- Call to Order – Chair Claudia Gonzalez George called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Noel Stratmoen absent, all other board members present.
- Agenda Approval/Table File – Agenda & table file approved as presented (see
https://northfieldschools.org/wp-content/uploads/Regular-Meeting-Table-File-06.10.2024-1.pdf ).
- Public Comment – none
- Announcements and Recognitions –
a. Congratulations to several high school teams that advanced to next level. 315 students graduated from NHS last week. The board’s work session prior to this meeting discussed the child care dilemma in our community, and the role of the school district.
- Items for Discussion and Reports
a. Legislative Wrap Up – Superintendent Hillmann provided a recap of the 2024 legislative session. (For detail see https://northfieldschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2024.06.10-Board-Packet.pdf) While there were many legislative updates, there were not as many actual changes as last year.
Questions – Ben Miller: Anything particular of interest? Dr. Hillmann: Technical fixes for the READ act, with adjustments to funding to be more flexible.
b. Policy Committee Recommendations – Policies 507.5 and 806. The board will be asked to approve these at the July 8 board meeting. 507.5 is a new policy about school resource officers, recommended by MSBA, and reflects new legislation (contractual duties, training). 806 concerns crisis management, student safety. Revisions are intended to make the process transparent without giving confidential information away to the general public or people outside district.
Questions – Amy Goerwitz: Does the school resource officer’s contract reflect this new policy? Dr. Hillmann: We are developing the contract based on this policy, working with the district’s attorney. Ms. Goerwitz: Will there be an overlap in time, do we need to worry about that? Dr. Hillmann: There will be an overlap, he will check with the attorney. Jenny Nelson: Who is the contract with? Dr. Hillmann: With the City of Northfield. Ms. Nelson: Will there be more detail about the seven specified duties? She is concerned with nos.5 & 7 concerning safety; and yes, she would like to see more detail. Dr. Hillmann: This policy guides what is in the contract, although the contract will be more detailed. They are still working on contract with attorneys. Ms. Nelson: Who pays for training? Dr. Hillmann: The police department. The district contracts with the employer, which is the police department. Ms. Nelson: In the crisis management policy, in the added section, does “violence” include verbal violence? Dr. Hillmann: Yes, it would include anything that is a threat. Ms. Nelson: What are the steps to determine whether law enforcement is called? Dr. Hillmann: Variables include the age of student and other variables. It is a judgment call; at the middle school and high school the resource officer is almost always called. For very young students, there is less engagement with resource officers. Corey Butler: Concerning policy 507.5, was this seen by students? Dr. Hillmann: Yes, by the youth council. Ms. Gonzalez George: Are the 7 items listed taken from the statute? Dr. Hillmann: We haven’t completed looking at the statute yet. Ms. Goerwitz: Where is the line between calling the resource officer and using our own staff? Dr. Hillmann: The resource officer cannot be used simply to enforce school policy. If the student citizenship handbook says “police referral” they
will use an officer. The handbook is specific. Ms. Gonzalez George: The policy is tied to law, while the contract is not. Will the new policy require resource officer? Can some of the duties be taken care of by staff? Dr. Hillmann: If they are on site, probably. The school principal investigates first. Ms. Gonzalez Goerge gave the example of a fight at high school. Jeff Quinnell: What if there is a fight and the principal is there, and the youth does not want to press charges? Dr. Hillmann: The police can determine whether there is a crime committed. People have agency whether or not to press charges. Every hypothetical has nuances and every situation is different.
c. Superintendent Focus Areas End of Year Report – Dr. Hillmann said the report is in the board packet, and he would not elaborate. He has given quarterly updates to the board. Ms. Goerwitz: What are you most proud of? Dr. Hillmann: Reading is a civil right, and raises people from poverty. He is proud of the steps where the district was ahead of the READ act, and proud of its implementation. It is a gateway to success.
d. FY 2024 Audit Engagement Letter – Director of Finance Val Mertesdorf presented the proposal from CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP Audit Engagement Letter for the audit of the 2023-24 school year (annual audit required by statute). This will be an item for individual action at the next board meeting. Ms. Mertesdorf said the only notable item is an additional charge of $2500 for new auditing standards concerning software and security controls. Otherwise it will be the same as the previous year, with 5% increase in fee.
e. Fall 2024 Bond Referendum – Dr. Hillmann updated the board on the referendum informational campaign and highlighted upcoming events. The district has had 38 informational events for community. Today presented at Lion’s club, to about 15 people. They will be at Third Thursday, Growing Up Healthy/evenings in the park, Books and Stars. High school tours on June 15, July 8. Will move into more social media over the summer. There has been good participation, questions, and curiosity so far. They are starting to schedule fall tours. Questions: Ms. Goerwitz: Who was at the intergovernmental township meeting? Dr.Hillmann: On May 15, 4-5 townships were represented from both Rice & Dakota Counties; each jurisdiction gave a report. He presented bond information and took questions. He also learned that every mile you drive in rural MN pays about $12K in property taxes. Ms. Nelson: How many townships are in the district? Dr. Hillmann: 13. They have contacted the clerk of every township. This was a quarterly joint meeting. Several townships, including Greenvale, and Castle Rock, have set up separate meetings. He has heard from all townships, but some have too small population for separate meetings. Mr. Miller: Are there any plans for direct mailings? Dr. Hillmann: There are several required mailings, they have already done 2 and will have 2 more. It is expensive, but some constituents do not receive information any other way. Ms. Gonzalez George asked about tabling, flyers? Dr. Hillmann: Tabling is separate from flyers, and described
tabling. Flyers are handed out at community events. Ms. Gonzalez George: Are you seeing returnees on the tours? Dr. Hillmann: They are mostly new people.
- Consent Agenda – approved unanimously. see https://northfieldschools.org/wpcontent/uploads/2024.06.10-Board-Packet.pdf
a. Minutes
b. Gift Agreements
c. Financial Report, February 2024
d. Policy Revisions
e. Overnight Field Trip
f. Personnel Items
- Items for Individual Action –
a. Sale of district property – see board packet for details.
Discussion: Mr. Quinnell: Are both parties in agreement on the appraised value? Dr. Hillmann: Yes. It is not a buildable lot. The purchaser paying for all associated expenses. Approved unanimously.
b. Resolution to approve bond referendum ballot language and call the special election – Questions: Mr. Quinnell: What is the language for this vote? Dr. Hillmann: “Yes” means to move ahead with the referendum language as presented. Mr. Quinnell: Said his vote would be a “no”. The resolution passed on a roll call vote; Nelson & Quinnell voted no, the remainder voted yes.
c. Resolution certifying the population estimate for the 2024 payable 2025 levy for community education. The district will qualify for additional funding because of population growth. Discussion – Ms. Mertesdorf: We were notified by the state community ed that we are eligible for this funding, since our census-based funding has been updated. This is for community ed funding, about $6,000. The resolution passed unanimously.
d. Resolution establishing dates for filing affidavits of candidacy – As the first step in the process leading to the school board election to be held on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, the board is requested to adopt the attached Resolution Establishing Dates for Filing Affidavits of Candidacy. Upon adoption of this resolution the Notice of Filing Dates will be posted and advertised in the Northfield News, according to the deadlines indicated on the election calendar published by the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office. Affidavits of Candidacy for the four (4) school board vacancies may be filed at the District Office, 201 Orchard Street South, beginning Tuesday, July 30, 2024 and ending Tuesday, August, 13, 2024. An election will be held to fill four (4) vacancies with four-year terms. The terms of Corey Butler, Amy Goerwitz, Claudia Gonzalez-George, and
Noel Stratmoen expire on January 6, 2025. Questions/discussion: Mr. Quinnell: Where do these dates come from? Is there any leniency on dates? Dr. Hillmann: They are from the Secretary of State, there is no leniency. There is no primary in our district; all districts with no primary must use these dates. The resolution passed unanimously.
- Items for Information
a. End of year enrollment report – Ms. Mertesdorf presented the report (see
https://northfieldschools.org/wp-content/uploads/Regular-Meeting-Table-File-06.10.2024-
1.pdf). This is a preliminary report, not the final report; it will be revised to include transfer students and other changes. Total students were 11 more than projected, which is positive for state funding. Class sizes were mostly unchanged.
Questions: none
- Future Meetings
a. Monday July 8, 2024, 6:00 p.m., Regular Board meeting, Northfield DO Boardroom
b. Monday July 22, 2024, 5:00 p.m., Workshop, Northfield DO Boardroom
c. Monday, August 12, 2024, 6:00 p.m., Regular Board meeting, Northfield DO Boardroom
- Adjournment at 6:55 p.m.
By Connie Martin, Observer, League of Women Voters
