Northfield Public Schools, School Board Meeting
April 28, 2025
- Call to Order – by Claudia Gonzalez-George at 6:00 p.m., all board members present
- Agenda Approval/Table File – approved unanimously. (See https://northfieldschools.org/wp-
content/uploads/5.-Regular-Meeting-Table-File-04.28.2025.pdf ) - Public Comment – none
- Announcements and Recognitions – none
- Items for Discussion and Reports – none
- Committee Reports
a. Ad Hoc Committee Report – Committee members include Ms. Gonzalez-George, Jenny Nelson and Jeff Quinnell. Ms. Nelson gave a verbal report, discussed the current evaluation plan and possible improvements. Mr. Quinnell said they are working toward a new committee process.
b. Northfield Forward Report – Committee member Corey Butler let the written report stand as printed (see https://northfieldschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2025.04.28.Board-Packet.pdf ). - Consent Agenda – approved unanimously (see Board Packet https://northfieldschools.org/wp-
content/uploads/2025.04.28.Board-Packet.pdf and Table File https://northfieldschools.org/wp-
content/uploads/5.-Regular-Meeting-Table-File-04.28.2025.pdf). - Items for Individual Action –
a. Priority-Based Budget Reduction Recommendation – Each of the 5 budget packages will be separately considered. (All budget packages are contained in the board packet,
https://northfieldschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2025.04.28.Board-Packet.pdf ). Dr. Matt Hillmann and Director of Finance Valori Mertesdorf will present each item. Ms. Gonzalez George thanked the 80+ community members who participated in feedback sessions, Ms. Mertesdorf, Dr. Hillmann and other administrators, and all district stakeholders. She also asked everyone to contact their state legislators to advocate for increased state education funding. She acknowledged that everyone will be doing more with less, and that this budget is a loss for everyone. She then listed the many state requirements which are not funded or under-funded. Dr. Hillman thanked the board for listening closely to community concerns and responding to
them.
Activities Package: Mr. Quinnell: Can we pull Line 7, which is credit card fees? Do these include only credit cards, not debit cards? Ms. Mertesdorf: This line item includes mostly online registration fees. The fee is less for ACH users. Debit cards are still associated with credit card companies. It is always an option not to use cards. Mr. Quinnell: Are there options for no-fee? Ms. Mertesdorf: Yes, cash or check. Vote: passed unanimously.
District Services: Dr. Hillmann: Not many changes since last presentation. Line 37, we are keeping Zoom because it is consistent, but looking for a cheaper alternate service to stream board meetings. Amy Goerwitz: What is the reduction of one custodian? Dr. Hillmann: That personnel slot will be redistributed to a different facility, and will be a different custodian from another building. Mr. Butler supports the total budget, but is concerned about the reduction of several administrative positions. He trusts that people have weighed pros & cons of these positions. What process do we have in place to reinstate positions if possible, or reduce them if this budget doesn’t go well? Dr. Hillmann: We regularly survey staff & parents, and will watch to see how it is working in the places with changes. They will provide the board with updates. Ms. Goerwitz: We are asking a lot of district services staff with this budget. She appreciates their willingness to give to the district. Vote: passed unanimously. - Elementary package: Ms. Nelson asked to pull Line 42 for separate consideration (reduction in elementary teachers). Dr. Hillmann: If we remove Line 42, then we should also pull Line 43. Vote – Elementary package approved unanimously except for Lines 42 & 43. Ms. Nelson: Elementary students are too young to advocate for smaller class sizes themselves. Teachers receiving professional development have commented on the need for teacher attention. Classrooms teach students how to be students; they can’t learn that in small groups. They must learn from a teacher. Also having fewer children in a class will reduce distractions for other students. She pointed out the different needs and levels of individual students, and the need for teachers to work with all students. Small class sizes are far more effective in closing the achievement gap with minority children. She referred to a state law in effect since 1993, suggesting a class size of 17. If we take those teachers out of the budget now, when will we be able to add them back in? She finds class sizes of 28 alarming, and cannot support this line item. Ms. Gonzalez-George: She doesn’t want to see these reductions either. But we have to find the $6 million in cuts somewhere, and staff is by far the largest expense. What is the 1993 law? Ms. Mertesdorf: This is part of the general aid formula, which is not connected to class size. Dr. Hillmann: The law is intended to support districts; class size of 17 is a goal. Kindergarten numbers are less than 20/class across all schools; grade 1 21-23/class; grade 3 23-25/class. The middle and high schools are structured with more variety in teaching areas, so class sizes are variable. Ms. Nelson quoted the law stating that funding must be connected to class size. Mr. Miller said he
would love it if the legislature would legislate enough support to make those class sizes happen. But we need to budget within these parameters. Pulling this line item is too large a gap to make the budget work. We should have had this conversation earlier on. Ms. Gonzalez-George: We are giving space tonight to hear all questions and comments. Maggie Epstein: She agrees that class size is important at early ages. She supports the reduction but with great sadness. The alternatives were to go to a 4-day week, cut staff, or close a building. This was the best alternative available. Ms. Goerwitz: She also supports elementary teachers, but believes we have no other options for reducing funding. Vote on Lines 42 & 43: passed 6 to 1: Voting ‘yes’ was
Butler, Epstein, Goerwitz, Miller, Quinnell and Gonzalez-George. Voting ‘no’ was Nelson.
Secondary Package: Dr. Hillmann: Line 49.1 was added based on board feedback. Lines 67A & 67B are options for parking permits. Mr. Quinnell: Do Lines 49 and 49.1 allow for keeping the 7- period day at the Middle School? Dr. Hillmann explained how to support a 6- or 7-period day. Ms. Goerwitz: If the board votes to keep a 7-period day at the Middle School, should we choose how to implement it? Dr. Hillmann: These are 2 general options. The board doesn’t usually get into scheduling. We don’t want to tie the Middle School staff’s hands in setting up the schedule. Mr. Miller: We are creating a budget for that to happen. Dr. Hillmann said that he doesn’t micromanage principals’ scheduling. Mr. Miller: Nor should the board. Ms. Gonzalez-George suggested pulling Lines 49, 49.1, 67, 67a & 67b for separate consideration. Ms. Goerwitz also wants to pull Lines 56 & 57. Voted unanimously to approve the remainder of this package.
Discussion on Lines 49, 49.1: Mr. Butler believes there is a consensus to support a 7-period day, and he will support Line 49.1. Mr. Miller voiced support from the community for added electives. Mr. Quinnell also supports Line 49.1. Ms. Gonzalez-George: We need more time to discuss and more stakeholders at the table before changing schedule [to a 6-period day]. Vote to accept Line 49.1 and reject Line 49 passed unanimously. Discussion on Lines 67, 67a, 67b: Ms. Goerwitz: We should increase the parking fee more incrementally. What is the parking situation
at the high school in the next few years? How will the ReImagine project affect parking? Dr. Hillmann: When the project is complete there will be the same number of spots, but during construction we will have fewer spots. We don’t know exactly how many. Mr. Miller would like to incentive bus use. Ms. Epstein supports $250 parking fee to incentivize bus use. Ms. Goerwitz: Can we modify this amount? Dr. Hillmann: Yes, make a motion. Mr. Butler: Either $250 or $225 is ok, and seems fair. Less than $225 would not work. Mr. Quinnell: Is parking at Rock Field available all four seasons? Dr. Hillmann: Yes, but it’s a distance to walk. Ms. Goerwitz moved to approve Line 67B, for $250 parking fee. The vote passed, 1 nay vote (Mr. Miller). Discussion on Lines 56 & 57: Ms. Goerwitz: We are losing two high-level support positions at the same time at the high school, assistant vice principal and counselor. She wants to phase in this change, and cut the assistant vice principal a year later. Mr. Miller sympathizes, but how can we manage this with the totality of the budget? Maybe next year we should do an earlier budget process. He also had reservations about this transition. There is an overall need at high school, and we have had these two assistant principal positions for 30 years. But we need to manage the finances for the long term. Let’s see how it works this year, and then re-assess. He supports this change begrudgingly. Ms. Epstein has also thought a lot about this since the work session. She relies on the process that led to this outcome, and supports with reservation. Ms. Gonzalez-George: This entails a reduction in staff, but no reduction in duties. Dr. Hillmann: It will involve delayed response time, less coverage for evening activities, and other changes. We have to look at the entirety of the budget. Ms. Epstein: Can we do a phased change? Ms. Gonzalez-George: That would be changing the language. Dr. Hillmann: Consequences would be that the fewer reductions we make this year, the worse it will be sooner. Expenditures will be more. It is our responsibility to say what the consequences will be. Mr. Butler doesn’t think it is responsible to go through this process and then change it at the last minute. This affects personnel, not curriculum. Ms. Gonzalez-George doesn’t have a problem with delaying a year. Vote to approve Lines 56 & 57 as presented, 1 nay (Ms. Goerwitz). - Special Services: Dr. Hillmann: No changes to this section since the last presentation. Mr. Miller asked to pull Lines 76 & 76A for discussion. Vote to approve the remainder of this section passed unanimously. Discussion on Lines 76, 76A [building nursing staff]: Ms. Nelson: In listening to repercussions of these line items from community, she realized that the state did not give the duties of these staff positions. Will this leave students without help? Mr. Butler appreciates the administration for finding alternative to their original proposal, and supports Line 76A. Mr. Miller: Does that give one licensed nurse for each building? Dr. Hillmann: Yes. But they will have the same duties with less staff. Vote on Line 76a, approved unanimously.
- General comments: Mr. Miller thanked the administration and community for feedback on this difficult process. Dr. Hillmann: Hundreds of people were involved in the process. This was done with the community, not to the community. Feedback was almost entirely constructive, and it was a civil and respectful process. He also thanked many constituencies who worked on the budget.
- Items for Information
a. Construction Update No. 9 – Dr. Hillmann. The first phase of planning is complete. Now we are moving to user-groups and specific detailed plans. At the next board meeting Wold Architects will share sketches & drawings, and floor plans.
b. Graduation Update – ALC graduation is scheduled at 6:00 p.m., Friday May 30, Middle School Auditorium. High school graduation is scheduled at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday June 1 at Memorial Field. - Future Meetings
a. Monday, May 12, 2025, 6:00 p.m., Regular Board Meeting, Northfield DO Boardroom
b. *Tuesday, May 27, 2025, 6:00 p.m., Regular Board Meeting, Northfield DO Boardroom
*Note that Monday, May 26, 2025 is Memorial Day
c. Monday, June 9, 2025, 6:00 p.m., Regular Board Meeting, Northfield DO Boardroom - Adjournment at 7:29 p.m.
Submitted by Connie Martin, Observer, League of Women Voters
