Northfield Public Schools, School Board Meeting
By Connie Martin, Observer, League of Women Voters
June 12, 2023
1. Call to Order – All present except Ben Miller, Jenny Nelson; Board Chair called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. Agenda Approval/Table File – new appointments, changes in assignment, 1 retirement; table file added to agenda. For detail see https://northfieldschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2023.07.10-Board-Packet.pdf
3. Public Comment – Kristen Twitchell spoke on behalf of her daughter, a 7th grader at the Middle School. She wanted to affirm that the Northfield School District welcomes all, including race, sexual orientation, religion.
4. Announcements and Recognitions
- Congratulated skeet team winning at state meet, only second time going on to state.
- Recognized Ella Pagel, awarded all-metro sports athlete of the year for girls wrestling.
- Alicia Clary, instructional coach, recently completed language essentials training, letters facilitation, and is now a nationally certified trainer.
5. Items for Discussion and Reports
- Policy Committee Recommendations:
- Use of student data for research – Recommending adding term “multimedia” to clarify use. Questions: Amy Goerwitz: found wording confusing in title. She also asked for the purpose of this data and research (researcher, or used in-house)?
- Student citizenship handbook – 29 policies need to be updated after legislative session, to make sure that all policies are integrated appropriately. They especially want to review suspension policy, grades K-3, to be sure it is in compliance with new state law.
- Newsletter on legislative changes (see Table file at https://northfieldschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2023.07.10-Board-Packet.pdf ) Questions: Robert Coleman: On p. 29 in handbook, is the spreadsheet of suspendable offenses up to date? Dr. Hillmann: It is correct for grades 4-5. On p. 28 language is added to reflect that K-3 students may not be suspended. Ms. Goerwitz: People don’t understand the difference between student handbook and citizenship handbook. Can these be combined online? Dr. Hillmann: The citizenship handbook should be online now; both are listed on handbooks link. Jeff Quinnell: What is the process to protect students who are accused of crime? Dr. Hillmann: The handbook text is about interviews, situational escalating, and when a student would need representation.
- Annual Fundraising Report – Director of Finance Valeri Mertesdorf: The report is broken out by activity. We have added funding to offset student cost for gear or trips. (See https://northfieldschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2023.07.10-Board-Packet.pdf ) Questions: Ms. Goerwitz: How do we promote different fundraisers for students? Ms. Mertesdorf: That is up to individual team members. She will take the question back to activities person.
- Benjamin Bus Contract Terms for 2023-2025 – action to approve at the August 14 board meeting. Ms. Mertesdorf: We are requesting a 2-year extension of the current agreement, which includes 23 routes. Fuel costs will increase by 25 cents per gallon, about a 1-4% increase. Benjamin Bus has been generous, for example they donated transportation for elementary trip, senior graduation parade. Ms. Goerwitz: Does the new contract consider any streamlining of routes from board discussions? Ms. Mertesdorf: Not currently, since we are still getting registration forms and the routes are not set yet. We will know more within the next three weeks about ridership and numbers. Corey Butler: Concerning the fuel clause, what was the district cost & how will that be affected by extra $.25/gallon? Ms. Mertesdorf will get that information for next board meeting.
- Staffing Update and Contingency Request – Dr. Hillmann asked the board to increase the number of FTE in the contingency budget. With the district’s declining enrollment, they need flexibility to address class size and scheduling. This budget addresses temporary changes that will revert after one year .Most vacant faculty positions are filled for next year. Ms. Goerwitz: Are teachers told that their position is only for 1 year? Dr. Hillmann: Those positions are advertised for one year only, and receive a one-year contract. Mr. Coleman: He understands that the Companeros situation is unusual (class is not filled). Going forward, how can we stay ahead of enrollment changes? Do we need a task force? How do we keep interest & enrollment in Companeros? It is only five weeks before board meeting where this will be voted on; do we need to move & pass something today? Dr. Hillmann: That would be helpful, as it would allow the district to post the first-grade position. The Companeros teacher is already leading a committee on publicizing and programming. Mr. Coleman wants to add a motion to move contingency request to an action item for tonight.
- Potential Grant Writer – Dr. Hillmann is thinking about asking/advertising for a grantwriter, to be employed by the district. $230M was appropriated by the legislature and is available to schools using competitive grant process. Options: (1) hire a freelance grantwriter (expertise, paid by the hour), (2) continue to have staff members write grants (inefficient); (3) hire a staff grantwriter, who would also be able to write reports and other documents. This position could pay for itself. Dr. Hillmann wants board feedback on the concept. Mr. Quinnell: Yes, worth looking into. What allocation is normally on the table? Dr. Hillmann: This is more money than has ever been appropriated, it has never hit $100M. Mr. Quinnell: What would be the length of the position? Dr. Hillmann: This would be an administrative/support staff position, at-will employee. Mr. Quinnell: Grants are open to all schools? Dr. Hillmann: Yes, including charter schools. Mr. Quinnell: Do we need to take action on this tonight? Dr. Hillmann: We still need to write a job description, create an administrative fee structure, etc. No action needed tonight. Ms. Goerwitz thinks it’s a great idea, a new way to find outside funding. She is aware of grant deadlines, and asked about the need to accelerate process. Dr. Hillmann will keep that in mind.
- Summary of Superintendent’s Performance Appraisal – Chair Claudia Gonzalez-George: Complimented Dr. Hillmann as an outstanding leader (for detail on this item see https://northfieldschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2023.07.10-Board-Packet.pdf ). Evaluation was done by the board; all comments were shared with Dr. Hillmann anonymously. He received an Excellent rating, 4.7 out of 5. The board has full confidence in Dr. Hillmann.
6. Consent Agenda moved to accept: (see https://northfieldschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2023.07.10-Board-Packet.pdf )
- Minutes
- Gift Agreements
- Grant Application
- Policy Revisions Due to Changes in Law
- Fiscal Year Organization Actions
- Memberships for 2023-2024
- Personnel Items
- Items for Individual Action (see https://northfieldschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2023.07.10-Board-Packet.pdf )
- Nursing Proposal – addition of a year-round nurse at NCEC funded by the legislature. Motion passed.
- Policy Committee Recommendations – motion passed unanimously
- FY 2023 Audit Engagement Letter – motion passed unanimously
- Resolution Regarding Conducting School Business on the Federal Indigenous Peoples’ Day – The district’s regular school board meeting is scheduled for that day, which will be a federal holiday. Resolution states that this will not be observed as a holiday during this coming school year. Chair Gonzalez-George read the resolution aloud. Motion passed on a roll call vote, all voting aye.
- Resolution Designation of Identified Official with Authority for the MDE External User Access Recertification System – This authorizes Dr. Hillmann to designate different entities and persons to act on behalf of the district. (See https://northfieldschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2023.07.10-Board-Packet.pdf ) Motion passed on a roll call vote, all voting aye.
- Approval of contingency request presented earlier (staffing and Companeros program) – motion passed unanimously
8. Items for Information – none
9. Future Meetings
- Monday, August 14, 2023, 6:00 p.m., Regular Board Meeting, Northfield District Office Boardroom
- Monday, August 28, 2023, 6:00 p.m., Regular Board Meeting, Northfield District Office Boardroom
- Monday, September 11, 2023, 6:00 p.m., Regular Board Meeting, Northfield District Office Boardroom
10. Closed Session: Labor Negotiations Strategy (Minnesota Statute 13D.03) The Board went into a special closed session to discuss Labor Negotiations.
11. Adjournment
