ENG 2025-26 Family Update No. 23

Dear Northfield Public Schools Families:

As we enter the final weeks of the 2025-26 school year, I want to thank you for your partnership. It is our privilege to educate your children, and we value the trust you place in us.

As we close the school year, I encourage you to take a moment and send a note of thanks to a staff member who made a difference this year for your student(s). Taking the time to share how they have positively impacted your family means the world to these public servants who are dedicated to preparing your children for lifelong success.

Thanks in advance for reaching out to our staff members with your support — I know they will appreciate it.

Matt

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Matt Hillmann, Ed.D.

Superintendent

The school board has been discussing changing school start times, beginning with the 2028-2029 school year. The board first discussed later start times for middle and high school students at its December 15 work session and has continued the conversation at subsequent regular meetings and at work sessions held on January 29 and May 14.

Substantial research suggests health, academic, and other benefits for students who attend middle and high schools where the academic day begins after 8:30 a.m.

The board invites you to share your feedback on three concepts under consideration through this survey.

The community is invited to a groundbreaking ceremony for the Reimagine Northfield High School project on Tuesday, June 9. Here are the details:

• Date: Tuesday, June 9, 2026

• Time: 4:00 p.m.

• Location: The front of the main entrance (Door 1) at the high school

  
  

Following the ceremony, a reception will be held to honor Superintendent Hillmann’s leadership and to wish him well in his new role with the Minnesota Association of School Administrators (MASA).

As shared in Family Updates No. 19, No. 20, No. 21, and No. 22, construction bids were significantly higher than expected with substantially fewer bids submitted than anticipated. The district is completing a value engineering process with Wold Architects and Knutson Construction to find thoughtful and meaningful savings in the project.

Rebid documents were issued on May 21 and 22, pre-bid walk-throughs will take place the morning of June 3, and bids are due June 16. The school board will hold a special board meeting on Wednesday, June 24 at 5:15 to award the bids. Sal Bagley with Wold Architects and Engineers presented to the board at the May 26, 2026 meeting. You can view the report here.

While this news is not what we were expecting, we are committed to finding solutions that lead to student-centered, effective, and fiscally responsible decisions for the Reimagine Northfield High School project. Overall, we continue to look forward and are optimistic about what lies ahead. We appreciate your ongoing interest and support, helping Northfield Public Schools prepare every student for lifelong success.

The Northfield School District will host a Juneteenth event on Friday, June 19 from 11:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m. at the Northfield High School auditorium. Here are the event details:

• Date: Friday, June 19, 2026, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

• Location: Northfield High School auditorium

• Featuring a panel of educational leaders: Nancy Antoine, Dr. Quenell Cooper, Ashley Farrington, Akram Osman, Dr. Stacie Stanley, and Panel Facilitator Rich Torres

• Lunch will be provided to the first 75 attendees starting at 11:30 a.m.

• The program will start at 12:15 p.m.

• This event is free and open to the public. This event is paid for by grants and private donations.