Northfield board approves $6 million in priority-based budget reductions after months of public input

The Northfield Public School Board approved roughly $6 million in priority-based budget reductions during its April 28 meeting, voting to adopt reductions across activities, district services, elementary, secondary and special services after months of community engagement.

Board Chair Claudia opened the discussion and Superintendent Dr. Hillman and Val, the district director of finance, presented the packages before the board voted item-by-item. The board said the reductions reflect years of underfunding by the state and declining enrollment; administrators and volunteer committees identified the recommended cuts and the board moved through each package with opportunities for members to pull line items for separate consideration.

The district convened five large reduction teams, held a public input meeting in early April attended by about 177 people and received more than 80 community volunteers working with administrators to build the proposals, Dr. Hillman said. "This board can really say we have done this with the community as opposed to the community," he said. Claudia said the $6 million target means "everyone will be doing more with less," and urged board members and the public to advocate for increased state education funding.

Key votes and outcomes

- Activities package: Approved without further modification after questions about the online registration software and credit-card fee pass-through were addressed. Administration noted cash or check options would remain available for families who do not wish to pay online transaction fees.

- District services package: Approved. Board members discussed a possible…