Anoka-Hennepin School District to form task force on bullying

The Anoka-Hennepin School District is forming a task force to advise its school board on how best to prevent bullying.

District officials are inviting community members and students to apply to serve on an anti-bullying task force.

The task force will meet eight times over the next academic year and report its findings to the school board in the spring. The task force will also include teachers, education specialists and school administrators.

In March the district settled six lawsuits by students who claimed they were bullied because district policy did not do enough to protect them. The settlement included a $270,000 payment split among the students. It also required the district to work with the federal government on an anti-bullying program.

The state of Minnesota has its own bullying task force already in place. That 15-member board has until Aug. 1 to suggest new ways for the state to address the problem of bullying.

Community members interested in serving on the Task Force are asked to complete an application form, which is available on the district website at or by calling Carolyn Lakanen, Student Services Department lead secretary, at 763-506-1076. Please mail applications to Jennifer Cherry, Title IX/Equity coordinator, Educational Service Center, 2727 N Ferry Street, Anoka, MN 55303-1650, by Aug. 15.