ENG 2024-25 Family Update No. 16
Dec. 20, 2024
Dear Northfield Public Schools Families:
Thank you for your patience and partnership as we worked through the two threatening situations this week. While they were not credible, all threats create immediate anxiety for all of us — students, staff, families, and the community. As friends and neighbors, we all want our community to be safe and as free from worry as possible.
I thought it would be worthwhile to review the way the district investigates and addresses threats:
We take every threat seriously and promptly investigate using a threat assessment protocol. We use this protocol for consistency.
We seek to have investigations be both swift and thorough.
Based on the investigation’s results, we determine (usually in consultation with law enforcement) whether a threat is credible and has the capacity to be carried out. This includes an ongoing examination of the “Totality of Circumstances,” or trying to investigate a threat from all sides to determine the likelihood it will actually happen.
One of our strategic commitments is effective and transparent communication. We aim to tell you what we know as clearly and efficiently as practicable within the scope of the law.
When threats, credible or not, have been confirmed, those responsible will be disciplined in accordance with our student citizenship handbook. Criminal charges may also be filed depending on the circumstances.
We review and learn from every incident that is investigated and improve our system.
During this season of peace, I encourage us to reflect on our responsibility to each other. We are a community. If you know of a threat, please report it to your school’s office and the police when warranted. We’d rather investigate and deem threats not to be credible than not investigate and wish we had. And, please discuss the impact of making threats with your students. Threats, real or not, create genuine fear and immense stress for so many. They have a profound and negative psychological impact, consume tremendous energy, and use resources that could be better spent on more productive endeavors.
We win together. We lose together. Let’s keep working together to prepare every student for lifelong success.
As always, don’t hesitate to contact me directly with feedback or questions about the school district.
Sincerely,
Matt
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Matt Hillmann, Ed.D.
Superintendent
mhillmann@northfieldschools.org | 507-663-0629
Ready, Set, FAFSA! is a series of free financial aid events offered by the Minnesota Department of Education and available to Minnesota students and families via Zoom. The series, running on Tuesday evenings in January, is intended for current high school students and will cover general information about the college application and financial aid process; details on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Minnesota Dream Act for undocumented students; and other ways to pay for college. All sessions will have interpretation in Spanish, Somali and Hmong. Attendees can ask questions in the chat and have them answered during the event by financial aid experts. Students who attend any of the sessions will be entered into a drawing to win a $1,000 scholarship (one entry per session attended). For session dates, topics and registration, visit the Ready Set FAFSA! landing page.
The board heard the annual audit results, held its truth in taxation hearing, approved the annual district tax levy, and approved its revised budget. Here are the highlights:
The district has earned its sixth consecutive “clean” audit, indicating that there are no findings related to basic financial statements, internal controls or legal compliance. Achieving six consecutive “clean” audits is exceptional and highlights the district’s strong financial practices and procedures.
The audit reveals that the Northfield School District spends less per student on administrative costs and more on regular instruction compared to similarly sized school districts and the state average.
For 2025, the district's tax levy has increased by 26.4% due to voter approval of all three Reimagine Northfield High School referendum questions. It’s important to note that the tax levy represents the total amount apportioned to all taxpayers in the district and does not equate to the increase in an individual’s property taxes.
The district's revised budget indicates a decline in enrollment this school year, as anticipated. Additionally, the district is facing greater-than-expected expenditures for special education transportation, health insurance, and retirement benefits.
Consequently, the projected end-of-year fund balance is estimated at 12.17% of annual expenditures, which is below the district's benchmark of 14%. This situation is likely to prompt budget adjustments for the 2025-26 school year.
Despite the fund balance being below the district's benchmark, the district remains in a strong financial position, enabling a thoughtful response to these challenges. More information will be provided in January 2025.
You can learn more by reading the audit summary and presentation and the truth in taxation and budget narratives and presentations.
