Educators with Minnesota's largest school district are now one step closer to a strike after months without a contract. Nearly 1,000 of them joined the Anoka-Hennepin School Board meeting in Anoka on Monday evening.

Anoka Hennepin Education Minnesota President John Wolhaupter says the district is trying to make them choose between better pay or better health benefits.

Despite several bargaining and mediation sessions, the union and the district have remained at an impasse since the summer.

"We've been presented false choice over and over in bargaining, which is competitive wages or affordable insurance," said Wolhaupter.

The district says, "The budget reduction process is a complicating factor for negotiations with AHEM, although all other bargaining groups to date have settled within

See Full Page