[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6057550,"mediaKeyId","3305434-9369dabf06b2005529046455031f035e","parentId",3305434,"title","Policy committee brings MSBA-recommended updates and housekeeping changes to board for review","audioSeconds",513,"startMs",6843000,"endMs",7356000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3305434-9369dabf06b2005529046455031f035e&start=6843&end=7356","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3305434-9369dabf06b2005529046455031f035e/thumbnail_6843000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6057550/Minnesota/Policy-committee-brings-MSBA-recommended-updates-and-housekeeping-changes-to-board-for-review","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6057550-a0081e5177a110d75f459e934cff9ee6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771043399&Signature=orLdQzTxYxCAbkrUxu8caEaFz820jseW0Rvz8iFHNkcL3eg6OUDT8MiqZqflSttdMaRjqS22lAGxvQ1veoi9TFU8YTeIeB2yAl8Ie9H~x579iwWu4pH56JTa0r5JDKlVBwCd0b8e5ZoCYP2YxqFdMxaMNCmFUBCZ144SdZ4Rvc18vGY5TPIP9UCtSLIamUiv-Nd09fRZWN2jDRYt97DvpWMgdl3XJhcrG47oisOKo-NqzbokRj8rlFcuyvIfcSZa-ejACJNNNxKhZLC6L0HCKnYEwQLS6nphXezkrIUKkV~Pf2IIWqK2aE6tqABYsIHszhJMI0ezTk1UkkD0Jc-2Rg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Northfield Public Schools","date","2025-05-13T12:50:22Z","article","The board's policy committee presented recommended changes to district policies on May 12, a mix of Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA) red-line updates and regular-cycle reviews focused on the 400s (finance and operations) and other policy families.

Highlights: Superintendent (Hillman spelled in packet) said the changes include both MSBA-recommended language and routine housekeeping. Committee members noted one correction (duplicate numbered paragraph in Policy 5.12) and suggested clarifying language in several definitions so lists that read as alternatives are clearly identified as \"or\" items rather than implying that all listed items must occur.

Nut graf: The committee framed most edits as technical or statutory alignments rather than policy changes; several items will return for individual action at the May 27 meeting as part of the regular policy-review cycle.

Details and process notes:
- Policy 5.12 (student publications) will adopt MSBA red-line language that removes a clause flagged as inconsistent with state law and reduces district liability exposure, according to committee comment.
- Committee recommended removing stray occurrences of the word \"model\" where policies quoted MSBA model text, and tightening definition language in Policy 4.13 to make clear whether listed elements are alternatives or conjunctive.
- A question was raised about whether references to \"administration\" should mean site administration or district administration where student-journalist provisions apply. The committee noted the language follows statute but agreed to consider adding a clarifying definition to reduce confusion.

Next steps: The committee's recommendations will be brought as individual action items on the consent or action agenda at upcoming meetings, and staff will make clerical edits (duplicate numbering, clarifying conjunctions) before formal adoption.

Ending: No formal policy changes were adopted at the May 12 meeting; the packet's redlined policies will return for board action after the committee's revisions and review.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Northfield School District Board of Education Regular Meeting 5 12 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Superintendent’s policy committee recommended updates to several district policies, including model-language alignments from the Minnesota School Boards Association; updates will be brought for action at upcoming meetings.","taxTitle","NORTHFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT, School Boards, Minnesota","taxId",65549,"location","Minnesota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6057554,"Board adopts resolutions to nonrenew probationary staff and place tenured staff on unrequested leave",127,8357000,8484000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3305434-9369dabf06b2005529046455031f035e&start=8357&end=8484","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3305434-9369dabf06b2005529046455031f035e/thumbnail_8357000.jpg","/articles/6057554/Minnesota/Board-adopts-resolutions-to-nonrenew-probationary-staff-and-place-tenured-staff-on-unrequested-leave","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6057554-f88b68d484de2f2a499af19d4124f0a4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771043399&Signature=j-Wy5idcsBxDhgQYrAbULrBEWhmJt3UoMyVXqK7yAnvjDcI~Q3ABv8-8NIQ2XnDEgBSRs-cvKyCdItmrpU1Rhm~qNjYtj7d7xlBCPUhzu1nFRdlPn0xF4Lmbepz34BarvW3SUwOjrcbgNZVUJfYx~BjGIeXxpauNFTeDyW2fN~galNeFCilrtrPc8Y3hT3dQoQAmJCVIw7OMl9~DdxEDNg5sP2yKhKWeZHGyFu~nUg4YO3nWquh1PR3iR~m7HJvo4sEUNJO9pbxSmPRYXn~N0~puDBaTOOm~qQTpOke1iE5j6twTM3wVk9UD9yQqJBNAyD~aiO0wPLhf7mJM7NK2oQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Northfield Public School Board on May 12 adopted two personnel resolutions: a resolution terminating or nonrenewing probationary licensed staff listed in a memorandum effective at the close of the 2024–25 school year, and a resolution proposing to place tenured licensed staff on unrequested leave of absence.

Motion and vote details: The board moved and seconded both resolutions and recorded roll-call aye votes. For the first resolution (termination/nonrenewal of probationary licensed staff), the clerk called roll: Butler—Aye; Epstein—Aye; [Horowitz/Gorwitz]—Aye; Miller—Aye; Nelson—Aye; Quinell—Aye; Gonzales George—Aye. The motion passed. The second resolution (proposing unrequested leave of tenured licensed staff) received the same roll-call outcomes and also passed.

Nut graf: The board did not discuss names or specifics of personnel during the public meeting beyond adopting the two resolutions; the agenda materials referenced a memorandum listing affected staff and stated the effective date as the close of the 2024–25 school year.

What the resolutions do: According to meeting procedure, the first resolution nonrenews probationary teachers listed in the memorandum and the second places tenured licensed staff on unrequested leave; both are formal board actions that carry personnel and administrative effects but were presented as standard personnel items with no supplemental discussion beyond recognition of their difficulty.

Discussion and context: Board member comments recognized the decisions as difficult and part of a longer set of conversations about the district's staffing and budget. No additional motions, amendments or contests of the roll-call votes were recorded on the public record.

Ending: Both resolutions passed by unanimous recorded aye votes; the board will follow staff and legal procedures for implementing personnel actions according to district policy and state law.","The Northfield Public School Board voted by roll call to adopt two personnel resolutions: one to terminate or nonrenew listed probationary licensed staff and another to place tenured licensed staff on unrequested leave of absence; both motions passed unanimously by recorded aye votes.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6057557,"Community education reports rising participation, early-childhood pressure and proposed budget changes",1156,6144000,7300000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3305434-9369dabf06b2005529046455031f035e&start=6144&end=7300","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3305434-9369dabf06b2005529046455031f035e/thumbnail_6144000.jpg","/articles/6057557/Minnesota/Community-education-reports-rising-participation-early-childhood-pressure-and-proposed-budget-changes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6057557-4b6790ba8c2f147cbfe5cd0ea405d727/orig.mp4?Expires=1771043399&Signature=GS4siphSS0EMlMK1SufegdA6QgsLFawVjGwUYIueQlz8K1Q2JHuAKo6Y5HPCiptZW2y0JRl6B3XZXSytf5Y0MfxiAQpV2R9uWkdfQXo43C37fQR763wuZCjzCeMARAIocuEo10XAVOwQOZs444HseZLrCjuS7bj9QjTASMhWxDSB6WUigrlIt7RhHJE1nqZoRlYUOgzIOyJSI1ebNI0kjjpy5oDVKDv~JGhLi3XUEJNXZwxsQO4e~Gt99zfZ~w2TvUpq1LEnzOV4AzNBwWNQutweRka5DaFWzOZE6qNmqtiGfDuOqJvkob2OE6-0rsctXVjYdIcirDfyqfKxu9-V6g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Northfield Community Education reported May 12 that participation across adult, youth and early-childhood programs has increased, while early-childhood (infant/toddler) demand and shifting state funding pose budget challenges for the coming year.

Program director Aaron (last name not given) said the department recorded 11,483 participants across community-education programs in the prior fiscal year and scheduled more than 1,100 hours of facility use by outside groups. Adult basic-education attendance rose about 26 percent year over year, and the department plans to open a GED testing center at the Northfield Community Education Center.

Nut graf: While many community-education programs saw higher-than-prepandemic participation, staff warned that the early-ventures infant and toddler program is costly to operate, ratios are tight, and declining preschool-age enrollment means the department must consider program changes to protect long-term fund balance.

Highlights and budget points:
- Facility grant and renovations: a multipurpose community-facility grant (about $500,000) will renovate adult-basic-education space at the Northfield Community Education Center.
- Early-ventures pressure: infant and toddler sections remain in demand and are expensive to operate because of low staff-to-child ratios; board materials show proposed reductions in one afternoon preschool section due to lower preschool-age enrollment and to reallocate capacity.
- Fund balance and revenues: Community Education is proposing revised 2024–25 and proposed 2025–26 budgets that reduce the department's ending fund balance; the general community-education fund reflects the largest exposure because its revenue is primarily fee-based (program fees, scholarships, chargebacks) and early-ventures revenue/expenses have shifted.
- Grants and funding: voluntary prekindergarten slots were filled this year (28 full-day slots) under a state-funded voluntary pre-K program; the department also cited changes moving federal child-care stabilization funds into state funding with different allowable uses (shifting more of the aid toward employee compensation rather than organizational costs).

Discussion and next steps: The board asked questions about potential price changes for infant/toddler care, equity of county-based childcare assistance rates and whether scaling or means-tested sliding fees could be used. Director Aaron said program leaders are developing options and will return with proposals; the department also hosts a site visit from a national community-school conference later in May.

Ending: The revised community-education fund budget will return to the board for action May 27; the proposed 2025–26 budget is scheduled for action at the June 9 meeting.","Community Education presented participation gains, early-childhood program demand and a proposed 2025–26 budget that compresses fund balance largely because of shifts in early-ventures enrollment and state funding transitions.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6057560,"Child nutrition director reports higher participation, revised budget and local sourcing efforts",1032,3776000,4808000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3305434-9369dabf06b2005529046455031f035e&start=3776&end=4808","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3305434-9369dabf06b2005529046455031f035e/thumbnail_3776000.jpg","/articles/6057560/Minnesota/Child-nutrition-director-reports-higher-participation-revised-budget-and-local-sourcing-efforts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6057560-1ed35f90d9d7f1990afe8d0b0d2227b2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771043399&Signature=Omq~tcF9QPMVbbW4i3Fgam7uJHqd7ENe2DDG1pILEqGvlDGKCVB0WgqqZvuBSgAYUvirvB-1jqTNpcwJEVVWCJAYIC1HntmHxlTILwLcr3PLt8mh581Y49O4IvrPm01tmdPaQFBqYLrhHjLDccLOBl5MrHhm7NzMxsYuzy6GYx-haAD8zzVNUUzxg7LNazMqgIAKDPXhoNjKiTuT7QOGUYnFDRGrcoIeXFbDAvHeL9zM1f2gr5AS2KFnChoe~Ow7Ho~aS8~z43LFdeqIvYXdTh0IPCU9PKJEoaVQQQCbWRoo~dL~qqd5f66JyPCXctHFKLXj3O~ANXFniHKQv6y6Zw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Northfield Public School Board received an update May 12 from Director of Child Nutrition Stephanie Stromi on program participation, local sourcing efforts and proposed budgets for the child nutrition fund.

Stromi said breakfast participation increased about 1 percent and lunch participation increased about 2 percent from September through January, and the department served roughly 65,000 breakfasts and 228,000 lunches in that period. \"Research has shown that starting the day with breakfast can really help to enhance the day for our students,\" she said, noting the district continues to operate under the state's free school-meals program that began last year.

Nut graf: The department reported higher participation that drove higher food and supply costs and prompted a proposed 2025–26 budget the director described as conservative on revenue and responsive to inflation, Buy American requirements and anticipated changes in grant funding.

Details reported:
- Menu and local sourcing: The district piloted a \"global trends\" line at the high school and a \"Minnesota Mondays\" feature that used locally produced food items. Examples cited included chicken tikka masala, kielbasa, and collaborations with local farms such as Deeply Rooted Farms and Ferndale Farms.
- Food-service review: The department completed a state-required USDA review; reviewers commended staff cooperation and how wellness policy elements are implemented in schools.
- Budget: Stromi presented a revised 2024–25 child nutrition fund revenue estimate of about $2.8 million (previously proposed at $2.5 million), and said the revised 2024–25 expenditures are higher than originally budgeted because of participation and food-supply costs. The proposed 2025–26 budget shows total expenditures projected near $3.3 million and proposed revenue at about $2.8 million; the director said the revised fund-balance estimate for the current year would drop closer to $781,000 (from an earlier estimate near $817,000).
- Federal/state reimbursements and grants: Stromi described the federal reimbursement process and said final state and federal reimbursement rates are not yet known and could change budget outcomes. She also noted a farm-to-school grant funded an oven purchase that reduced equipment needs this year; that funding is not guaranteed for next year.
- Buy American and supply pressures: The director described federal \"Buy American\" requirements and explained that a portion of products (e.g., bananas, some canned fruit) are allowed as exceptions; she said the district tracks domestic sourcing and expects the allowable percentage of non-domestic goods to decline in coming years.

Discussion: Board members asked about how buses and school arrival times affect breakfast access, food-safety and inspection frequency, whether meal-prep (raw proteins) occurs at each level, the reliability of federal and state funding and whether the proposed staff meal and a la carte pricing would change. Stromi said staff meals were proposed to remain at $5 and that the department would revisit a la carte pricing as needed.

Next steps: The revised 2024–25 child nutrition fund budget is scheduled for individual action at the board's May 27 meeting, and the proposed 2025–26 budget for action at the June 9 meeting.","Director Stephanie Stromi reported increased breakfast and lunch participation, new menu offerings and a revised 2024–25 child nutrition fund budget; the proposed 2025–26 budget will be presented for board action in June.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6057562,"Northfield board hears detailed Reimagine Northfield High School design, schedule and sustainability plans",2419,723000,3142000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3305434-9369dabf06b2005529046455031f035e&start=723&end=3142","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3305434-9369dabf06b2005529046455031f035e/thumbnail_723000.jpg","/articles/6057562/Minnesota/Northfield-board-hears-detailed-Reimagine-Northfield-High-School-design-schedule-and-sustainability-plans","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6057562-ba3c0acaaa2f49ad5b3d8b0f0552cb61/orig.mp4?Expires=1771043399&Signature=gKe7OkTvT9dTasx1PJ0jc0Gv~nlis45vhoKvF86wdqeOUzqIzloRn4s64ppox-Q58zXUGbWB5hiOvAUA6mkHShAyqcv63B6bclDcA86aB3cTcsM4CPiScrhtn20GUjTCGZPjmLMHzr0ZPtPxNcAWEWw6TEPdSoNxJKUL8jimeYgdvYrDVKD6EkU0Kr7Pb7Kt~TRM6ylvLPLs3B~yYhZK885EmxHyWGwn~RLGqdH795mHAB42dIyV~qeDOc8R10xjfrfe8~eWOMT63tzs7M6-sTIqxsCDzfdQUtyEJK670~CHuvpQ0KS34AjfmlIF-SKUG1T7C63Qut0uMJKxKnMekw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Architects for the Reimagine Northfield High School project presented a schematic-design update to the Northfield Public School Board on May 12, outlining a central \"commons\" organizing concept, classroom and activity layouts, site circulation plans and next steps on energy-efficiency reviews and competitive bidding.

The update, delivered by Sal Bagley of Wool Architects and colleague Alex Malna, summarized input from an eight-meeting core planning group, athletics and activities subcommittee tours, and a recent round of user-group meetings. \"We really like to establish those criteria,\" Bagley said, describing a process that included tours of Owatonna High School, Waseca Junior High School, Saint Peter High School and Tartan High School, and visits to Mora High School and Rockridge.

Board members were shown a progression from adjacency diagrams to bubble diagrams and early floor plans. The design centers a Commons Café at the building core, connects academic wings around that commons, and preserves the existing auditorium and game gym while adding an expanded gym, music addition and classroom/office wing. Bagley said the team has begun converting diagrams into floor plans and 3-D massing studies and emphasized that drawings remain fluid as staff input continues.

Why it matters: the project replaces and renovates significant parts of the high school campus and will require city review, competitive contracting and long construction phasing that the district and construction manager will have to balance against site disruption and budget constraints.

Key details reported by the design team:
- Oversight: The school board retains final responsibility; a project oversight committee and a core planning group provided regular input.
- Program organization: Core planning members favored departmental clusters that keep groups of roughly eight classrooms together while distributing special-education and related supports throughout the building instead of concentrating them in a single wing.
- Activities area: The expanded gym concept places courts 1–3 in a shared volume and court 4 in a connected but distinct volume to enable community access during school hours; a three-lane elevated walking track is planned around courts.
- Music and stage: Music spaces were moved to the first floor to align the department with the stage and ease equipment movement.
- Site circulation: The conceptual site plan separates cars, buses and staff circulation with a primary drop-off loop from Division Street, an angled bus lane on the north side, and designated staff/delivery access at the west.
- Energy and sustainability: The team has scheduled a kickoff meeting on energy efficiency and sustainability to establish EUI (energy use intensity) targets and is planning geothermal testing; Bagley said EUI targets will be discussed in upcoming meetings.
- Schedule and procurement: The project moved into design development through September with an anticipated city review period (the team stated the city asked to allow up to 120 days). The architects said the design-development period will lead into construction documents and multiple competitively bid work scopes; they stated the project is expected to go out to bid \"in February of next year.\" Knutson Construction is the construction manager and will divide the work into dozens of scopes to be competitively bid.

Discussion and follow-up: Board members asked about phasing, the dropped third-floor mass on a portion of the plan, an enclosed courtyard for student dining, expandability for future classrooms, storage for athletic equipment, walking-track widths and geothermal test wells. Bagley said phasing scenarios remain under development with Knutson and that some additions may be staged to limit site disruption; the team plans further engineering work and a traffic study whose counts were due in June.

What’s next: the design team expects further user-group meetings across May and June, city submission after design development, more detailed energy and material proposals, and return presentations to the board prior to bid. \"We're only part of the way there,\" Bagley said, describing continued user-group input through the summer.

Ending: The board did not take any action on the design at the meeting; the presentation was informational and the project will return for future board review and formal steps once design development, city review and bidding readiness progress.","Architects presented a schematic-design update for the Reimagine Northfield High School project, including a central commons concept, programming for classrooms and activities, site circulation, a phased timeline and next steps on energy-efficiency and bidding.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Policy committee brings MSBA-recommended updates and housekeeping changes to board for review

Board adopts resolutions to nonrenew probationary staff and place tenured staff on unrequested leave

Community education reports rising participation, early-childhood pressure and proposed budget changes

Child nutrition director reports higher participation, revised budget and local sourcing efforts

Northfield board hears detailed Reimagine Northfield High School design, schedule and sustainability plans