A strike among educators in Minnesota's largest school district is no longer looming after a tentative deal was struck following a 20-hour mediation session that started early Tuesday morning.
Anoka Hennepin Education Minnesota, which represents more than 3,000 educators across 55 schools in the Anoka-Hennepin School District, voted overwhelmingly in December to approve a strike, which was set to begin Thursday, if no deal was reached to increase salaries and improve health benefits.
Terms of the deal weren't released Wednesday morning, but the district did issue a press release:
The Anoka-Hennepin School District negotiators and Anoka-Hennepin Education leaders reached a tentative agreement for an updated contract with Anoka-Hennepin Education Minnesota (AHEM) for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years during a mediation session today.
This action averts a possible strike that was previously announced to begin on Thursday, Jan. 8. School will be in session as planned on Thursday and activities are expected to continue as scheduled. The proposal, which was reached following a 20-hour mediation session, will need approval from union membership before advancing to the School Board for final approval at an upcoming meeting. Terms of the agreement are not immediately available.
Teacher contracts in Minnesota schools are negotiated every two years and employees continue working under their current contract until a new one is approved. Negotiation teams representing the Anoka-Hennepin School District and AHEM reached an agreement on a tentative contract settlement following eleven sessions in a process that started in July 2025.
The Anoka-Hennepin School District is served by 3,200 teachers, counselors, social workers and nurses who operate from 50 schools and learning centers throughout the district. Over 82% of district operating expenditures are allocated for personnel costs for direct instruction and support of student learning.