ENG 2024-25 Family Update No. 27
June 11, 2025
Dear Northfield Public Schools Families:
Thank you for your partnership and helping bring a successful 2024-25 school year to conclusion. Every school year has its peaks and valleys. This year was no exception.
Some highlights from this school year include, but are not limited to:
- All three Reimagine Northfield High School bond referendum questions passed. Over 50 people were involved in the core planning team and activities subcommittee.
- Our elementary school teachers did an exemplary job implementing the new mathematics curriculum.
- Our early childhood teachers, elementary teachers and all special education teachers completed “science of reading” training.
- The district completed the difficult but necessary priority-based budget reduction process. Over 80 people were involved in five budget teams, and 177 people attended the public meeting to provide input on the reductions.
- The Reimagine Northfield High School bonds were sold at a lower interest rate (3.97%) than projected (5%) pre-election, saving district taxpayers $8 million in interest. At the same time, retainable investment earnings ($2 million) have already eclipsed the amount anticipated for the entire project ($1.9 million).
- A total of 2,088 middle and high school students participated in school-sponsored activities (duplicate count).
- Our middle and high school mathematics and English/language arts teachers engaged in the content and instructional review cycle, which includes selecting new high-quality curriculum materials. It also includes studying best instructional practices.
- We saw another year of improvement in the overall averages in both our employee experience and parent/caregiver satisfaction surveys.
I am grateful for our work together to do good things for kids. It is a privilege to help prepare every one of your students for lifelong success by developing critical thinkers who are curious and ready to engage in our society.
Sincerely,
Matt
--
Matt Hillmann, Ed.D.
Superintendent
mhillmann@northfieldschools.org | 507-663-0629
Chris Dibble has been selected as the next principal of Northfield High School, effective July 1. This transition follows the retirement of Shane Baier, whose exceptional leadership has contributed significantly to our school community. You can read more about Chris in this letter that was sent to district families on June 2.
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. Hillmann talks with retiring Northfield High School Principal Shane Baier about his philosophy for education and his experience leading Northfield High School.
This past year, Northfield Public Schools partnered with KYMN radio to produce the first season of the “Doing Good Things for Kids” podcast. The episodes air on the fourth Monday of the month and are streamed via the KYMN website and popular podcast platforms.
Listen to the episodes:
The Northfield School District will host a Juneteenth event on Thursday, June 19 from 11:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m. at the Northfield High School auditorium. Here are the event details:
- Date: Thursday, June 19, 2025, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
- Location: Northfield High School auditorium
- Guest Speaker: Minnesota Department of Agriculture Assistant Commissioner Patrice Bailey
- Lunch from Rose's Jamaican Kitchen will be provided to the first 100 attendees.
- This event is free and open to the public. This event is paid for by grants and private donations.
Free breakfast and lunch will be provided this summer for anyone 18 years old and younger.
Where: Greenvale Park Elementary
When: Monday-Thursday, June 16-August 14 (No meals served June 19)
Breakfast: 8:45 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.
Lunch: 11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
- Meals must be eaten on site.
- Parent/guardian supervision is required for all pre-k through grade 5 students.
