Northfield Public Schools, School Board Meeting January 27, 2025
1. Call to Order – Claudia Gonzalez George called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Amy Goerwitz and Maggie Epstein absent, all others present.
2. Agenda Approval/Table File approved as presented
3. Public Comment – none
4. Announcements and Recognitions
a. Jodi Saxton West received a service award
b. Boys swimming & diving finished 3rd at Tru Team event
c. 8 students advancing to business professional state competition.
d. Claudia Gonzalez George was formally recognized by the MSBA’s Rising Star Award.
5. Items for Discussion and Reports
a. Indigenous (American Indian) Parent meeting and service update – Hope Langston, Director of Instructional Services, and Liaison Sybil Betsinger explained the plan submitted to MDE earlier this year. The goal is quality education that affirms cultural identity. This program serves enrolled tribal members, or child or grandchild of enrolled member. 16 tribes are represented in Northfield schools, most from 5 Minnesota tribes. They support postsecondary preparation, identifying and eliminating barriers to school attendance, and access to college tours & resources. Goals: to increase attendance and graduation rate. Curriculum relevance to cultural heritage, using field trips, linguistic supports, consultants for culturally responsive programming. Positive reinforcement of self-image, intercultural awareness. They provide outreach to every American Indian family for feedback on this plan, and are raising awareness of staff and families, and the wider community. Two parent advisory committee meetings were held this year.
Questions – Jenny Nelson: On the MCA results slide, state results were very low in comparison. Do you have access to a time comparison (80s?), or other districts? Ms. Langston: That is a good idea, we do have access to all districts’ data, will check. Corey Butler: What are positive things you’ve seen (to Ms. Betsinger)? Ms. Betsinger: Improvement in positive self-identity, relating to other native students; fostering talents of native youth. Mr. Butler: Is there anything you’ve learned in year 2? Ms. Betsinger: The importance of building ongoing relationships. Ms. Gonzalez George: Are students requesting Rosetta Stone in native languages? Ms. Betsinger: Yes, requested either by students or parents. Ms. Gonzalez George: What are the steps you’re taking to increase attendance (from 76-90%)? Ms. Betsinger: Mentor outreach.
b. Bond Presale Report – Jeff Seeley from Ehlers Inc. reported. (See https://northfieldschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2025.01.27-Regular-Board-Packet.pdf ) First step was election, next step is financing, then construction. District’s bond rating is excellent. Bids will be taken on 2/24, and award financing at the next board meeting.
Questions – Ben Miller: Is the listed interest rate accurate? Mr. Seeley: A cushion is built in, so it may change a little bit. Mr. Miller: Is the timing static? Mr. Seeley: It will be locked in after Feb. 24, and can change until then.
c. Financial Forecast – Director of Finance Valori Mertesdorf presented budget reduction targets for the 2025-26 school year. (See table file https://northfieldschools.org/wpcontent/uploads/5.-Regular-Meeting-Table-File-01.27.2025.pdf ) Discussed the financial cycle, parameters, enrollment projections, financial assumptions, budget presentation timeline, impact of NHS bond. At least 4 times each year they look at the overall financial cycle. Revised budget has $592,544 planned deficit. Deficit is caused primarily by ongoing incremental declining enrollment. 80% of budget is salary & benefits. Enrollment drives over 70% of total revenue. State’s financial support is losing ground to inflation so we must consider legislative impacts. Rice County birth rate has declined 12% over last 6 years. MDE said this morning funding will be only 95% of promised (not 100%) for special ed, which means about $500,000 less for our district. Expenditures are also increasing for all areas (salaries, benefit, non-salary). Revenues & expenditures are too far apart, so we need to adjust budget. Fund balance goal 14%. We can’t plan for state action/help, so are looking for $6 million in budget reductions. Voters have approved the maximum allowed by law for operating funds. ReImagine (capital) funds are legally separate from operating funds. Ms. Mertesdorf believes the district is in a strong financial position, and that we must make hard choices in order to remain in that strong position. $6 million is about 8% of the budget, so we can maintain 92%. It is better to make thoughtful decisions now than wait until later.
Questions – Mr. Miller: Is the special education deficit $5 million? Ms. Mertesdorf: It is actually closer to $1 million this year. Mr. Miller: If we meet the 14% budget target this year, what does that do to next year’s budget? Ms. Mertesdorf: There are several variables, depending on how budget is balanced. We need to consider one-time or ongoing savings. Mr. Miller: On the timeline, who makes up the priority budget? Ms. Mertesdorf: Applications are open for that committee right now, for administrators, staff, students from DYC, community members. Dr. Hillmann: 11 people have submitted applications as of today. Mr. Miller: Will there be board working sessions? Dr. Hillmann: They have not been scheduled yet. Jenny Nelson: Are there underfunded and unfunded state mandates? Ms. Mertesdorf: Summer unemployment, READ Act requirements for teacher certification, paid Family and Medical Leave are all unfunded. Ms. Nelson: Historically, do you think they will remain unfunded? Ms. Mertesdorf: Yes, the FML will likely remain unfunded. TRA increases do not cover entire cost. She doesn’t anticipate any state funding increase, so we need a plan of action. Ms. Nelson: How do you project the enrollment decrease? Ms. Mertesdorf: We use cohort historical ratios, including students from St. Dominic’s and charter schools. Estimates have been pretty close over the years. Ms. Nelson: Is the property liability increase the only major hike? Ms. Mertesdorf: Yes. There was also a decrease in workers comp because we changed carriers. Ms. Nelson: Are we open to other carriers? Ms. Mertesdorf: Hopefully. The market is challenging, big companies have experienced losses. Ms. Nelson: Are budget team application forms on the district website? Dr. Hillmann: Yes. You have to go into the website to access it. Ms. Nelson: Is there a due date? Dr. Hillmann: Yes, Feb. 3. Mr. Miller: What areas can we think about for changes? Ms. Mertesdorf: The revenue side is highly fixed. We can set rates for activities and fees. Expenditures are where we have control & impact. The board can consider changing the goal for fund balance.
d. 2025-26 Calendar – Dr. Hillmann presented the academic calendar. (See https://northfieldschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2025.01.27-Regular-Board-Packet.pdf .) They waited for feedback, so it is later than usual. The Big 9 Music Festival conference is being held in Northfield, so it was added to the calendar. There is no school that day for middle and high schools, so the conference will use those facilities. This happens about every 12 years. The calendar will be approved at the Feb. 10 board meeting. Questions – none
e. Summary of Superintendent’s Mid-Year Evaluation – Claudia Gonzalez George read a summary of the board evaluations (completed by 6 board members).
f. Construction Update No. 4 – Dr. Hillmann summarized tours to several high schools to compare different kinds of construction. Jeff Quinnell attended both tours; he summarized and said it was well worth it to see other facilities & get feedback. Participants took surveys & their feedback will be used for planning. Commented [CM1]:
Questions – Mr. Miller: Did anything stand out? Mr. Quinnell: The first day we toured schools, and the second day gyms, to see what does and what doesn’t work. Dr. Hillmann: Different facilities try to solve the same problem in different ways, for example i.e. addressing the issue of natural light in different ways. What do we think will work best here?
6. Committee Reports a. District Youth Council Committee Report – Ben Miller updated the board. DYC has stayed engaged throughout the referendum and budget process. Amy Goerwitz filed a written report in the board packet. (See https://northfieldschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2025.02.10-RegularBoard-Packet-3.pdf )
7. Consent Agenda – approved unanimously
a. Minutes
b. Gift Agreements
c. Overnight Field Trips
d. Personnel Items
8. Items for Individual Action
a. Resolution Authorizing the Sale of General School Building Bonds, Series 2025A – in amount of $39 million. Discussion: none. Approved unanimously on roll call vote.
b. Board Committee Assignments – approved unanimously
9. Items for Information a. Paraprofessional Recognition Week 1/20-26.
10. Future Meetings
a. Saturday, February 1, 2025, 9:00-10:45 a.m., Workshop, Northfield Community Resource Center
b. Saturday, February 1, 2025, 11:00 a.m., District Youth Council Brunch,
c. Monday, February 10, 2025, 6:00 p.m., Regular Board Meeting, Northfield DO Boardroom
d. Monday, February 24, 2025, 6:00 p.m., Regular Board Meeting, Northfield DO Boardroom
e. Monday, March 10, 2025, 6:00 p.m., Regular Board Meeting, Northfield DO Boardroom
11. Adjournment at 7:57 p.m.
Submitted by Connie Martin, Observer, League of Women Voters
