- Call to Order – Vice Chair Corey Butler called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Board Chair Claudia Gonzalez George absent; all other board members present.
- Agenda Approval/Table File approved as presented
- Public Comment – none
- Announcements and Recognitions
- Northfield won several state titles for high school sports, including wrestling, boys’ hockey, Olympic weight lifting, boys’ swim and dive; and Knowledge Bowl.
- Northfield teacher Katherine Norrie is a semifinalist for teacher of the year.
- Amy Goerwitz, Dr. Hillmann and several students participated in Day at the Capitol, which is an education lobbying day. Ms. Goerwitz visited with 3 legislators, and Gov. Walz spoke to the group. Mr. Butler also participated in an online community legislative action committee.
- Items for Discussion and Reports
- Priority-Based Budget Reduction Process Update, Committee Reports – Dr. Hillmann reported on the process. Over 80 people participated in budget reduction teams, working together to generate a list of potential reductions, which was released to public last week for feedback. They are beginning a community engagement process now. There are over 80 items in the list of possible reductions. Most of the cuts are to personnel. See the FAQ.
- Questions – Mr. Butler expressed gratitude to community members who participated in process. The FAQ document was very helpful. Ms. Goerwitz asked about middle school reduction from 7- to 6-period day. Middle School Principal Greg Gelineau: The Middle School’s share of reductions was $600,000; you can’t get there by just reducing smaller budget items. The 7-period day requires having more study halls, not a good use of student time/resources. 6-period day eliminates most study halls, but still doesn’t get to the budget target. This budget has a .6 FTE reduction in electives, with fewer choices & more frequency. Ms. Goerwitz: How does that work with reducing FTEs? Mr. Gelineau: It reduces 1.6 FTEs. Ben Miller: Electives are art, music, and others; students can pick one elective. Mr. Quinnell: Has something changed since the last time we did this? Mr. Gelineau: Only the dollar amount has changed. This is a very large cut, and can only be taken from classrooms. Dr. Hillmann: We are soliciting parent feedback, and starting to hear from parents now. Ms. Goerwitz: What happens to industrial tech & consumer & family services? Mr. Gelineau: They will probably stay opposite PE. Jenny Nelson: What are the specifics in art & music cuts? Mr. Gelineau: There will still be band, choir, orchestra. Art will have to meet state requirements by combining art classes. Ms. Nelson: Students enjoy all of the current art selections. Can you take parts of each one and incorporate them into one course? Mr. Gelineau: Yes, in an exploratory course. Ms. Nelson: When will people know how the changes to art classes will work? Mr. Gelineau: When this proposal is actually voted by the board. Then we can sit down with art teachers & plan. Ms. Nelson: Will all art teachers remain, or will some be cut? Mr. Gelineau: That will depend on overall budget reductions. Maggie Epstein: Are arts classes required by state in middle school? Mr. Gelineau: Yes. They can be more generalized, such as an arts dance unit in PE. We must offer at least 3 of 5 areas, and students must take at least 2 different ones. There will be options within schedule. Ms. Epstein: Why doesn’t offering quarter or semester classes allow for savings? Mr. Gelineau: We mapped out the schedule for both quarters/semesters. We are already at a bare bones budget from previous cuts, and switching would actually cost money. Mr. Miller: How does that work? Mr. Gelineau: You are not reducing FTE if you offer both subject areas, and we need to reduce FTE. Dr. Hillmann will ask Mr. Gelineau to put this in writing for next time. Nothing about this process is easy. Middle school students will have less choice in the future. Mr. Miller: These are logical questions, maybe they can be included in the FAQ document. Dr. Hillmann: This is a good example of the challenges of a locally controlled schedule with state mandates. We will likely face this at high school in next several years; with more requirements come fewer electives. Of the five art classes (theater, dance, visual, media, music) a student must take 2. Ms. Nelson: 3 music classes remain; how many can they take now? Mr. Gelineau: 2, every other day. Ms. Nelson: Will they still be able to take 2? Mr. Gelineau: No, they will have to choose and take only 1. Ms. Goerwitz: Does anything excite you about this? Are there any advantages to these changes? Mr. Gelineau: Change always brings opportunity. We can put in some other courses, provide a flex study hall, and add extra minutes to passing time. We will keep lunches by grade. Mr. Butler: Can you provide examples of changes in arts areas for our next meeting? Mr. Gelineau: Yes. Mr. Butler: Was the reduction in FTE driven by the 6-period day? Mr. Gelineau: The budget reductions were the driver, then FTE, then the class changes. Mr. Butler: What happens if we don’t meet the arts requirement? Mr. Gelineau: The whole Big 9 conference is struggling with these new arts requirements. Dr. Hillmann is unaware of any financial penalty, but we are trying to make this work. Ms. Nelson: In the elementary package, line item 42, is the reduction in classroom teachers contemporary, not Companeros? Would all 15 Companeros teachers remain? Dr. Hillmann: Yes, based on class sizes. We are resetting target class sizes. Ms. Nelson: So are we severely increasing class sizes for contemporary, leaving Companeros the same? Dr. Hillmann: That depends on enrollment. Ms. Nelson: The priorities listed earlier were about contemporary class sizes, less about Companeros. Why are we not staying with those priorities? Dr. Hillmann: This is a result of weighing all pieces together from the feedback group. Valori Mertesdorf, Director of Finance: The difference in averages is only 1 to 1.5 students between the two. We have to look holistically across the system. Mr. Miller: Do you know the range of class sizes? Ms. Mertesdorf: The average contemporary size for Bridgewater is 23.7, Companeros is 22.2. Spring Creek has the largest variance. Current numbers vary by building. Mr. Miller: When is the entry path to Companeros? Dr. Hillmann: It begins in 1st grade, but students can join through 3rd grade. Mr. Miller: A family that values small class sizes could look at Companeros. Mr. Butler: Can we compare class sizes & configurations at elementary schools? Ms. Nelson: It depends on registration. If students don’t choose Companeros, can teachers reposition? Dr. Hillmann: There is not a specific teaching license for Companeros, all teachers are elementary licensed. Mr. Butler: We will see this again several times before we have to vote on it. Do you have any additional thoughts/questions? Mr. Miller: Are there any comments on legislative possibilities after your day at the capitol? Dr. Hillmann: No. This is the first time that he has heard a budget target of 0% increase, and is hoping for no reductions. There is a possible chance for some things, but the state budget forecast for next year & the following year include reductions. Do not count on anything above the required inflationary increase. Ms. Goerwitz: There was a mixed reaction about scaling back on mandates from 2 years ago, including paid family leave & unemployment insurance requirements. And the mood was somber, because of changes at national level for funding. There will be a 2.74% inflationary increase. Dr. Hillmann: The $525,000 projected for this year’s special ed & transportation will not happen. Mr. Butler: Will there be an inflationary increase? Dr. Hillmann: Yes, that started 2 years ago. Mr. Quinnell: What percentage is the inflationary increase? Dr. Hillmann: 2.74% for next year.
- District Committees Update – Dr. Hillmann reviewed the committee process, including the reduced number of meeting times. The district sent feedback questionnaires, and people are responding positively. Mr. Butler: Board members all had new committee assignments this time. Ms. Nelson appreciated the new format because you could meet many community members on one night. She was impressed by the sheer number of people involved from the community. She was on the career & technical education committee. For these classes, enrollment increased by 188 students, even though overall school enrollment was down by 34. These courses can help plan for future classes and work-based learning. Parents, community members, business owners & teachers served on this committee. Mr. Quinnell was on the facilities committee, which reviewed each building. He appreciated the new advantageous pricing on light bulbs. Ms. Epstein served on the communications committee, and was impressed with participants, ideas & thoughts. She heard the varying messages people have been getting about the ReImagine project & budget reductions. She reported on efforts to welcome families looking for different school, including the website. Ms. Miller served on the finance Committee, which went through budget cuts line by line with participants. Mr. Butler: How many people were there all together? Dr. Hillmann: There were 83 people on list, and most made it to the meeting. Mr. Butler served on the equity advocacy committee; conversations were raw, authentic, helpful, from a variety of stakeholders. There were challenge areas, but also progress.
- Policy Committee Recommendations – see for more information. Mostly editorial changes.
- Questions – Ms. Goerwitz: On Policy 412, when was the last time the meal allowance was reviewed? Prices and tip levels have gone up since publication. Ms. Mertesdorf: Rates have been set for quite awhile. Very few people access this, it is infrequently used. A sponsoring organization will usually provide food. People usually tip extra over the 15% included, and are reimbursed at the 15% rate. Mr. Butler: These will be action items at the next meeting.
- Consent Agenda – Mr. Quinnell would like to take a closer look at 6c (student handbook), and requested it be put in items for individual action (as 7b). Remainder of consent agenda passed on unanimous voice vote.
- Minutes
- Gift Agreements c. Student Citizenship Handbook update (moved to 7b)
- Personnel Items
- Items for Individual Action
- 2026-2028 Achievement and Integration Plan – Originally established to achieve racial and economic integration of students, and to reduce academic disparities based on racial, ethnic and economic backgrounds. Hope Langston, Director of Instructional Services, explained that while this is the district’s third three-year plan, it is the first time Northfield has been considered a racially isolated district, because the class of protected (nonwhite) students is over 20% higher than any other adjoining district. It is now 20.7% higher than Randolph. (See full report in the Table File) They delayed the process of creating this plan until the budget cuts were clear; it is due on Friday to MDE. Questions – Ms. Nelson: Has this been done every 3 years? Ms. Langston: Yes, the plan is written every three years and we report annually. Ms. Nelson: For the last 2 plans we adjoined Faribault, but this year we are 20+% protected class students. Mr. Butler: Is there a geographic definition of isolation? Ms. Langston: It is really about the districts that physically abut our district. We now have more districts that we could partner with; we will not do it this year, but perhaps in a future year. Approved unanimously on voice vote.
- Student Citizenship Handbook update – Mr. Quinnell: As a point of information, asked about “moving parts” between Title IX, state & federal requirements; also, what is the personal liability of board members for lawsuits? Dr. Hillmann: The request was to align the handbook with other documents, including introductory language and reporting and complaint forms. The Rights and Responsibilities section on nondiscrimination should have referenced both Title IX and the Minnesota Human Rights Act. There are continuing questions about federal executive orders this year since the 2024 Title IX rules were vacated in Kentucky federal court. This will be a continuing discussion, including MN Attorney General’s office. Mr. Quinnell: Are you comfortable that we are conforming with the law? Dr. Hillmann: Yes. Ms. Nelson: Which reporting form should students use? Dr. Hillmann: They could use either one. The harassment form probably covers a wider variety of incidents, while Title IX has been reduced in scope. Ms. Nelson suggested adding discrimination as an offense on the reporting form, in addition to violence and harassment. Dr. Hillmann said they will take a look, and discuss with the district’s attorney. Approved unanimously on voice vote.
- Items for Information
- 2024-25 Superintendent Focus Area Update No. 2 – Dr. Hillmann provided a written report.
- Construction Update No. 7 – Also provided as a written report.
- Enrollment Report – March 2025 report. 3700 total, Elementary class sizes in report
- Future Meetings
- Thursday, April 3, 2025, 6:00 p.m., Priority Based Budget Process Public Input Meeting, NMS Auditorium
- Monday, April 14, 2025, 6:00 p.m., Regular Board Meeting, Northfield DO Boardroom
- Monday, April 28, 2025, 6:00 p.m., Regular Board Meeting, Northfield DO Boardroom
- Monday, May 12, 2025, 6:00 p.m., Regular Board Meeting, Northfield DO Boardroom
- Adjournment at 7:45 p.m.
Submitted by Connie Martin, Observer, League of Women Voters
