyn Park Academy/Jackson Middle School, and River Trail Learning Center at L.O. Jacob. 7 All schools would receive some type of improvement(s) to meet educational needs and create greater equity amongst district schools. 8 Removal of 62 portable classrooms and construction of permanent classroom additions. 9 Projections show high growth rates in Blaine, Ramsey and northern Hennepin County. 10 Perimeter security will improve at all schools and additional secure entrances will be constructed at district high schools.

Two-question referendum Nov. 7

$64.97

School District Question 2 Approval of School District Bond Issue

On the ballot:

Answer: As the population grows in areas of the district, boundaries are reviewed to balance building enrollment with space available.

• The referendum will have two questions: question one, the operating levy, will provide funds to keep class sizes low and run new spaces; question two, the bond issue, will provide funds for construction and renovations at school buildings – to meet safety, space and maintenance needs.

$8.13

Question: Are attendance boundaries going to change?

M A S

BY VOTING “YES” ON THIS BALLOT QUESTION, YOU ARE VOTING FOR A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.

• Question two can only pass if question one does.

$97.50

Figures are estimated, may vary by a cent.

• The cost for the average homeowner in Anoka-Hennepin, who owns a $200,000 property, is about $11 a month. A table listing additional property values is included in this brochure. Specific figures can be found via the tax calculator at ahschools.us/TaxImpact.

($22.37)

(annual cost)

Hennepin Independent School District No. 11 be approved?

No

Why should you care about this election?

Approx. monthly impact

Strong schools are an investment in your community. Families looking for new homes are looking for quality schools. So are businesses and industry. When financial support for schools declines, education programs and the reputation of the school district suffers. Families looking for better schools move out and potential new homeowners and businesses stay away.

Net impact annually

Vote on or before Nov. 7

Apartment

$249,000,000 general obligation school building bonds (annual cost)

E L P

Go to ahschools.us/VotingInfo to check your voter status, register to vote, vote early, or find election day polling sites.

(4 or more units)

Operating referendum increase of $226.20 per pupil (annual cost)

Offsetting decreases in other tax levies

The board of Anoka-Hennepin Independent School District No. 11 has proposed to 2 increase its general education revenue by $226.20 per pupil. The proposed referendum revenue authorization would increase each year by the rate of inflation and be applicable for ten years unless revoked or reduced as provided by law. Yes Shall the increase in the revenue proposed by the board of Anoka-

Prepared and paid for by the Anoka-Hennepin School District. 2727 N Ferry St., Anoka, MN 55303. This publication is not on behalf of any candidate or ballot question.

Agricultural homestead

Question 2

School District Question 1 Approval of School District Revenue Authorization

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage

Question 1

Answer: Roughly $4.2 million of the operating levy would go toward hiring additional teachers at all grade levels, which would add sections and reduce class sizes. However, the specific numbers won't be known until after the election when the School Board knows how much space is available for the added classroom needs.

1

PAID

Taxable market value

Question: How will class size be addressed?

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a special election has been called and will be held in and for Anoka-Hennepin Independent School District No. 11, State of Minnesota, on Tuesday, November 7, 2017, for the purpose of voting on the following questions:

Anoka, Minnesota Permit No. 40

Residential

Estimated tax impact of proposed ballot questions

Answer: A lot of projects are part of the Fit for the Future 10 to 15 year plan, so construction will happen in two phases. The new elementary schools and selected projects on existing schools would begin in the spring of 2018 with the goal of being operational in the fall of 2019. A second phase would begin in 2020. A list of projects and a timeline for construction will be approved by the School Board following approval if it were to occur. The majority of construction will be completed in four years.

NOTICE OF SPECIAL ELECTION ANOKA-HENNEPIN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 11 STATE OF MINNESOTA

Anoka-Hennepin School District

If voters approve the questions, the School Board will reduce the Long Term Facilities Maintenance levy by at least $3.3 million over a years time, in order to partially offset any tax increase.

Question: If approved, how long will the construction take?

2727 N Ferry St. Anoka, MN 55303

The total cost for districtwide facility construction and renovations will be $249 million over 25 years, which is what will be asked for in question two on the November ballot. If question two is approved by voters, it will be dependent on the approval of question one, which will ask voters for $226.20 per pupil, or approximately $95 million over 10 years. Those dollars will fund operational needs of the new spaces, and provide relief to class sizes across the district.

Ballot questions

ahschools.us

Frequently asked questions

If requested, this newsletter will be provided in an alternative format for individuals with disabilities or in another language for individuals whose primary language is not English. A minimum of three days notice is needed. Please call the Family Welcome Center at 763-506-7928 to request an alternate format or language.

Finance plan

Safety; security; space — making Anoka-Hennepin Fit for the Future The Anoka-Hennepin School District is growing and buildings across the district are at or beyond capacity. Each day, thousands of students attend classes in portable classrooms in yards and parking lots because the permanent building they go to doesn’t have adequate space. There are 62 portable classrooms in all, posing a safety and security risk to students and staff. That is why, on Tuesday, Nov. 7, residents of the Anoka-Hennepin School District will have the opportunity to make district schools Fit for the Future by addressing facility needs. The plan will: • Create safe and secure learning environments through the removal of portable classrooms. • Construct additional schools and classroom space where student populations are significantly growing. • Offer solutions for maintaining quality schools by improving science labs, media centers, and flexible learning areas throughout the district. • Address class size at all levels — elementary, middle and high school. The Fit for the Future referendum is based on a series of recommendations developed by a 32-member community task force that studied district facilities for 10 months; as well as feedback from the greater community during a series of meetings, online and in person, held earlier this year. The task force’s full report is available on the district website at ahschools.us/fff. For more information on the referendum visit ahschools.us/FitForTheFuture.

ahschools.us/FitForTheFuture [email protected] 763-506-3383

Message from Superintendent Law

Logical consequences if the referendum questions are not approved

Dear Anoka-Hennepin community members, Community discussions over the past 18 months have focused on making our schools safe and secure for students and providing adequate space for learning. When district residents cast their votes on the Fit for the Future referendum, they will determine the direction for our district’s nearly 38,000 students.

The Fit for the Future referendum is based on a series of recommendations developed by a 32-member community task force. It took 10 months of study, including tours of all five high school buildings, to bring consensus to the list of recommended projects. Should voters reject the referendum, the conditions identified by the task force will continue.

Without question, this is an important decision for our school district and community. Providing information to ensure voters are informed and maximizing participation in the election are two central goals for Anoka-Hennepin schools. Take time to review the actual ballot language and descriptions on how safety and security, adequate space for learning, maintaining quality facilities, and addressing class size issues are funded through the questions. The School Board values public involvement in schools. The decision to hold this referendum is based on significant public input and review. Holding a referendum election was one of nine recommendations forwarded by a 32-member community facilities task force. This group studied all aspects of school operations during an exhaustive 10 month study and crafted options to serve district needs for the next 10 to 15 years. As you consider the referendum questions, please know that the district has resources available to provide additional information. The district website includes details on projects, information on how to vote early and where to vote on election day, and a calculator to determine the tax impact on your property. Please contact our Fit for the Future information line at 763-506-3383 or email [email protected] should you need additional information. Thank you for taking the time to get informed on the Fit for the Future referendum and for having your voice heard by casting your vote. Sincerely,

David Law, Superintendent

SAFETY AND SECURITY

What does Fit for the Future mean? The three focus areas of the Fit for the Future plan are: safety and security, space, and quality maintenance improvements. There are a lot of projects that would occur, so the district has divided its information into clusters so residents can see exactly what’s planned for their neighborhood schools and the schools their students will be advancing into as they grow. What’s a cluster? Starting at the elementary level, Anoka-Hennepin’s schools generally feed into a middle school that feeds into a high school. These groupings are called clusters. In a few cases, a school’s student population splits at the high school level. In those cases, that school is considered to be part of two clusters. For information on cluster-specific projects, check out each cluster’s website. There you’ll find more details as well as a video, infographic and flier: ● Andover cluster: ahschools.us/AndoverClusterOverview ● Anoka cluster: ahschools.us/AnokaClusterOverview ● Blaine cluster: ahschools.us/BlaineClusterOverview

MAINTAINING QUALITY SCHOOLS

Examples of what students may face if voters fail to approve the questions: ● The 62 portable classrooms in use throughout the district will continue to pose safety and security risks to thousands of students. Even so, additional portable classrooms may be necessary to meet space needs. ● Projects to improve security at school entrances will not proceed. ● Crowded conditions and large class sizes will continue at all levels, but most especially at the elementary level. ● Districtwide boundary adjustments would be short term and continually reassessed due to limited space. ● School buildings and learning resources will continue to age and become less relevant. This will limit options for students, particularly in science labs and media centers.

● Coon Rapids cluster: ahschools.us/CoonRapidsClusterOverview

● Limited space for physical education classes and activities will persist. To meet the need, either additional space will be leased or students will be denied access to requested classes.

For a more general overview, check out this video, ahschools.us/OverviewVideo.

For more details, take a look at this video, ahschools.us/Consequences.

● Champlin Park cluster: ahschools.us/ChamplinParkClusterOverview

Voting information

SPACE

The three focus areas of the Fit for the Future plan – safety and security, space, and quality maintenance improvements – would not be met. Among the logical consequences of the referendum failing: schools will grow increasingly crowded; attempts to set new attendance boundaries will be short lived and ineffective; and additional portable classrooms may be necessary to meet space needs. Essentially, schools will continue to age without the space or resources demanded by learners.

Minnesota makes voting easy with a variety of ways to vote - on or before election day.

Are you registered?

Vote early from now until Nov. 6

Not sure if you’re registered to vote? Check online at ahschools.us/ CheckRegistration.

Voters residing in Anoka and Hennepin counties (yes, Anoka County is processing Hennepin County voting) can vote early via mail by submitting an application, which is available at ahschools.us/VoteEarly or at any AnokaHennepin school. Once the county receives your application, a mail-in ballot will then be sent to your home.

If you’re not registered, go to ahschools.us/Register for ways to register.

Voters residing in Anoka and Hennepin counties who would like to vote early in person can do so at the Anoka County Elections office, 325 E Main St., Anoka, Minn. Hours: Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 4 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and Monday, Nov. 6 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In Minnesota, you can vote early without a special reason.

Vote on election day, Nov. 7 Voters can cast their ballots on election day, Tuesday, Nov. 7, at their assigned polling place. Go to ahschools.us/PollFinder, or the listing in this brochure, to find your polling place.

Polling places for the Nov. 7 referendum election Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you’re unsure of your precinct from the list below, go to ahschools.us/PollFinder to find your polling location, or call 763-324-1300. Election district one (1): P1 Ramsey Municipal Center (Ramsey W2P1, W2P2, and W3P1) P2 Ramsey Fire Station #2 (Ramsey W3P2, W4P1, and W4P2) P3 Anoka Covenant Church (Andover P2; Anoka P7 and P8) P4 Zion Lutheran Church (Anoka P4, P5, and P6; Coon Rapids W4P1) P5 Greenhaven Golf Club (Anoka P1, P2, and P3) Election district two (2): P1 Grace Community Fellowship (Blaine W2P6, W3P4, W3P5, W3P6, and W3P8) P2 Oak Park Community Church (Blaine W2P5, W3P2, W3P3, and W3P7) P3 Blaine United Methodist Church (Blaine W2P3, W2P4A, and W3P1) P4 King of Glory Church (Blaine W1P1, W1P4, W2P1, W2P2A, and W2P2B) P5 Peace Lutheran Church (Coon Rapids W5P1 and W5P2) *Election district three (3): P1 Dayton Elementary School (Dayton P1, P2, and P3) P2 Servant of Christ Lutheran Church (Champlin W1P1 and W3P1) P3 Champlin Ice Forum (Champlin W2P1) P4 Jackson Middle School (Champlin W4P1) P5 Coon Rapids Ice Center (Coon Rapids W4P2 and W4P3) P6 Coon Rapids United Methodist Church (Coon Rapids W3P1 and W4P4) *Election district four (4): P1 Oak Haven Church (Ham Lake P1, P3A, P4A) P2 Spirit of Christ Lutheran Church (Ham Lake P2, P5, and P6A) P3 Cross of Hope Lutheran Church (Nowthen P1A; Oak Grove P4; Ramsey W1P1 and W1P2) P4 Prairie Oak Community Church (Andover P1, P5, P6, and P7) P5 Bunker Hills Activity Center (Andover P8 and P9) Election district five (5): P1 Evergreen Park Elementary School (Brooklyn Center P2 and P3) P2 Monroe Elementary School (Brooklyn Park WEP1A and WEP2) P3 Edinbrook Church (Brooklyn Park WEP4A, WEP5, and WEP6A) P4 Champlin-Brooklyn Park Academy (Brooklyn Park WCP8) P5 Springbrook Nature Center (Fridley W3P1 and W3P2) P6 Emma B. Howe YMCA Community Room (Coon Rapids W5P4 and W5P5) P7 Spirit of Grace Church (Coon Rapids W3P2, W3P3, W3P4, and W5P3) *Election district six (6): P1 Grace Lutheran Church (Andover P3 and P4) P2 Mision Cristiana Bethel (Coon Rapids W1P1, W1P3, and W1P4) P3 Andover Elementary School (Andover P10; Coon Rapids W1P2 and W2P1) P4 Bunker Hills Golf Club (Coon Rapids W2P2, W2P3, W2P4, and W2P5)

*Only voters who reside in Board Member Election Districts 3, 4 and 6 will vote for School Board candidates.

Official property tax explanation as required by law Passage of School District Question 1 or School District Question 2 will result in an increase in your property taxes. The passage of School District Question 2 is contingent on the passage of School District Question 1. The annual dollar increases for typical residential homesteads, apartments, commercial-industrial properties, and most other classes of property within the school district are as shown in the table included in this brochure. For agricultural property (both homestead and non-homestead), the taxes for School District Question 1 will be based on the value of the house, garage and surrounding one acre of land only. There will be no referendum taxes paid on the value of other agricultural lands and buildings for School District Question 1. For seasonal residential recreational property (i.e. cabins), there will be no taxes paid for School District Question 1. The School Building Bond Agricultural Credit shall be applicable to Agricultural property for School District Question 2. Any eligible voter residing in the school district may vote at said election at the polling place or combined polling place designated within this brochure, for the precinct in which he or she resides. The polls for said election will be opened at 7:00 o’clock a.m. and will close at 8:00 o’clock p.m., on the date of said election. A voter must be registered to vote to be eligible to vote in this election. An unregistered individual may register to vote at the polling place or combined polling place on election day. Dated: July 10, 2017. BY ORDER OF THE SCHOOL BOARD

/s/ School District Clerk Anoka-Hennepin Independent School District No. 11 State of Minnesota