- Call to Order – Chair Claudia Gonzalez George called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. All board members present.
- Agenda Approval/Table File – Agenda & table file approved as presented (see
https://northfieldschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2024.05.13-Board-Packet.pdf ).
- Public Comment –
Chris Kinnelly, school district resident & hockey parent, involved in hockey association, thanked the board for its support of arena.
- Announcements and Recognitions –
a. Community Ed will hold a carnival at NCEC as a fundraiser.
b. High school Envirothon team won the regional competition and will compete at state competition.
c. Recognition of senior members of the District Youth Council. Individual certificates were presented, recognizing service to DYC committees.
- Items for Discussion and Reports
a. District Youth Council 2023-24 Recap – Students presented a recap of this year’s DYC activities.
Questions – Corey Butler: What was most meaningful to you? Answer: Student voices having an impact on district decisions; gender renaming at the high school. Ben Miller: What is the Heritage Festival? Answer: It’s a forum for different cultural groups to present their cultures. Ms. Gonzalez George: How do you communicate besides social media? Answer: Questionnaires, internet.
b. Proposed 2024-25 General Fund Budget – presented by Director of Finance Valori Mertesdorf (see table file for details https://northfieldschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2024.05.13-BoardPacket.pdf). 70% of revenue is dependent on enrollment, which is declining for two reasons: (1) Affordable housing shortage – currently only 12 homes are available for sale in the district, and most of those are listed at over $500,000. (2) Declining birth rate, which is also a statewide
problem. A new expense this year will be summer unemployment compensation for hourly staff, which was passed by the legislature; it will be funded by state for this year, but the state allocation does not continue after that. We are creating a contingency fund for English Learner program, because many more students are coming in. We will have enough funding for a teaching position if needed. Anticipating a 4% increase in transportation costs, and an increase in property/liability insurance premiums. Salaries & benefits comprise 80% of the total budget. The Northfield community is generous and supportive of schools.
Questions: Jenny Nelson: Will the inclusion specialist (part of special ed funding) funding end in the summer 2025? Ms. Mertesdorf: No, it will be ongoing. Dr. Hillmann: This position supports special ed students moving into general classrooms, coaching classroom teachers on how to include special ed students. Some of these funding dollars support class size reductions. Ms. Nelson: Does the position offer support to special ed teachers? Dr. Hillmann: No, this position is for general education teachers incorporating special ed students into their classrooms. It is a K12 position. Ms. Nelson: Do all staff members receive workers’ compensation during the summer months? Ms. Mertesdorf: Almost all of them do. Ben Miller: Is special ed from last year included? Ms. Mertesdorf: Yes. Ms. Nelson: For Dr. Hillmann, she is concerned about the increase in students transferring to other districts over the last 8 years. Dr. Hillmann: The overall
number of students leaving is declining. The number of “traditional” students transferring out is rising. He looks at the bottom line, combining all categories. Many of the students leaving are going to online programs, which we don’t offer. Ms. Nelson: Her biggest concern is with students going to Randolph. Their enrollment has increased every year even though they are close by. Why are students going there? Dr. Hillmann: In 2020-21 we had open enrollment because of the pandemic. We are getting positive feedback in Northfield from agriculture families because of the new ag program. Randolph gets open enrollment from many other districts, which is unusual. It is a smaller school, and hosted the ag program until this year.
c. Policy Committee Recommendations – Wellness policy has been revised to include staff as well as students. Revisions also include a mechanism for students eligible to receive free and reduced lunch to receive scholarships in a way that avoids stigma. The district’s sponsorship policy was initiated last year; they are requesting that administration have the authority to modify sponsorship agreements for less than $25,000, and have the board approve and modify agreements for over $25,000.
Questions: Ms. Nelson: How many sponsorships does this entail? Ms. Mertesdorf: Since this is a new policy, we have only one, $20,000 for the middle school. They are currently working on 4 other potential sponsorships.
d. Fall 2024 Bond Referendum – Dr. Hillmann: The district is holding virtual information sessions, but so far there has been only one attendee; they will reassess need and effectiveness. They have presented at Rotary, put out information at several community events (such as Cinco de Mayo) , and are holding tours of high school. They have also held presentations for township boards, FiftyNorth, Arcadia charter school, and Third Thursday downtown. Official ballot language will be presented at the next board meeting, with board approval at the following meeting.
- Consent Agenda – approved unanimously (see https://northfieldschools.org/wpcontent/uploads/2024.05.13-Board-Packet.pdf )
a. Minutes
b. Gift Agreements
c. Grant Application
d. Overnight Field Trip
e. DYC Members 2024-25
f. Authorization to Waive the Ban of Fireworks or Ammunition on School District Property to
Permit Fireworks Display
g. Personnel Items
- Items for Individual Action –
a. Revised 2023-24 Child Nutrition Fund Budget – approved unanimously
b. Revised 2023-24 Community Education Fund Budget – approved by roll call, unanimously
c. Ice Arena Letter of Support to the Northfield City Council –
Questions: Jeff Quinnell: What will be the total cost? Dr. Hillmann: That is still being determined by the city council, but will probably be about $21 million. Mr. Quinnell: Is this going for a citywide vote? It is too much money for such vague information. He will vote no on this letter of support. Ms. Gonzalez George: The letter of support only says that the district will continue to lease at the new arena. Dr. Hillmann: We want to affirm our desire to continue leasing the arena. How the city council moves forward is their choice & determination. Ms. Nelson: Are there other alternatives? Dr. Hillmann: This has been under discussion for at least 10 years, most recently two years ago when this plan was brought forward. The city looked at remodeling vs. new construction, other potential entities to share ice time, other communities to buy in, or
no ice arena at all. We know that 100-200 students will leave the district if there is no available ice for hockey, which will cost the district about $1 million in per-pupil state allocations. Ms. Nelson: Would this be a year-round facility? Dr. Hillmann: Yes, and will include a skating school, figure skating, and open skate through community ed. Ms. Nelson: Have we used the arena in the summer in past years? Dr. Hillmann: No. Mr. Quinnell: This should go to the voters because it is such a big project. He doesn’t think the school district should commit to renting the ice arena before the city has set up the project and funding. Dr. Hillmann: The city is still figuring out public and private partnerships, and will not move forward without committed partners. Mr. Quinnell said he wants the city to step up first. Noel Stratmoen: That is a concern for the city council, not for school board. There is a significant number of hockey families in the district. This project will support kids that want to play hockey. Mr. Miller: Don’t conflate the responsibilities of city government and the school board. How did we arrive at these figures? Dr. Hillmann: The district is currently at 25% of its lease levy authority, and would put up to 40%, which is still within its legal purview. This is a reasonable increase in support at $250,000/year. Ms. Goerwitz generally supports this letter, but wants to know what the lease cost increase would pay for? Locker rooms, ice time? We want to be a priority user and have flexibility in our use. Dr. Hillmann: This would be a maximum of $250,000. The district doesn’t need to use it for non-ice related events. It will certainly include locker rooms and other amenities; they wouldn’t build
those things if it was not for the district as priority user. Ms. Goerwitz: She wants to support the partnership, and wants to see more specifics in writing. Passed on a roll call vote: all aye except Quinnell, nay.
d. Review and Comment Submission to the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) – see table file for information (https://northfieldschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2024.05.13-BoardPacket.pdf). Questions: none. Passed unanimously by roll call vote.
e. Resolution Discontinuing and Reducing Educational Program – passed unanimously by roll call vote.
- Items for Information
a. Enrollment Report – 9 students over projections, but down slightly from last month.
b. Graduation – ALC graduation is scheduled at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, May 31 in the Middle School
Auditorium. Northfield High School graduation is scheduled at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 9 at
Memorial Field.
- Future Meetings
a. Tuesday May 28, 2024, 6:00 p.m., Regular Board meeting, Northfield DO Boardroom b. Monday June 10, 2024, 6:00 p.m., Regular Board meeting, Northfield DO Boardroom c. Monday July 8, 2024, 6:00 p.m., Regular Board meeting, Northfield DO Boardroom (Monday May 27 is Memorial Day)
Moved into closed session at 7:35 p.m.
- Closed Session for Sale of Property as Allowed by Minnesota Statute 13D.05, Subd. 3(c) to discuss the sale of district property, Parcel #17.11.3.75.021; Land Area 13,642sf.
By Connie Martin, Observer, League of Women Voters
