Nfld School District looks at focusing on “the learner”
The Northfield Schools Board of Directors along with administrators are working on a new strategic plan. They recently held a public meeting. Superintendent Dr. Matt Hillmann explained that’s just one part of their overall process. Forty-four people attended spending nearly 2 hours discussing their vision for the District. They felt strongly about, “to make sure that we were known for a strong social/emotional curriculum, really supporting behavioral and mental health issues. They felt strongly about us closing the achievement gap from preschool all the way up to
high school”. They also felt strongly that the students be “experiential” learners and that students have ownership in the curriculum and learning how to think. While we’re taught the same, we learn differently, “we’re not talking about the teaching, we’re talking about the learning. While it seems subtle, that’s an important shift”. The focus would be less on the adult and more on the learner. There were about 6 more items that community members spoke of and Dr. Hillmann mentions and explains them on my interview with him, posted on kymn.net. On September 22nd, the Board and administrators will hold a special work session to go through all the stakeholder feedback and finalize the list of vision. Hillmann says he hopes the Board can vote on it before the end of October.
HRA/EDA prelim levies set at maximum
The Northfield City Council rolled quickly through approval of the HRA and EDA preliminary levies. Administrator Martig said the Council set the levy at the statutory maximum which is nearly $230,000 each. While the EDA is focused on economic development, our HRA is focused on workforce housing. The levy can be lowered before the final levy is set in December. Council also unanimously okay-ed just about $380,000 for the City’s share in NAFRS, Northfield Area Fire and Rescue Service.
Nfld Hosp receives Patient Safety Excellence award
Northfield Hospital and Clinics were recently awarded for Patient Safety Excellence. The MN Hospital Association gave the award to just 15 hospitals across the state. CEO Steve Underdahl said it was around measurement of safety in preventable infections, falls that result in injury, readmissions for certain catergories. He said they were fortunate they had zero in all those catergories for the reporting period. He said this really revolves around clinical staff that take patient safety very seriously. One example was an OB nurse noting the tubing similarities of IV’s between a baby and a mother and how easy it would be to mix them up so she started a process to mark and identify the different tubings when there’s a mom and baby involved so they wouldn’t ever be tempted to mix them up. That is the kind of thing that avoids mistakes.
DJJD giddys up for the Rodeo and Reenactments
All in all the Defeat of Jesse James Days “Townie Night” went down as well as the beer and cheese curds. Despite having to move the carnival to the KMart parking lot in Dundas, there were plenty of families lining up for the rides. Division Street was packed for the kiddie tractor pull and Thursday Night Thunder. The Northfield Historical Society packed them in for the local spirits tasting and Open House. The re-enactments and rodeo start tonight and don’t forget there’s another craft show! It’s at Sechler Park. For more information go to djjd.org BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE MAPS AND SHUTTLE SERVICES ON THE DEFEAT WEBSITE.
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