Northfield Public Schools, School Board Meeting
November 25, 2024
- Call to Order – Board Chair Claudia Gonzalez George called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. All members present.
- Agenda Approval/Table File – Agenda & table file approved as presented. (See
https://northfieldschools.org/wp-content/uploads/Regular-Meeting-Table-File-11.25.2024.pdf ) - Public Comment – none
- Announcements and Recognitions – Thanks to Anita Aase, Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent, who is retiring. Board members and Dr. Hillmann expressed their gratitude & best wishes.
a. Spring Creek student Grant Zimmermann helped his dad present the presidential turkeys to President Biden.
b. Sesquicentennial Minute: Focused on the curriculum from 1927, which blended the traditional school curriculum with applicability to “real life” work force. The Art Department was added in 1924, and celebrates its centennial this year. - Items for Discussion and Reports
a. Employee Engagement Overview – Dr. Hillmann presented. There are 42 new teachers this fall. The district’s aspiration is for all employees to find this a great place to work, and feel valued and respected. This is measured by the District Services Survey, and Leader Rounding (intentional employee conversations at least once a year), for at least half of all employees. The Employee Experience Survey (anonymous survey) is also given, to understand employees’ perceptions of their work environment. This year the district clarified Core Performance Expectations, to use as a self-evaluation tool, and as a hiring tool. Work Teams will be the next advancement from committees (paid work teams rather than volunteer committees).
Questions – Amy Goerwitz asked how employees can express a good idea, or a complaint midyear? Dr. Hillmann: Hopefully we have created a trusting environment for employees, so they can complain without fear. Most employees feel OK with complaining or bringing ideas; we provide avenues for many different kinds of ideas. Ben Miller: What is the timing on the remaining surveys for this year? Dr. Hillmann: Rounding was in October/November, will be a little later next year. Employee Experience Survey will be given after Thanksgiving, Parent Engagement in January/February. Mr. Miller: What are you looking for in the results? Dr. Hillmann: We want to improve results on the lowest-rated questions from previous years. For
example, there was a question about distribution of resources within district. Question is what do people mean by resources, so we did a budget presentation at each school so they will know how it works. Jenny Nelson: Are survey results shared with everyone? Dr. Hillmann: All people who participated in that survey. Ms. Nelson: Same with employee experience survey? Dr. Hillmann: Yes, at the building level. Ms. Nelson: How do you integrate core performance expectations? Dr. Hillmann: We work with a team on integrating expectations into regular evaluations. Ms. Nelson: Do you conduct the Rounding yourself? Dr. Hillmann: Yes, with new teachers; school principals with their teachers, and others by department. He also does it with school leaders once a month. Ms. Gonzalez George: How popular are work teams? Dr. Hillmann: Depends on the summer, and on the topic. It is common for people to want to be on more than
one team.
c. Construction Update #1 – Dr. Hillmann: Thanked voters for support, Carleton for its generous gift. After the bond passed, Jean & Tim Vick visited him and gave a $10,000 gift, to be used for the high school project, no strings attached. The Project Oversight Committee and others participate in teams for planning process (see https://northfieldschools.org/wpcontent/uploads/2024.11.25-Board-Packet.pdf ) for specifics on committees and time commitments for board members.
Dec. 17 will be a community event for feedback at the high school. People can come and give ideas before planning committees start to meet. Separate times for staff & high school students. The bond sale will be held in several stages. The first sale date and amount will be approved by the board in January; this will be for approximately $39 million in start-up costs for project. (Second bond sale in 2027.)
Questions – Corey Butler: How does the Carleton gift impact these bond sales? Valori
Mertesdorf, Director of Finance: The district will receive 2 installments: $1 million with the first bond sale, and $1 million with the second. This gift saves the district about $4 million in interest, since bonding will be for $39 million instead of $40 million. Mr. Butler: Is there overlap between
Questions 1 and 2 of referendum, since the storm structure was listed in both questions? Dr. Hillmann: The storm shelter is required by law, and was listed in Question 1. Since Question 2 passed, with additional funds for the storm shelter, those funds from Question 1 can be used for the general building. Mr. Miller: Property tax estimates for Rice County arrived this week, but the bond referendum funding did not show up? Dr. Hillmann: No, because the tax forms had to
be produced before levy was approved. Ms. Mertesdorf: The full $39 million will not be levied all at once, only what is required for the project for the year. Mr. Miller believes the district is a good financial steward. Ms. Goerwitz: How do people get on the district planning committees?
Dr. Hillmann: KYMN & other media outlets are publicizing these committee openings. Interested people can fill out the google form to volunteer. They are looking for about 60 volunteers for committees, including stakeholders such as teachers, students, parents, community at large.
There will also be representatives from the city and law enforcement. Ms. Goerwitz: Exactly how would a person get to the Google doc? Dr. Hillmann: Go to district website, click on the link to apply to be part of the core planning group. Ms. Nelson: The project oversight committee works with district standards, and reviews/monitors budget. Doesn’t this overlap with school board responsibilities? Dr. Hillmann: School board members who are on the committee will oversee
the project process and provide continuous review. The full board will get periodic reports & reviews. Committees work to maintain the process, and the board is the checkpoint. Mr. Miller: Can this be put on the ReImagine website? Dr. Hillmann: Yes, he is working on that now, putting all construction information on the ReImagine site. - Committee Reports – none
- Consent Agenda – approved unanimously (https://northfieldschools.org/wpcontent/uploads/2024.11.25-Board-Packet.pdf )
Questions: Rob Hardy observed that some things were added to the school resource officer contract. He asked if the board should review and add the changes to the policy? Dr. Hillmann: These were very small changes, just added to the policy, and he believes it is in compliance. Mr. Hardy couldn’t find the contract on the city website. Dr. Hillmann will bring it back to the board.
a. Minutes
b. Gift Agreements
c. School Resource Officer Agreement
d. Grant Application
e. Northfield Swim Club Agreement
f. Personnel Items - Items for Individual Action –
a. Policy Committee Recommendations – approved unanimously
Dr. Hillmann: Made a wording change in one of the policies. - Items for Information – none
- Future Meetings
a. Monday, December 9, 2024, 6:00 p.m., Regular Board Meeting, Northfield DO Boardroom
b Monday, January 13, 2025, 6:00 p.m., Organizational Board Meeting followed by the Regular
Board Meeting, Northfield DO Boardroom
c. Monday, January 27, 2024, 6:00 p.m., Regular Board Meeting, Northfield DO Boardroom - Closed Session: Labor Negotiations Strategy (Minnesota Statute 13D03) began at 7:04 p.m.
- Adjournment
Submitted by Connie Martin, Observer, League of Women Voters
