Anoka-Hennepin schools, teachers reach tentative agreement, averting strike
ANOKA, Minn. (FOX 9) - A tentative agreement has been reached between the Anoka-Hennepin School District and Anoka-Hennepin Education Minnesota, averting a potential strike.
Tentative contract agreement reached
What we know:
The tentative agreement was reached around 5 a.m. on Wednesday after a 20-hour mediation session. It still requires approval from union members and the School Board before it becomes official.
The agreement comes after 11 negotiation sessions that began in July 2025, a news release says.
What they're saying:
"This tentative agreement means educators will be where they belong going forward – in classrooms with students, not on the picket line," said John Wolhaupter, president of Anoka Hennepin Education Minnesota. "It protects our members from going backwards and gives our students the stability they deserve."
"Our fight in Anoka-Hennepin is the same story, the same struggle, that local educator unions across Minnesota are facing," Wolhaupter said. "Our union and public school workers are standing up for a different vision for public education – one where we invest in the people who teach our kids. One where every child has stability, safety and a real chance to learn. One where our communities decide the future of our schools."
What we don't know:
The terms of the agreement have not been disclosed.
The Anoka-Hennepin School District employs 3,200 educators, including teachers, counselors, social workers and nurses, across 52 schools and learning centers.
Anoka-Hennepin teacher strike averted, tentative agreement reached
A tentative agreement has been reached between the Anoka-Hennepin School District and its teachers, preventing a planned strike.
Impact on school operations
Local perspective:
The agreement ensures that school will be in session and activities will continue as planned on Thursday, Jan. 8, which is the day the strike was set to begin if a deal wasn't reached.
Teacher contracts in Minnesota are negotiated every two years. Employees continue working under their current contract until a new one is approved.