Observer Report: Northfield School Board, 1.12.26

Northfield Public Schools, Organizational AND Regular School Board Meetings

January 12, 2026

Meeting Video Recording (audio only)

Organizational Meeting

1. Call to Order for the Organizational Meeting by Board Chair Claudia Gonzalez-George-George at 6:15 pm. All board members present. The delay was a result from some technical issues with the livestream and recording functionality. The livestream began with audio only.  

• Land Acknowledgment: District Youth Council student read the Northfield Public School Land Acknowledgement.

• Oath of Office: Associate MN Supreme Court Justice Gordon Moore administered the oath of office to the seven board members. The audience applauded for the board members!
  
  

4. Agenda approved unanimously (see Board Packet)
   
   
5. Items for Individual Action
   1. Election of Officers
      1. Chair nominations: Board member Amy Goerwitz nominated Gonzalez-George. Gonzalez-George asked twice if there were additional nominations. Vote unanimously approved, and graciously and gratefully accepted by Gonzalez-George.
      2. Vice Chair nominations: Board member Maggie Epstein nominated Board Member Corey Butler. Gonzalez-George asked twice if there were additional nominations. Vote unanimously approved and accepted by Butler.
      3. Clerk nominations: Butler nominated Goerwitz. Goerwitz shared that while happy to do so also believes that its important to share the role. Board Member Jeff Quinnell clarified if she would share the role or give it to someone else. Goerwitz clarified that she would step back and let someone else take the role. Gonzalez-George nominated Epstein. Goerwitz declined nomination. Gonzalez-George asked twice if there were nominations. Vote was called, unanimously approved accepted by Epstein.
      4. Treasurer nominations: Goerwitz nominated herself. Gonzalez-George asked twice if there were nominations. Vote was called, unanimously approved and accepted by Goerwitz.
   2. Set Dates, Times, and Location for Regular Board Meetings: No discussion, passed unanimously.
   3. School Board Member Stipends: Gonzalez-George shared that the stipend should read per YEAR, not per MONTH. Approval to maintain stipends passed unanimously.
      
      
6. Consent Agenda—passed unanimously.
   1. Designate the Official District Newspaper as the Northfield News.
   2. Designate Legal Counsel
   3. Authorization of Use of Facsimile Signatures
   4. Mileage Reimbursement Rate
7. Items for Information: Gonzalez-George reviewed the expectation for board members to have reviewed the policies and the purpose of each.
   1. Policy 203 Operation of the School Board of Education – Bylaws
   2. Policy 209 Code of Ethics
   3. Policy 206 Public Participation in School Board Meetings
   4. Resolution to Empower the School Board to Combine the Duties of the Offices of Clerk and Treasurer of the School Board in One Person in the Finance Office of the School District
   5. Board Committee Memberships
   6. Remote Board Meeting Participation
   7. Board Workshops
8. Adjourned by Gonzalez-George at 6:31. Brief 5-minute break.

Regular Board Meeting

1. Call to Order for the Regular Board Meeting by Board Chair Claudia Gonzalez-George-George at 6:35 pm. All board members present.
   
   
2. Agenda Approval/Table File approved unanimously (see Board Packet and Table File)

3. Public Comment: No members of the public shared comments.
   
   
4. Announcements and Recognitions: Dr. Hillman shared…
   1. Issue with technology tonight so sharing audio only.
   2. Evelyn Bauer and Isaac Schleif were announced as this year’s AAA (Academic, Arts, and Athletics)  Award Winners. They will advance to the regional level in MN State High School League (MSHSL). Congratulations!
   3. Juniors Bella Kristopherson and Ben Heinritz ExCEL Award Recipients (Excellence in Community, Education, and Leadership) through MSHSL. Congratulations!
   4. Bridgewater Principal Nancy Antoine will be receiving Human Rights Award from the City of Northfield. She will be honored during the MLK Jr. Day Celebration, Jan. 19, 6:00 pm in NHS auditorium. It is the first time that district has hosted the event.
   5. 80 HS students gathered on Dec. 11 for the 10^th annual M3 Huddle data summit with other students from nearby districts. Thanked Emily Culver and folks from HCI who helped to organize the summit.

Discussion: Goerwitz congratulated Antoine for her recognition, but also gave a shout out to Ray Coudret and the Northfield Fine Arts Boosters who held a very successful fundraiser at the Armory this past weekend.

• Items for Discussion and Reports
  • Financial Forecast and Revised 2025-2026 General Fund Budget: Director of Finance Val Mertesdorf shared that she was presenting both revisions and forecast at the same time due to a delay in the audit and acknowledged that there is a lot of information in the packet. Mertesdorf reviewed the narrative key points (pages 6-7) along with the slides (pages 8-29). Additional information not found in packet:
    • Mertesdorf referenced that they’ll be commissioning a demographic study this year to make sure the enrollment projections are accurate.
    • Explained about a new law that allows state to renew the operating referendum at current level one time without bringing to community vote. Can save district costs with running election and campaign.
    • Clarified that the 21^st Century grant for Community School was NOT included in the financial assumptions for projections.
    • Explained that even when state gives inflationary increases (2%) but district faces declining enrollment (as we are) the overall revenue increases are ~1-1.2%.
    • Reminded that due to the biennial budgeting process at the state, anything beyond three years is hard to project.
    • Keep watch on the budget development calendar (Observer comment: in particular the TBD Public Hearing regarding board renewal of operating levy and that board vote to do so on April 13)

Gonzalez-George expressed appreciation to Mertesdorf for her leadership. Goerwitz seconded appreciation for Mertesdorf and noted how lucky district is for her expertise. Goerwitz thanked for her detailed presentation. With respect to the updated demographic survey, Goerwitz wondered about the use of the Rice County birth rate, and projections (and how spot on these on) while many students are actually born in Dakota County at the Northfield Hospital. Is there a way to consider the Northfield Hospital birth rate at the projections as the projections show that younger years are bumping up? Mertesdorf has looked into it a few different times, but no one has given definitive answer as to what is counted: their ACTUAL birthplace (hospital) or parents’ address at time of birth. The point reflects trends in data, too, so would expect it to be similar in either location. Current announcement for NH+C becoming a regional birth hub may exacerbate that it’s not just Northfield but pulling in people from further afield. Goerwitz wondered that if more women from Faribault come to Norhtfield to give birth, the Rice County birthrate could go down as a result.

Quinnell: isn’t that quite the assumption that where the baby is born will be where they are in Kindergarten? Mertesdorf says that county birth rate data has been a solid data point. Quinnell remarked about how often people are moving.

• Stadium Naming Rights Contract: Mertesdorf reviewed the context for this that this is the first time the district is pursuing a naming rights opportunity. School district solicited proposals with minimum bid of $12,000 annually and held a night for potential sponsors to learn more. Heritage Bank was the winner at $18,000/year. Board packet has some mock-ups for logo and digital scoreboard. Emphasized that Heritage Bank felt like this was a great opportunity to support the community. This will be an item for individual action at Jan. 26 meeting.
  
  Goerwitz to Mertesdorf: Contract in general is fine, but wondered if Heritage Bank goes bankrupt or out of business, terrible scandal, etc., can we break the contract? Mertesdorf shared that there could be a 30-days dissolution clause with nonpayment, but can look into it more and make sure that dissolution could be for any reason.
  
  Goerwitz to Lance Reisetter, Marketing Consultant who has been working on naming rights: is there a way to make the design more welcoming, such as taking off a row of advertisements? The scoreboard will be the first thing the opponents and families see, but also acknowledged that it could result in some loss of advertising revenue. Lance: would cost about $20,000 to lose one strip of advertising. Goerwitz asked if that final row could be last to sell, and Lance said that this could be part of the conversation. The design firm wants logos directly underneath Heritage Bank to all have a white background. Goerwitz reiterated the desire to have the word “welcome” as part of the board. Inquired about a two sided screen? Lance: Yes they looked into it, but it put us out of scope for budget.
  
  Hillman asked Mertesdorf to ensure that they were referencing policy 809.1 for naming rights that allows district to terminate sponsorship at its sole discretion.

Quinnell: If bank is sold, who’s responsibility is it to redo sign? Lance: Heritage Bank (in contract). Quinnell asked Lance if he felt good about community reception to the idea? Lance: Would have liked something even bigger but that it felt like this was going to create a lot of momentum. Price landed right near the top end of what his group has seen sold around Rochester. Quinnell—who did you model yourself after, and how did you come up with the price? Lance: Got some info from companies and other markets as to what to set the price points out (like Albert Lea), but Northfield is getting more revenue. Quinnell: how did you land at 10 years? Lance: most were 5 years but wanted to make 10 because in 5 years it would almost always be out to bid, so wanted to create confidence with businesses that they could keep it for a while.

Butler: Could it be a field before stadium (Memorial Field @ Heritage Bank Stadium)? Lance mocked it up both ways, but said it was still up for debate. Hillman shared example of Mariucci Arena—now 3M Arena @ Mariucci and most are ok with that change. Important piece—where did Heritage Bank think their name was going to be?

Lance asked question to board: about where to put “Home of the Raiders”?

Epstein: Pushed back to Goerwitz’s point that if we can sell a spot, to do that. Businesses want opportunity to advertise to Northfield and area families. Signs look great! Home of the Raiders—if they want to pay for the spot where that goes, give it to them!

Quinnell: As only Raider on board, would appreciate it, but would have to see how the sign ends up looking. Wants it to look professional, not gaudy, and answer to Lance’s question will come back to the final mock-up. Lance shared that they tried to everything as first class within budgets and allow students in the mix, but by pushing quality it has encouraged local businesses to do more (i.e. Heritage Bank bought scoreboard rights at City’s ice arena).

Board Member Ben Miller: Thanked Lance for being a partner and helping navigate this process and work with Northfield Live.

Goerwitz: Are all the advertisements on separate panels to be changed out easily? Lance: Yes, can sell a whole row if they bought all four spaces. Want to ensure that the lights illuminate all evenly, so they will all be backlit.

• Special Services FTE Request: Director of Special Services Sara Pratt shared details (page 36) . Scheduled for item for Individual action on Jan. 26. Pratt shared that there are some safety issues that are at the root of this request.
  
  Miller: Safety concern—would it be beneficial for us to consider now due to safety? Pratt—yes, would be appreciated.
  
  Butler: Appreciated Pratt and agreed with Ben to move to this item to Items for Individual Action.
  
  Vote to move to tonight’s items for individual action approved unanimously.
  
  
• Committee Reports
  • Communications Advisory Committee: Epstein let report stand but thanked Kelly Spillman-Kramer and Erin Bailey for their assistance.
  • Automotive and Transportation CTE Committee: Board Member Jenny Nelson let report stand but it was not included in the committee list included in the board packet.
  • Facilities Advisory Committee: Goerwitz let report stand but also open up opportunity for more people in the community to join the committee and invited people to do so.
    
    
• Consent Agenda approved unanimously without discussion.

7. Minutes
8. Gift Agreements
9. Overnight Field Trip Requests
10. Personnel Items
    
    
11. Items for Individual Action
    1. Fiscal Year 2025-2026 General Fund Budget Revision: no further discussion. Vote passed unanimously.
    1. Policy Committee Recommendations: no further discussion. Vote passed unanimously.
    1. Special Services FTE Request: no further discussion. Vote passed unanimously.
       
       
12. Items for Information
    1. Enrollment Report: Dr. Hillman reviewed enrollment report from the table file.
    1. Construction Update No. 21: Dr. Hillman let the report stand, but noted that at the next meeting there will be updates for design and begin to do pre-bid preparation from Knudson and Wold.
       
       
13. Future Meetings
    1. Monday, January 26, 2026, 6:00 p.m., Regular Board Meeting, Northfield DO Boardroom
    1. Thursday, January 29, 2026, 5:00 p.m., Board Work Session, Northfield DO Boardroom (Topic: Later School Start Times)
    1. Monday, February 9, 2026, 6:00 p.m., Regular Board Meeting, Northfield DO Boardroom
    1. Monday, February 23, 2026, 6:00 p.m., Regular Board Meeting, Northfield DO Boardroom
       
       
14. Meeting adjourned at 7:49 PM.
    
    

Submitted by Alyssa Melby, Observer, League of Women Voters