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Dear Northfield School District Families:

For several months, the school board has engaged in a thoughtful, deliberate, and vigorous discussion about our current high school facility problems. On Monday night the board voted to authorize a three-question bond referendum election on the Nov. 5, 2024 ballot. Here is what will be included in each question and the authorized bond length:

• Question 1: Up to $95.8 million to support the “reimagine" option. The “reimagine” option includes a multi-story classroom addition, demolition of the D, H, S, and M wings, and renovation of the remaining parts of the building.

• Question 2: Up to $18.8 million to support the construction of a field house, contingent on voter approval of the first question. The athletic field house would be large enough to accommodate four basketball courts. (Obviously, many athletic and recreational activities can use the athletic field house; using “four basketball courts” in the description is so people can visualize the size of the facility.

• Question 3: Up to $7 million to support installing a geothermal system at Northfield High School, contingent on voter approval of the first and second questions.

• The board authorized a bond term of up to 30 years.

We have worked to keep you informed about the process. As a reminder, here is what we’ve done so far:

• The district has included information about the process in this semi-monthly family update.

• While the community has discussed the high school facility dilemma for many years, this round of board consideration began in October 2023.

• Since October, we have discussed the high school facility at every regular board meeting and have held four work sessions specifically to discuss it.

• There were four opportunities for community members to tour Northfield High School.

• In January, the school board held a public meeting to solicit feedback from community members and stakeholders.

• The district sent a postcard to all district residents, inviting them to the public meeting and a high school tour.

• In partnership with the Morris Leatherman Company, the district conducted a random stratified sample telephone survey of 400 district residents to gather information to help the board make an informed decision.

• The district has ensured media coverage of the process on KYMN radio and in the Northfield News.

What’s next?

The district will spend the rest of March preparing the educational campaign for district voters, which will begin in late March/early April.

If you have any questions or feedback, please contact me directly.

Sincerely,

Matt

--

Matt Hillmann, Ed.D.

Superintendent

mhillmann@northfieldschools.org | 507-663-0629

• Caley Graber is the first girl in the history of the Minnesota State High School League Boys Wrestling Tournament to medal. Caley took 5th place and has been featured for her record-breaking performance by several Twin Cities news outlets, one of which is linked below. Congratulations to Caley! (see the video linked below)
  
• Jake Geiger was presented with the prestigious Herb Brooks Award at the Minnesota State High School League Boys Class A Hockey tournament last weekend. According to the high school league, The annual award is presented to a state tournament participant that strongly represents the values, characteristics and traits that defined Herb Brooks, a St. Paul native who gained international fame as a hockey coach. The award commemorates the unending influence that Brooks had on the sport of hockey, not just in Minnesota, but throughout the world.
  
• Mock Trial Competed at State Tournament and Maddie Bussmann was honored as the All-State Witness and Piper Artley as an all state All-State Attorney.
  
• Last but not least, Northfield High School’s Rock and Roll Revival 16 debuted last Friday night to a full middle school auditorium. The show is fantastic and we encourage everyone to see it. (photo at top of this newsletter.)
  

• The school board held a regular meeting on March 11.
• Board packets, table files, and meeting videos are located on our website.
• You can listen to Superintendent Hillmann’s recap on KYMN radio.