ENG 2025-26 Family Update No. 12
December 19, 2025
Dear Northfield Public Schools Families:
As we enter winter break, thank you for your ongoing partnership and support. We are wholly committed to preparing every student for lifelong success by developing critical thinkers who are curious and ready to engage in our society.
I wish all district families a happy, healthy, safe, and joyful winter break. I look forward to the promise that 2026 holds for our community!
As always, do not hesitate to contact me 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
Congratulations to Bridgewater Elementary Principal Nancy Antoine, who has been named the recipient of the City of Northfield's 2026 Human Rights Award.
Ms. Antoine was selected for this award for her dedication to advancing educational equity and justice for all students, as well as her leadership, mentorship of future leaders, and her direct work to diminish persistent educational gaps within the Northfield Public Schools community.
She will be honored during the City's Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration on Monday, January 19 at 6:00 p.m. at Northfield High School.
The school board began an exploratory discussion on starting the school day later for middle and high school students during its work session on Dec. 15. Dr. Kyla Wahlstom, professor at the University of Minnesota, presented to the board about her three decades of research on the impact of later school start times for middle and high school students.
Substantial research suggests health, academic, and other benefits for students who attend middle and high schools where the academic day begins after 8:30 am. There are also logistical issues to solve. Watch for additional information in future district communications.
You can listen to KYMN radio’s recap of the meeting here.
If a change were to result from the discussion, it would not be implemented until at least the 2027-28 school year.
The board will hold additional work sessions, discuss the concept at its regular meetings, and conduct community meetings to gather feedback. You can view the discussion timeline here.
The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) has released proposed updates to the Minnesota Academic Standards in Health and is inviting public feedback.
The public comment period is open until 4:30 p.m. on February 9, 2026. Information about the proposed standards can be found on MDE’s Health Education website. Instructions on how to submit comments, along with the proposed standards and background materials, is available here.
The standards are not final and may change based on public input. If approved, the updated Health Standards are expected to be implemented in the 2028-29 school year.
Questions may be sent to mde.academic-standards@state.mn.us.
At Northfield Public Schools, we value our strong community partnerships. To better connect families with local events and resources, we've created a community events newsletter. This newsletter is linked to our district newsletters, making it easy for families to stay informed about upcoming opportunities and important community resources.
This week's newsletter includes information about the Winter/Spring Community Ed Brochure, Rice County Food Assistance resources and more!
