Observer Report: Northfield Public Schools, 8/24/26
INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 659
REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
Monday, August 24, 2026 ~ 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 Packet
Board Members: Claudia Gonzalez-George, Chair, Maggie Epstein, Corey Butler,
Vice-Chair, Amy Goerwitz, Clerk, Jenny Nelson, Jeff Quinnell, Ben Miller, Treasurer
Superintendent: Dr. Tim Anderson
AGENDA
- Call to Order: Claudia Gonzalez-George called the meeting to order. Jenny
Nelson was absent - Agenda Approval/Table File approved unanimously (see Board Packet and
Table File) - Public Comment
● Karen Mader spoke regarding gun violence. She recognized student
engagement in Northfield and other communities. She focused her
comments on the Be Smart program because it is Be Smart Week. She is
hoping for momentum to continue after previous efforts. - Announcements and Recognitions
● 123 incoming K students completed the Bridge program. Appreciation for
those who made it happen.
● Community Report for Community Schools was completed last week and
is being shared with all families. Thank you to those who participated.
● Appreciation for back to school events – thank you to parents and staff
who made them happen
● Appreciation for 50 substitute teachers who attended training last week
● Annual leadership retreat kickoff focused on connections.
● Recognized Emily Culver – HCI – appreciate partnership of Torch,
community initiatives, District Youth Council, etc.
5. Items for Discussion and Reports
a. Greenvale Park Elementary School Improvement Showcase.
Greenvale Park Elementary Principal Sam Richardson provided the board
with an overview of the school’s successes and highlights in 2025-2026
and the focus areas for the 2026-2027 school year. See board packet for
further details.
○ Maggie asked about the ESL program and how they will work with
other elementary schools. Sam shared that they had work sessions
during the summer and they plan to have the same themes and
training for each school.
○ Maggie asked how the new building is working. Sam said this is the
7th year in use. He highlighted that the furniture provided flexibility,
the pods are working well, and the larger spaces are helpful so they
don’t interrupt gym use and provide community use in the evenings.
○ Amy thanked Sam for his presentation and the photos shared.
○ She asked about the new Reading curriculum and how it relates to
the training that the teachers took a few years ago. Sam shared
that the training helped teachers recognize a strong literacy
program.
○ Are all teachers implementing the same reading program? Sam
indicated yes and that they’d all been working together.
○ Amy also asked how the social/emotional learning is measured.
Sam explained that with the surveys that students are able to share
about how they are feeling. Staff are also observing behavior and
know their students well. Use both to triangulate a score. Amy
followed up with how much % from both survey and staff
observations are used to assess and score students. Sam gave
further examples.
○ Corey commented that their family appreciates the math program
and asked when MCA scores will be shared. They used to be
shared end of June and now it’s been moved out to September.
○ Corey also recognized the PTO and that they’d be accepting $9000
in gifts tonight and also acknowledged Rotary and other groups that
further support education in the community.
○ Corey asked following Sam’s first 10 years here, what he
anticipates seeing in the next 10 years. Sam pointed to AI, different
ways students are learning, and asking what life-long success looks
like.
○ Jeff asked about safe routes to school and whether Sam could
comment. Sam said they’ve worked closely with the city, moving a
cross-walk with light beacons, crossing guards, presence of police
making people aware of safety have all contributed to the better
safety of the community. He asked that all community members are
reminded to go slow.
○ Ben asked Sam, as the most senior elementary principal, how does
experiential learning look different now. Sam said they’re focused
on talking to students about how they’re thinking. Students are
spending more time defending, explaining, and the learning
process than just getting the answer.
b. Northfield Community Education School Improvement Showcase.
Director of Community Education Erin Bailey provided the board with an
overview of the NCEC successes and highlights in 2025-2026 and the
focus areas for the 2026-2027 school year. See board packet for further
details.
Erin shared that they planted 20 trees at NCEC last year and volunteers
have been watering weekly. She also shared updates to remodeling.
○ Maggie noted high academic scores for Hand in Hand and asked
what that program looks like now. Erin shared that enrollment is
down and they are still taking students. Limited availability in Early
Ventures and other programs.
○ Amy acknowledged that NCEC/Erin is the first place that parents
interact with the school district and where parents build
relationships and friendships.
○ Amy asked if the 80/90/100 framework is the right framework for
early childhood. Erin replied probably not. The NCEC provides
programs across a lot of areas. For example, they don’t measure
SEL for adult education. Erin said they will continue to use the
framework for reflection. Amy encouraged Erin to consider another
way to assess the NCEC programs.
○ Ben acknowledged that the whole community receives the course
catalog and appreciates all they do. He asked if the waitlist for Early
Ventures has changed and whether the demand is still there. Erin
shared that the waitlist is biggest for toddler and infant areas. June,
July, August has some flexibility for openings, but most people have
found care by that time.
c. Superintendent’s 2026-2027 Focus Areas. Dr. Anderson shared a draft
of his focus areas for the 2026-27 school year. This will be an item for
individual action at the next school board meeting.
Dr. Anderson has set four focus areas for the year after encouragement
from the board to make manageable goals. These goals are in alignment
with state standards – see board packet for further details. He shared there
was an opportunity with the recent turnover in leadership to take another
look at what we may take for granted.
○ Ben asked about what the staff training around AI will look like. Dr.
Anderson said they will explore AI 101 – what questions do you
have, what challenges do you face? Take those questions and
explore learning needed. He shared how many teachers say they
do not have enough time – the training may provide solutions on
how to use AI for support. This won’t be a one and done – but a
season of learning.
○ Corey appreciated the alignment and goals and looks forward to
hearing more.
○ Amy shared that she thought it was a good list and broad enough to
give flexibility.
d. Later School Start Times Discussion. The board developed a survey to
send to parents and caregivers during the month of June. Superintendent
Anderson presented the results of that survey.
○ See board packet for more details
○ Board invested 8 months in research
○ Dr. Anderson shared his own experience in Edina that looked very
similar in community response and they opted to move forward with
the change. Complaints were heard for about three years from both
families and staff, but then ebbed.
○ Table file includes corrected information in the board packet – Kelly
will update the corrected version in the board packet so that
community members looking at the initial board packet receive the
correct information
- Consent Agenda– approved unanimously without discussion
a. Minutes
b. Gift Agreements
c. Personnel Items
7. Items for Individual Action
a. N/A
8. Items for Information
a. Construction Update No. 30 Superintendent Anderson provided an
update on the NHS construction project.
● See board packet for detailed report – live updates
● Corey acknowledged positive partnership with NCRC building
● Mailing went out to 94 neighbors with communications as well
● Amy asked about signage for people who are not looking online for
updates – Dr. Anderson and Val commented that the signs are up
and they’ve been responsive to requests
b. Staff Breakfast and Program Northfield Public Schools will welcome
back staff for the 2026-27 school year on Tuesday, September 1 from
7:30-10:00 a.m. at Northfield Middle School. The board is invited to join.
9. Future Meetings
a. Monday, September 14, 2026, 6:00 p.m., Regular Board Meeting,
Northfield DO Boardroom
b. Monday, September 28, 2026, 6:00 p.m., Regular Board Meeting,
Northfield DO Boardroom
c. Tuesday, October 13, 2026, 6:00 p.m., Regular Board Meeting,
Northfield DO Boardroom
*Note that Monday, October 12, 2026 is Indigenous Peoples’ Day
10. Adjournment 7:52pm
11. Work Session: Later School Start Times – See Board Packet for study results
and more information
The discussion will center on:
● Whether the Board is prepared to affirm 8:30 a.m.+ as the target
for secondary start times, and if so, on what timeline;
● How much added transportation cost (if any) the Board is willing
to accept, and what should be reduced or reallocated to
offset it;
● Which schedule concept — or a further-refined variation — best
balances student sleep benefit, family/childcare impact,
and athletics/activity logistics;
● What additional information or community engagement, if any, the
Board wants before a final decision; and
● What guardrails or criteria the Board wants to give administration
to finalize an implementation plan.
No board action or vote is anticipated at today’s business meeting. The
Study Session is intended to build shared understanding and, where
possible, narrow the options — not to produce a final decision.
Submitted by Lisa Percy, Observer League of Women Voters
