INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 659
Tuesday, October 14, 2025 ~ 6:00 p.m. ~ Regular Board Meeting
Northfield District Office Boardroom
Public entrance for school board meetings is Door #2 located on the north side of the Northfield School District Office on 2nd Street West. Regular meetings are open to the public and streamed live.
Board Members: Claudia Gonzalez-George, Chair, Maggie Epstein, Corey Butler, Vice-Chair, Amy Goerwitz, Clerk, Jenny Nelson, Jeff Quinnell, Ben Miller, Treasurer
Superintendent: Matthew Hillmann
AGENDA
1. Call to Order: Claudia Gonzalez-George called the meeting to order. All members present with the exception of Amy Goerwitz.
2. Agenda Approval/Table File: Dr. Hillman updated some additional items found within the table file (see file on district website). These items were added to the agenda, and motion passed.
3. Public Comment
- Karen Mader has spoken once/month for several months to promote the SMART, non-partisan group against gun violence. She is looking forward to speaking to the Greenvale PTO.
- Three students spoke on behalf of the animal science class. They wanted to thank the board and farmer for the hands-on experience and opportunity to be outside the classroom for their goat project.
4. Announcements and Recognitions
- Girls cross country won Big 9 championship, both boys and girls teams swept the sectional meet, and will run state this weekend. Raider boys soccer play at the state semifinal tomorrow. Volleyball won the Big 9 championship and the football team had an exciting win over Owatonna to get to the next playoff game, moved to November 1.
- Music concerts and fall play are also coming up.
5. Items for Discussion and Reports
a. Activities Department Improvement Showcase: Activities Director John Mahal provided the board with an overview of the activities department successes and highlights in 2024-2025 and the focus areas for the 2025-2026 school year. See Board Packet.
- Jeff complimented the district on accomplishments and having fun. He acknowledged the great participation.
- Maggie commented that several other areas aren’t included such as FFA, Speech, etc. John spoke to the fact that even more aren’t captured because they are organized by Community Ed or student led.
- Ben asked if there was any feedback from the survey. John said there were 8-10 families who requested financial assistance that had not previously. Overall families understood why there were increases.
- Ben asked what the coach training and student captain training looked like. John said the summer coach training focused on the mental part of the game. We get a captain or student leader list each season and meet with them to help them with the skills that they need. John wished they had more time for that. He said many other districts are envious of all our programs.
- Claudia asked if bleacher captains were hard to recruit. John said they need to work harder on finding more boys, but said they have a good number of kids supporting the program and continue to recruit.
- Corey asked how many total families request financial support. John did not have the numbers with him. He thought 3 families in the past asked and now it was around 10.
b. Review of the State of the District: Each year, Superintendent Hillmann shares with the Northfield Chamber of Commerce and Northfield Rotary the state of the district. He reviewed that presentation with the board. He also reviewed the district’s Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) results. This presentation is included in the table file.
- Maggie asked if Matt received any responses from his presentations to the 80/90/100 goals. Matt said staff appreciated that it has relieved some stress and created some urgency. He’s received a handful of questions. In person, he’s able to address and explain why.
- Maggie also asked about 100% growth and asked how it’s tracked. Matt referenced many tests over the years that they are able to chart growth. They are able to observe growth which is more difficult to measure. One of the best forms of measuring growth is to interview students.
- Jenny wanted to make a clarification that 80% is not overall, but individual math, reading, science. Matt confirmed and said it would be expanded to even others such as art, music, ACT, AP exams, etc.
- Jenny also asked how teachers will score/evaluate outside the MCA exam to know how the other areas are measured. Matt said they are currently working on that. How do you measure growth in orchestra? They will continue to find a way to measure and not shy away from something just because they can’t count it.
- Jenny also asked about the incentive for 10th grade testing and whether that will be expanded in other areas. Matt said it was used in high school reading and math. So far they have not seen the need to incentivize below the high school level.
- Claudia asked about the safety piece and asked why we’re moving to a new safety system. Matt confirmed that their research has led them to the safety program from Sandy Hook. It’s a nationwide service and will provide numerous services.
6. Committee Reports
a. All-District Committee Report: Superintendent Hillmann provided an update on the All-District Committee meetings held on Monday, Oct. 6, 2025. Six committees met that evening: Activities, Communications, Equity, Facilities, Finance, and the Special Education Advisory, and approximately 36 people participated. The groups met together briefly before splitting into individual committees. These groups will meet again on Monday, Dec. 1 and Monday, March 2. Community members are welcome to still join throughout the year.
b. Facilities Committee Report: Board Member Goerwitz was not present to present, but provided an update on the facilities committee, which met on Monday, Oct. 6, 2025 in the packet.
c. Northfield Forward Report: Superintendent Hillmann provided an update on Northfield Forward, which met on Monday, Oct. 20, 2025.
7. Consent Agenda – approved unanimously without discussion
a. Minutes
b. Gift Agreements
c. Overnight Fieldtrip Request
d. Personnel Items
8. Items for Individual Action
a. Resolution of School Board Supporting FORM A Application to Minnesota State High School League Foundation. Activities Director Mahal requested approval of the attached resolution supporting the district’s application to the Minnesota State High School League Foundation for a FORM A grant to offset student activity fees.
Superintendent’s Recommendation: Motion to approve the Resolution of the School Board Supporting a FORM A Application to the Minnesota State High School League Foundation. The motion was moved and approved unanimously.
b. Resolution of School Board Supporting FORM B Application to Minnesota State High School League Foundation. Activities Director Mahal requested approval of the attached resolution supporting the district’s application to the Minnesota State High School League Foundation for a FORM B grant to provide seminars/training opportunities or support for specific school functions for students/faculty members/officials and others who are involved in athletic and fine arts programs.
Superintendent’s Recommendation: Motion to approve the Resolution of the School Board Supporting a FORM B Application to the Minnesota State High School League Foundation. The motion was moved and approved unanimously.
c. Policy Committee Recommendations. The board is requested to approve the policy committee’s recommended updates to policies 448, 504, 508, 510, and 511.
Superintendent’s Recommendation: Motion to approve the policy committee’s recommended changes to policies 448, 504, 508, 510, and 511. The motion was moved and approved unanimously.
9. Items for Information
a. Construction Update No. 17. Superintendent Hillmann provided an update on the NHS construction project in the packet. No significant updates.
b. Comprehensive Achievement and Civic Readiness Presentation and Public Hearing. ALC Director Daryl Kehler will summarize the 2025-2026 Comprehensive Achievement and Civic Readiness Plan at the public hearing scheduled at 5:15 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 10. This public hearing will precede the regular school board meeting.
10. Future Meetings
a. Monday, November 10, 2025, 5:15 p.m., Comprehensive Achievement and Civic Readiness Presentation and Public Hearing, Northfield DO Boardroom
b. Monday, November 10, 2025, 6:00 p.m., Regular Board Meeting, Northfield DO Boardroom
c. Monday, November 24, 2025, 6:00 p.m., Regular Board Meeting, Northfield DO Boardroom
d. Monday, December 8, 2025, 6:00 p.m., Regular Board Meeting, Northfield DO Boardroom
11. Adjournment 7:25pm
Submitted by Lisa Percy, Observer League of Women Voters
