by Rich Larson
After an emotionally charged school board meeting on Monday night, when the board heard a number of opinions about the
mask mandate the school district has put in place to begin the school year, both for and against, Northfield Superintendent of Schools Dr. Matt Hillmann said that he is sympathetic to the families that are upset with the re-instated protocols. However, the decision made by the school board was made in the best interests of both the students and the community.
Hillmann said certain exceptions and exemptions will be made for the masking policy. The district will work with some students who have physical or behavioral problems on different safety precautions. In the childcare center, children will not be required to wear a mask when they are taking a nap. Staff members will not be required to wear a mask while sitting alone in their classroom. And certain religious beliefs will also be considered, he said, under very narrow parameters.
The district will use three criteria to judge the level of safety in the schools and in the school district to determine when the mask mandate should end, he said. The local infection rate, the local illness rate, and the local vaccination rate. However, he said, the numbers that will mark when things are safe have yet to be determined.
This week the superintendent of every school district in Minnesota received a letter from the Minnesota Medical Association, the Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians, and the Minnesota chapter of the Academy of Pediatrics urging all school districts to adopt health protocols like the ones in place in Northfield. Dr. Hillmann said the district also received a letter signed by 28 members of the local medical community urging the same thing. He said the district is taking advice from the experts.
“I understand. Some people are really angry about this. Our job is to try to make sure that we can provide a quality education for kids every day. And when I have the medical experts telling us and telling our board that these are the things that we need to do, that’s the advice that we’re going to use. I’m really sorry for people who are angry. I understand it. I’m a dad myself. I want it to be back to normal. We’re just not there yet.”
Hillmann said the district has decided to prioritize uninterrupted, in-person learning for the coming year, and the rules that have been put in place are there to see that that goal is met.
Renewed Dundas EDA preparing for the future
The Dundas Economic Development Authority met on Monday night prior to the City Council meeting. The reinstatement of the EDA is looking more and more like a significant development for the future of business expansion in Dundas.
Dundas City Administrator Jenelle Teppen said the first order of business last night was to adopt the board’s budget. The EDA does have the power to levy tax dollars for their work. Teppen said the allowable amount to be levied is based on a formula in state statute that is based on the county’s estimates of the city’s tax capacity. Teppen said the levy for 2022 will be $37,800.
There was also discussion of a business subsidy policy, which is also regulated by state statute. The criteria that the EDA will use to determine how and why, or why not, a business would receive aid must be published and transparent, and Teppen said the members were given an initial draft of that policy. A public hearing on the policy will be held on September 13th, at which time the EDA will make a recommendation and pass the written policy onto the city council for ratification.
Of course, at the moment, the members of the EDA are also the members of the City Council, Teppen said, so when they make the recommendation, they will be doing so to themselves. She said the double membership is for organizational purposes.
“They’ve talked about how, over time, they might transition members of the community or business members into seats of the Economic Development Authority. But, just initially, they wanted themselves to be that body.”
The city council met after the conclusion of the EDA meeting. The only item on the council’s agenda was consideration of Teppen’s salary. Based on the high marks she received in her recent review, she was given a raise.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Dundas City Administrator Jenelle Teppen can be heard here
Hispanic Heritage Celebration set for September 15
And Central Park will host Northfield’s 4th annual Hispanic Heritage Celebration on Saturday, September 18 from 11 a.m. to 6
p.m. The event, which is open to all members of the public. The event will celebrate the rich Latin culture through learning opportunities, performances and presentations.
Among those performances will be live music from Mariachi Mi Tierra and Malamanya, and folk dancing by Kuyaki Peru, Zorongo and Ballet Folklorico Mexico Azteca. Additionally, the day will also host the capstone event for this year’s installation of Spanish Sidewalk Poetry. Priority parking and seating provided by the Red Chair Project for older adults and persons with limited mobility will be provided by Age Friendly Northfield and FiftyNorth.
National Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15th through October 15th. The month celebrates the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors immigrated from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. The Northfield Public Library is hosting in depth programming on Latino history and culture throughout September and October.
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
