The Anoka-Hennepin Public School District held a regular school board meeting on October 28, 2024, addressing several key issues, including boundary concerns and community engagement. The meeting began with public comments from parents Amanda and Natalie, who expressed their frustrations regarding school district boundaries that separate their children from their peers and community activities.

Amanda shared her family's experience after moving from Texas to Andover, highlighting the emotional impact on her son, Mason, who is facing challenges due to being assigned to Anoka Middle School and Anoka High School instead of Andover schools. She emphasized the importance of community and belonging, noting that Mason has been unable to participate in youth hockey with his friends because of the boundary restrictions. Amanda urged the school board to reconsider the current boundaries, which she believes unfairly affect a small number of families, causing significant distress for the children involved.

Natalie, a neighbor of Amanda, echoed these sentiments, advocating for a redrawing of district lines to include their neighborhood in the Oakview Middle School and Andover High School areas. She pointed out that many children from their area are being denied open enrollment opportunities while out-of-district students are allowed to enroll, which she feels undermines the community's investment in local schools.

Following the public comments, Superintendent McIntyre provided updates on various district activities, including the success of Anoka-Hennepin's marching bands at state championships and the dedication of the new 2 Rivers transition program at Franklin. He also noted that several schools would serve as polling locations for the upcoming Election Day on November 5, 2024.

The meeting concluded with a presentation on the Morris Leatherman community survey, which aims to gather feedback from the community regarding the district's performance and areas for improvement. The board's discussions highlighted the ongoing challenges related to school boundaries and the importance of community involvement in shaping educational experiences for students.