Northfield Public Schools Observer REport: School Board Meeting, 12.11.23

1. Call to Order – By School Board Chair Claudia Gonzalez George at 6:00 p.m. All members present, Amy Goerwitz participating remotely.
2. Agenda Approval/Table File – Agenda approved unanimously. See https://northfieldschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2023.12.11-Board-Packet.pdf
3.  Public Comment – none
4. Announcements and Recognitions
   1. Outstanding Annual Traditions Concert by H.S. choirs, presented at Skinner Memorial Chapel at Carleton College.
   2. Board Chair Claudia Gonzalez George has completed all four phases of the MSBA’s Leadership Development Program. Dr. Hillmann presented certificate of completion.
5. Items for Discussion and Reports
   1. Truth in Taxation Presentation for the Payable 2024 Property Tax Levy and Fiscal Year 2023-2024 General Fund Budget Revision, Followed by Public Comment. Director of Finance Val Mertesdorf presented report. (See https://northfieldschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2023.12.11-Board-Packet.pdf )  Northfield School District is in 3 counties, primarily Rice County but also Dakota and Goodhue. In Rice County, property taxes & valuations increased by 15.6% (previous years increased 5-7%). Thee levy supports 25% of general fund budget. Overall, the levy is up 3.4% from last year. The average $350,000 home will see a 6% tax decrease for the school levy if the value remained the same as last year. Budget Revision: based on consistent enrollment, the district is recommending no changes. Added $2M from state sources. Expenditures:  Health insurance for employees 7% increase, salary increases about 5%; there were also transportation increases. Salary & benefits are the largest share of increased expenditures.
   2. Public Comment:  none
   3. Questions:  Corey Butler: GASB = Governmental Accounting Standards Board. Ben Miller asked about multi-year software subscription. Val Mertesdorf: The district has 4 subscriptions, last year they totaled $193,000. This year the total was $293,000. These are typically for instructional services, online textbooks. Mr. Miller: What is the distribution of tax impact for different types of properties? Ms. Mertesdorf: She doesn’t know statewide. In Northfield over 50% residential, less than 17% commercial. Jeff Quinnell: When is the referendum? VM: The last one was in 2017, so the next one is 2027. Mr. Quinnell: What is the percentage of districts that ask for maximum levy? Ms. Mertesdorf doesn’t know.
6. Policy Committee Recommendations – Dr. Hillmann. These are items for action at the next board meeting, for our regularly scheduled review of policies. 203 – Board governance. 441 – technology & telecommunications (added security, accountability for damage). 507 – corporal punishment and phone restraint, following new Minnesota Attorney General recommendations. 902 – Facilities & Equipment. 903 – Visitors to School Buildings & Sites. Changes to this policy are in response to PSEO student use of facilities.
   1. Questions:  none
7. Potential 2024 Northfield High School Bond Referendum Update.
   1. Recent Board Work Session: Identified problems to solve at high school, (1) infrastructure, climate & comfort within building. Return on investment repair vs. new construction. HVAC repair costs higher than anticipated. (2) General classroom facilities antiquated. (3) Activities spaces, community access, audio, lighting. (4) Safety & security. We need fewer controlled exits. Owatonna new high school tour, 19 residents attended a 2-hour tour. Ben Miller: The new building has a high Impact on student learning experience. He strongly encouraged others to tour facility. It is a thoughtful, purpose-built space. Spaces are designed for learning outcomes. Jenny Nelson: She was surprised & enlightened by information connecting students to building. Every space had a direct function for students & staff, connecting to each other & to the facility itself. Mr. Quinnell: Very impressive community support in Owatonna. Federated Insurance gave $22M, other community members gave a lot as well. Ms. Goerwitz: It is an inviting place for students to learn. Ms. Gonzalez George: She noted that the Owatonna superintendent talked about the same problems as Northfield has in their previous school. She appreciated the intentionality of design for specific subject areas, allowing students to gain job-specific skills (veterinarian, LPN, etc.) Dr. Hillmann will try to set up another tour. Wold Architects designed their facility also. We are a different community, with different needs, but we can still learn from OHS. What is needed here in Northfield? Mr. Miller: Appreciated Owatonna’s community approach. After a failed referendum, they created a community asset, which is used by community organizations. Dr. Hillmann: People from firms we are looking at using will be at all board meetings. No presentation tonight, will have a presentation in January.
   2. Timeline: Dr. Hillmann: Public meeting on January 29, with a Board work session January 16 or 18. The community phone survey will take place during January. There will be two more tours this month. More public meetings can be added in February. Would like to make a board decision by the end of February, but may happen as late as the March 11 meeting.
   3. Question: Ms. Nelson: Where are we with pricing? Representative from Wold Architects: There are three possible scenarios: (1) maintenance approach; (2) renovate & reconstruct; (3) new building (a) current site (b) new site (would require land acquisition & development). The firm needs to know what a new building would include before they can give a price estimate (many details). Ms. Nelson: Would like list of specifications they are considering now. Wold: She will forward information available now. A “space summary” was started in 2022. They use MDE guidelines for recommended square footage  (180-200 sq ft/student) for the core facility, not including large areas such as a field house. Ms. Nelson: It would be helpful to have as much information as possible before the next session.
8. Consent Agenda – approved unanimously by roll call vote
   1.  Minutes
   2. Gift Agreements
   3. Personnel Items
9. Items for Individual Action –
   1. Proposed 2024-2025 School Year Calendar. Dr. Hillmann: There are very few changes since the previous proposed calendar. They need to add days for scheduled in-person parent-teacher conferences, so revised the calendar in August to accommodate those days.
      1. Questions: Ms. Nelson: How does this fit with state requirement for contact days? Dr. Hillmann: Besides the state requirement, we also consider teacher contracts, including preparation days, conference days, etc. We also consider Northfield tradition (187 days), and length of days. Approved unanimously on roll call vote.
   2. Policy Recommendation – Policy 207 (on public hearings, new policy). Approved unanimously by roll call vote.
   3. Certify Final 2023 Payable 2024 Tax Levy – Rice, Dakota & Goodhue Counties. (See https://northfieldschools.org/wp-content/uploads/Regular-Meeting-Table-File-12.11.2023.pdf for more detail.) Approved unanimously by roll call vote.
   4. Fiscal Year 2023-2024 General Fund Budget Revision – Approved unanimously by roll call vote.
   5. Approval of Bid for District iPad Purchase – See https://northfieldschools.org/wp-content/uploads/Regular-Meeting-Table-File-12.11.2023.pdf for competitive bids. BM asked about guaranteed pricing, unit prices. MH said must include all units, not all bids did. Approved unanimously by roll call vote.
10. Items for Information
    1. Enrollment Report – 16 students above projections.
11. Future Meetings
    1. Wednesday & Thursday, December 20 & 21, 2023, 5:30 p.m., MSBA Phase III Training, Northfield DO Boardroom
    2. Monday, January 8, 2024, 6:00 p.m., Organizational Board Meeting followed by the Regular Board Meeting, Northfield DO Boardroom
    3.  Monday, January 22, 2024, 6:00 p.m., Regular Board Meeting, Northfield DO Boardroom
12. Adjournment –  Meeting adjourned at 7:28 p.m.

By Connie Martin, Observer, League of Women Voters