ENG 2025-26 Family Update No. 14
January 29, 2026
Dear Northfield Public Schools Families:
This week, we begin the second semester of the 2025-26 school year. I am grateful for our continued partnership in pursuing the district’s vision of preparing every student for lifelong success by developing critical thinkers who are curious and ready to engage with society. Thank you for prioritizing your students' educational experience.
As I write this, I also want to acknowledge the distress that our state has faced following last weekend’s tragic death of another fellow Minnesotan. Many of our hearts are heavy, and I hear the stress and anxiety the situation has caused so many in our community. We will continue to work to ensure all students and families feel a sense of belonging in our school district. I have provided the district’s protocols for responding to outside agencies, such as federal immigration officials, below in this update.
At Monday’s board meeting, representatives from Wold Architects and Engineers and Knutson Construction presented an update about the Reimagine Northfield High School project.
The renderings presented are very similar to what was presented in October 2025. This presentation focuses on the project phasing.
The bids for the project will be released in late February, with submissions due in late March, and the school board approving bids in April. Groundbreaking will take place in June.
It is a complex project that will be completed over the course of three years. We are expected to start using the new music wing in September 2027, the new classroom wings in January 2028, and the expanded gymnasium sometime in the spring of 2028. Final renovations are anticipated to be completed in 2029.
During the course of the project, there will be adjustments to parking and on-site traffic. This is where we will need the public’s patience. I thank you in advance for managing your expectations and understanding that we will work through the construction process together.
As always, do not hesitate to contact me with feedback or questions about the school district.
Sincerely,
Matt
--
Matt Hillmann, Ed.D.
Superintendent
mhillmann@northfieldschools.org | 507-663-0629
The school board will be meeting for a work session on Thursday, Jan. 29 to continue their discussion on starting the school day later for middle and high school students. During this work session, representatives from Benjamin Bus will be present to discuss transportation.
The board has been holding work sessions, discussing the concept at its regular meetings, and conducting community meetings to gather feedback. You can view the discussion timeline here. If a change were to result from the discussion, it would not be implemented until at least the 2027-28 school year.
The school board began the discussion 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.
You can listen to KYMN radio’s recap of the meeting here.
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.
The Northfield School District partners 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.
In this episode, Dr. Matt Hillmann talks with Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (AFNR) teacher TJ Austin about reviving Northfield's Ag Education program, why all students can benefit from studying agriculture, and the popularity of goats in the high school courtyard. You can listen to the podcast here.
The Northfield School District Child Nutrition Update is now available. This quarter's newsletter features highlights from the district’s child nutrition program, tips for healthy eating, and recipes. View this quarter's update 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 Coffee and Conversations at The Key, Black and Brown Futures, Girl Scouts, Women in Sports Day, kindergarten open houses, and more!
