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Anoka‑Hennepin board elects Langenfeld and Hochman as co‑chairs after split vote over co‑chair model
Summary
The Anoka‑Hennepin school board voted 4‑2 to install Director Langenfeld and Director Hochman as co‑chairs after a tied vote to retain the incumbent pair failed; Director Simon publicly criticized the co‑chair model and urged returning to a single chair during the nomination debate.
The Anoka‑Hennepin Public School District board voted 4‑2 on Jan. 12 to elect Director Langenfeld and Director Hochman as co‑chairs for the coming year after an earlier nomination to retain Co‑Chairs Arco and D'Shane failed on a 3‑3 tie.
The results followed a lengthy nomination and discussion period in which board members debated whether a co‑chair model serves the district. Director Jeff Simon said he opposed the co‑chair structure, arguing it had not served the board well: "I personally don't think the co chair model has served our board well." Several board members said they were weighing stability and continuity as they considered whom to support.
After the failed first nomination for Arco and D'Shane, the board held a separate vote on the nomination of Director Langenfeld and Director Hochman; that motion carried 4 in favor and 2 opposed, and the new co‑chairs were acknowledged by the board. The meeting paused briefly to accommodate the change in chairing duties.
Votes at a glance: The board recorded multiple organizational and officer votes during the meeting. The co‑chair votes were split: Arco/D'Shane — 3 in favor, 3 opposed (failed); Langenfeld/Hochman — 4 in favor, 2 opposed (approved). Jeff Simon was elected clerk (6‑0), and Director Odette was elected treasurer (6‑0). The consent agenda and all routine organizational delegations (meeting dates, official depositories, investment institutions, electronic funds transfer authority, authorization to sign contracts, official newspapers, designated identity access official, and board expense policies) were approved by the board, mostly by unanimous or near‑unanimous margins; two finance items recorded a single abstention by Director D'Shane to avoid an appearance of conflict.
Board members framed the leadership vote around stability, cooperation with administration and efficient governance. Director Arco said she was "happy to continue serving in that role" but offered flexibility should colleagues prefer other leaders. In closing remarks after the votes, co‑chairs and the outgoing chair encouraged a cooperative transition and pledged support for the new leadership.
The new co‑chairs will preside over the board's calendar and business for the coming cycle; the board also confirmed other officer roles and routine administrative delegations at the meeting.
