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.

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

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.