Anoka‑Hennepin Schools is cutting roughly 75 positions for the 2026‑27 school year, just as Superintendent Cory McIntyre prepares to leave when his contract ends in late June. District officials say the move is about closing a looming budget gap without packing more students into classrooms, while staff and union leaders warn the cuts could gut critical supports for kids. The pink slips land in the middle of an already fraught leadership transition.
As reported by KARE11, the 75 affected employees include social workers, support teachers, para‑educators, and counselors. According to the outlet, district leaders have framed the reductions as necessary savings to help avoid boosting class sizes next year, and notifications started going out this week.
Board sign‑off and what was trimmed
The school board signed off on an $8.1 million budget reduction package in December, part of a multi‑phase plan to shore up the 2026‑27 budget. District officials say the multi‑step process has already eliminated more than $22 million in spending since early 2024. As outlined by Anoka‑Hennepin Schools, Phase 3 zeroed in on non‑literacy positions originally added with one‑time ESSER funds, some high school staffing tied to off‑campus programs, and cuts to central services in an effort to reduce disruption at individual school sites.
Superintendent's exit
The district has also confirmed that Cory McIntyre will not seek renewal of his contract and that “his service to the district will conclude when his current contract ends on June 30, 2026,” according to its leadership notice. The school board says it plans to work with senior administrators to ensure a “smooth and successful transition” and to set a timeline for finding McIntyre’s successor.
Staff reaction and local pushback
Employees and union representatives argue the cuts hit right where students most need help. As reported by KARE11, union leaders said they were “shocked that social workers were ever considered expendable,” and one member labeled the decision “an injustice to our students.” KARE11 also reported that the district is projecting a budget deficit that officials say is driving the staffing reductions.
Where this fits in statewide trends
Districts across Minnesota have been paring back programs and staff as one‑time federal relief runs out and costs and mandates climb. The Star Tribune has tracked similar belt‑tightening elsewhere and noted that Anoka‑Hennepin is the state’s largest district by enrollment, which makes its cuts especially closely watched. Nationally, surveys and research summarized by outlets such as Education Week and academic studies point to shorter superintendent tenures and frequent leadership turnover, a pattern that can magnify disruption during budget and staffing crises.
For now, the school board and district leaders say they are still finalizing which specific positions will be eliminated and how to manage transitions for students and staff who rely on those services. They are also mapping out the next steps in the superintendent search and preparing for any additional budget decisions tied to the 2026‑27 school year.
