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Anoka-Hennepin teachers union reaches tentative deal with schools
The tentative deal will head to the AHEM executive board for approval before the union votes on the offer.
ANOKA, Minn. — Editors Note: The above video first aired on Dec. 20, 2023.
The teacher’s union representing educators in Minnesota’s largest school district has reached a tentative deal for a new contract with Anoka-Hennepin Schools.
Anoka Hennepin Education Minnesota (AHEM), the union, said the deal was reached after an 18-hour negotiation session that ended around 3 a.m. Saturday morning.
The school district, Anoka Hennepin Schools, confirmed a tentative contract was reached in a separate release.
In an email to AHEM members, the negotiations team thanked members for their support during the process. “Please know that this agreement could not have been reached without all the hard work that each and every one of you put into this contract campaign over the last couple of months,” said the negotiators.
BREAKING: Anoka Hennepin Education Minnesota reaches tentative deal with district on new contract. Rally scheduled for Monday is canceled. More details to come! #WeAreAHEM #AHSchoolsWeDeserve pic.twitter.com/XtCrVRZjwj
— Education Minnesota (@EducationMN) January 20, 2024
Neither party specified what the new contract includes, but previous proposals from the parties indicated they were far apart on a new deal.
- Previous proposal from AHEM: 18.61% increase (K-12) and 20.86% (ABE/ECFE); $66 million in new money. Increases in salary range from 8.34% to 31.61% over 2 years. (October 2023)
- Previous proposal from the district: 8.17% increase (K-12) and 8.9% (ABE/ECFE); $29.6 million in new money. Increases in salary range from 4.81% to 17.2% over 2 years. (November 2023)
The tentative deal will head to the AHEM executive board for approval before the union’s members vote on whether or not to accept the offer.
A union rally scheduled for 6 p.m. on Monday has been canceled, according to AHEM.
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Gary Peterson and his friends are collecting donations to help people in their community.
ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. — A St. Louis Park pumpkin display is raising money for their local food shelf.
Gary Peterson started carving and painting three pumpkins over a decade ago. It’s now grown to over 100.
“I’ve heard people say they’ve come from Hutchinson,” he said.
Peterson along with two of his neighbors have spent the last 14 years growing their display, turning it into a neighborhood event.
“It’s been incredible, I just can’t believe how much this has expanded,” he said. “We did it just because we like to and then people were asking to give us money to cover the cost.”
The trio refused to take people’s money, but then one of them had an idea.
“My neighbor, Steve Leensvaart, just mentioned how about we just do it for the STEP program and the STEP program is our local food shelf in St. Louis Park,” he said.
So, they started to collect donations to help families in need. They’ve raised hundreds of dollars and donated hundreds of pounds of food over the last few years, carving for a cause.
“It is more gratifying every year,” Peterson said.
He estimated they have over 100 unique pumpkins in their yard. They’ve created the displays and come up with new family-friendly concepts for people to enjoy. Peterson said about 30 of their neighbors carved their own pumpkins to be put on display, and it’s been a big hit.
“It’s great. In the last couple of years, it’s turned into more of a neighborhood event,” said Sarah Durch.
“We love this Halloween display, we come every year to see it. We love that the whole community gets involved to craft and carve the pumpkins,” said Jami Gordon-Smith.
“The shading and the details are unbelievable,” said Elizabeth Hanson.
Hanson hopes to take her 2-year-old son trick or treating for the first time but is worried the cold temperatures might keep them indoors.
“We’re going trick or treating hopefully,” she said. “He’s going to be a firefighter, but we’re probably going to have sweatshirts maybe like two pairs of sweatpants underneath. We’re going to be bundled up.”
Gordon-Smith said her family will be out Halloween night no matter the weather.
“Halloween only comes once a year, so you really have to take advantage and enjoy the evening no matter what the weather brings,” she said. “Guess it’s not totally unheard of in Minnesota to have a cold Halloween, but we are going to try and modify and do a lot of layers underneath our costumes and then we might add some hats and maybe some warmer socks.”
Durch also isn’t surprised they’re in for another chilly night.
“Well, what would Halloween be without Minnesota cold? I feel like every time you plan a costume you have to plan for how you can make this work if it’s snowing,” she said.
Peterson said they will have a bonfire and some hot chocolate and cider on Halloween to keep trick-or-treaters warm while they look at their pumpkins.
Click here to learn where you can see the pumpkins and how you can donate.
