ENG 2024-25 Family Update No. 18

Jan. 31, 2025

ENG 2024-25 Family Update No. 18 Jan. 31, 2025

2024-25 Family Update No. 18 | Jan. 31, 2025

⏰ Reading time: six minutes, 11 seconds


Pictured Above: Ten Northfield High School seniors will participate in Rotary's Exchange program next year. The students attended the first of four orientations on Saturday and have been assigned countries that include Australia, India, Belgium, and Estonia.

💭 Superintendent's Message

Superintendent Matt Hillmann

Dear Northfield Public Schools Families:


Thank you for your continued partnership and support. Recently, there have been a number of federal government initiatives and changes that have prompted questions about their impact on our school community.


One of these changes is immigration enforcement. Here are some things for you to know about this topic:


  • First and foremost, we will support our students and prioritize them feeling valued and safe at school.

  • The district is prohibited by law from asking about a student or family’s immigration status.

  • While it would be unusual for federal immigration agents to conduct enforcement exercises at a school, the district has a consistent process in place to interact with agents. This process is rooted in our policies related to visitors and interviews of students by outside agencies. We also understand that a warrant or court order would be required for any enforcement action. The district will notify parents if a court order or warrant is presented.

  • Local law enforcement does not enforce federal immigration laws. The Northfield Police Department has policies in place that prohibit officers from doing so except in situations involving violent crime. Chief Jeff Schroepfer reinforced the department’s policy in a recent KYMN radio interview.


While I understand there are a variety of perspectives and emotions related to this topic, I want to assure you the district will support our students and follow the law.


As always, don’t hesitate to contact me directly with feedback or questions about the school district.


Sincerely,



Matt

--

Matt Hillmann, Ed.D.

Superintendent

mhillmann@northfieldschools.org | 507-663-0629

📊 Priority Based Budget Reductions Update

As shared in Updates No. 15, No. 16, No. 17, and in a special family update sent earlier this week, the Northfield School District has anticipated making priority-based budget reductions for the 2025-26 school year.


At the January 27 board meeting, Director of Finance Val Mertesdorf presented the annual financial forecast and solidified the amount of reduction. Currently, the recommendation is to identify $6 million in priority-based budget reductions for the 2025-26 school year. This represents an eight percent (8%) reduction in projected expenditures. It will not be easy but it is necessary. We are asking for your help by joining one of the priority-based budget reduction teams.


The reasons for this fiscal reality are:


  • Declining enrollment. People are having fewer children. Rice County birth rates have dropped 12% in the last ten years. There is also limited single family housing inventory in the school district. Currently, there are only 28 single family homes for sale in the entire 178-square mile school district.

  • State funding has improved but has not made up for decades of underfunding. While the legislature has improved funding formulas, they have a long way to go to make up for the two decades where the basic formula did not keep pace with inflation.

  • Unfunded state and federal mandates. The most significant of these is the unreimbursed costs to serve students receiving special education services. The district uses approximately $4.3 million of general fund dollars each year to subsidize this mandated and morally imperative programming.

  • Ongoing inflationary pressures. As most families know, the cost of goods and services continue to increase. One example for the school district is a 26% increase in the cost of property and liability insurance.


We are seeking parents and caregivers to participate in priority based budget reduction teams. Meetings will be held from 6-8:30 pm on February 11, 18, and 25. Please indicate your interest or nominate someone else to participate using this form. If interested, complete the form by February 3, 2025.


Note: It is vital to understand this process is solely associated with our operating budget. The operating budget is directly related to the funding we receive from the state government, federal government, and our local voter-approved operating levy. The bond referendum funds approved by voters in November 2024 is separate and does not have an impact on this process. In fact, as we move ahead, an updated and more efficient Northfield High School facility will likely save operating costs.


While maintaining fiscal responsibility, we remain focused on achieving our vision of preparing every student for lifelong success. If you have any questions, contact Superintendent Matt Hillmann or Director of Finance Val Mertesdorf.

🔔 Join a Priority Based Budget Team

We need you to participate on a budget team! Here are the details:

  • Dates: Feb. 11, 18, and 25

  • Times: 6-8:30 pm

  • Location: Northfield School District Offices (201 Orchard St S)

  • If interested, complete the form by Feb. 3


» Click here to sign up for a budget team or to nominate someone else to participate.

💡Parent/Caregiver Survey Now Open

One of our strategic plan benchmarks is that all parents report satisfaction with their children’s educational experience. As part of that commitment, we conduct an annual parent/caregiver survey. The survey responses identify areas of success and areas for improvement. We use the feedback you provide to improve our school district. The survey also allows you to recognize our educators’ great work through the “shoutout” question and provide open-ended comments. Thank you in advance for your feedback.


»Take the survey now!


  • Your input helps us improve our school district.

  • It can take less than 10 minutes to complete this survey.

  • The survey will be open until February 14.

  • Please complete one individual survey for each building your students attend.

🗓️ Proposed 2025-2026 School Year Calendar

At the school board meeting on Monday, January 27, the board reviewed the calendar for the 2025-2026 school year. The calendar will be approved at the February 10 meeting.


Click here to view the draft of the proposed 2025-2026 school year calendar.

🏫 Reimagining NHS Update

Here are the latest updates about the Reimagining NHS bond referendum projects.


Core Planning Team

  • Meetings were held on December 17, January 8 and January 29, with a community feedback event included in the December 17 meeting.

  • Building tours were held January 21.

Activities Subcommittee

  • Activity facility tours were held January 22.

  • The first meeting is scheduled for February 26.

Facility Tours

The district hosted two tours related to the Reimagine Northfield High School bond referendum projects.

  • January 21: Two tours of high school facilities were held for members of the core planning teams. One group visited Owatonna, Waseca, St. Peter, and Tartan High Schools. The other, smaller group, toured Rock Ridge High School in Virginia, MN, and Mora High School.

  • January 22: A tour for members of the athletics subcommittee focused on the athletic facilities of various high schools. Stops included New Prague, Mound Westonka, Mounds View, and Chisago Lakes.


Additional Community Input

  • Wold hosted additional feedback sessions for middle and high school students, and a session for Spanish-speaking community members on January 22.

Reimagining Northfield High School Website

The district has shifted its website from its support of the bond referendum educational campaign to a construction update site.

🎤 Doing Good Things for Kids podcast | Season 1, Episode 4

This year, the district is partnering with KYMN radio to produce the “Doing Good Things for Kids” podcast. During the year, Superintendent Hillmann will interview members of our school community who demonstrate high performance.


This month, Dr. Matt Hillmann talks with the newly re-elected chair of the Northfield school board, Claudia Gonzalez-George. The conversation follows Gonzalez-George’s journey as the daughter of immigrants in Southern California to her decision to become an educator and finally to her decision to run for the school board.

🪧 January 27, 2025 board update

Non-Discrimination Statement

The Northfield School District does not discriminate on the basis of sex and prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX, including in employment. You can learn more at: https://northfieldschools.org/about/departments/human-resources/ under the Title IX tab.

Matt Hillmann
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