As the end of 2022 is just days away, Laura Baker Services Association is coming up on their target date to complete an ambitious but 
necessary fundraising campaign.
During the organization’s annual gala on December 3rd, Community Relations Director Andrei Sivanich announced the 125 For 125 Campaign, an effort to raise $125,000 by the end of the year. The campaign is named for the 125th Anniversary of the Laura Baker School, which the organization has been celebrating in 2022.
Sivanich said the gala was a great success, raising a record $300,000 dollars for the organization, but unfortunately more is needed. As Medicare reimbursements have been shrinking over the past few years, things have become more difficult for organizations like LBSA. To that end, over the past year, the organization has added more programs and services to their offerings.
The Family Navigation Service, which was put in place in early 2022, assists families and people with disabilities to find the right services and support in order to make their lives more manageable. The Housing Support Service supports people with disabilities in finding and retaining community housing and includes assistance in working with landlords and getting along with neighbors. And Sivanich said coming very soon, LBSA will offer a Behavioral Support Consulting Service. This program will assist people and families in changing and managing behaviors that may create barriers to successful community living.
Sivanich said the idea behind the expansion has multiple goals.
“The interesting thing is, it’s been a very difficult time for group homes and organizations that are supporting people with developmental disabilities. There are a lot of group homes around the country and around the state that have been closing. Our goal with these new programs is twofold. We want to help fulfill a need in the community, and we also need to help create some sustainability for the organization.”
The money raised during the 125 For 125 Campaign will go to support the new programs. Sivanich said LBSA will continue to offer the same programs and support it always has, but it is becoming increasingly important to find more revenue sources in order to both maintain the status quo and to be able to pay higher wages in order to recruit and maintain good employees.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Andrei Sivanich can be heard here
Nominations for Business, Business Person of the Year due tomorrow
The Northfield Area Chamber of Commerce is reminding the community that nominations are due tomorrow for the Chamber Business and Chamber
Business Person of the year.
Each year, the Chamber recognizes the accomplishments of local businesses and business people and the contributions they make to the community. Those with an interest are encouraged to nominate someone or a business they feel is deserving of these honors. Self-nominations are encouraged. In a statement Chamber President Jane Bartho reminded people that only current Chamber members will be considered.
Nominations are due Tomorrow, December 29th, by 5pm. All nominations will be reviewed by the Chamber’s Selection Committees. Winners will be recognized at the Annual Meeting and Business Recognition Banquet which will be held January 26th at Armory Square. The statement said more information about the banquet will be sent out soon.
Recent recipients of the Business Person of the Year award include Joan Spaulding, owner of the Hideaway Coffee House and Wine Bar, Tim Freeland of Edina Realty, and Beth Ayotte, the owner of Service Master by Ayotte of Northfield. Recent Businesses of the Year include Capital Construction, Aldrich Technology, Aurora Pharmaceutical and Imminent Brewing.
Nominations should be emailed to Bartho at Janeb@northfieldchamber.com, or they may be dropped off at the Chamber Office at 19 Bridge Square.
School Board will hear audit report this morning
The Northfield School Board will meet this morning for the final time this year to hear a report on the final audit for the 2021-22 school
year. This is a rescheduled meeting that was supposed to have been on Thursday but was canceled due to the blizzard conditions. That meeting had itself been scheduled as a special session due to the delay in receiving the audit from the accounting firm of Clifton Larson Allen.
According to the presentation enclosed in the meeting’s agenda, CLA found nothing out of order in the district finances. The presentation will say that the financial statements are fairly stated, and that CLA has issued what is known as a “clean” audit report. There are no deficiencies in internal control over financial reporting, nor are there any compliance problems in the firm’s review of laws, regulations, contracts, and grants that could have significant financial implications to the district. Furthermore, there were no issues relating to compliance and internal control over compliance. Finally, there were no compliance findings with regard to state law.
Northfield Superintendent of Schools Dr. Matt Hillmann said the extra time it took to receive the audit was understandable. The audit itself, he said, is worth waiting for.
“Many school district audits are running a little bit late this year due to a lot of the federal funding that was a result of the COVID relief process; the Esser funding. With as much federal funds that were in and out, and with all of the regulations [attached to those funds], I think the audit is just another great story of how awesome our finance team is.”
After the presentation is made by Luke Greden, who is a manager with CLA, the board will be asked to vote to accept the audit.
They will then discuss the next two meetings, scheduled for January 9th and January 23rd. The issue at hand for those meetings will be determining the process through which the board will appoint a temporary board member to take the place of Noel Stratmoen. Stratmoen, who is the longest tenured current member of any school board in the state of Minnesota, recently submitted a temporary resignation due to health concerns. He will be eligible to return to the school board in late March.
The School Board meeting will be held in the regular board room at the district office building. It is scheduled to begin at 10:00.
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
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