The Northfield School Board met in a work session last night to discuss the situation with the Northfield High School facility and to take another step toward identifying the best way to deal with the problems on the whole.
The building, which was originally designed in 1962 and 1963, built in 1964 and 1965 and opened in 1966, is beset by issues. During the meeting, Justin Raabole, the Northfield School District Head of Grounds and Maintenance, estimated that his crew, which has responsibility for nine different buildings, spends a full 50% of their time working on issues within the high school. He said the facility is working with equipment that is constantly breaking down and much of it is at the end of its life. In a work session held two weeks ago, the board identified 22 separate problem areas within the high school. Those problems range from the lack of insulation in the exterior walls and the antiquated and inefficient HVAC system, to the lack of community activity space, to questions of security.
Northfield Superintendent of Schools Dr. Matt Hillmann said the Board is being very deliberate and intentional with the process to make sure all the details are considered before moving to any discussion about solutions. First, he said, it is imperative that they all agree on the problems.
“That’s the work that we’re doing. We’re trying to gain consensus around identifying the problem and then identifying our goal. We think that when we get consensus around that, we then can look at what the options are to address those problems. We’ll do pros and cons of each of those potential options. And the idea is that this would reveal the right solution to put before the voters in November of 2024.”
It was apparent last night that a basic consensus has been reached, and that is the facility is no longer good enough to serve, as it stands right now, as an effective, or even adequate place to educate Northfield’s young people.
The question, then, is what to do about that.
Hillmann has insisted throughout this process that no decision on a solution has been made yet, but the board’s conversation last night showed that they are ready to at least begin to look for one. Last year the school board was close to approving a proposal to tear down the older part of the school and rebuild, incorporating the additions that were added in 1993 and 1996. During the meeting last night several board members asked for price comparisons on a project like that versus the cost of building a new school.
Which direction the board will go, renovation vs. new construction, is unclear. Regardless, it looks very likely that the Northfield School District will go to the voters and taxpayers in the community next November and ask for help to fix a problem that is now too large to ignore.
The School Board is reminding the community that a tour of the new Owatonna High School for anyone in the Northfield School District is scheduled for this Saturday. Two school buses will leave Northfield High School, Door #1 at 12:15. Registration is not necessary. The tour of Northfield High School that was originally scheduled for Saturday has been re-scheduled for Tuesday evening from 6-8pm.
Council will vote on 2024 levy and budget tonight
The Northfield City Council will meet tonight in the Council Chambers in City Hall.
Most of the agenda for this evening centers around the budget for 2024. The Council will hold its annual Truth in Taxation Hearing and will hear from members of the general public who would like to comment on their property taxes and the overall tax levy for 2024. The Council will then discuss and vote on the various levies brought by the Economic Development Authority, the Housing and Redevelopment Authority, before discussing and voting on the overall budget for next year.
The council will also discuss a resolution for a new amendment to the City Charter. They will then consider scheduling a public hearing regarding that amendment.
As always, the city and the council are asking to hear opinions and comments from the public. Anyone who wishes to do so is invited to come to the meeting and address the council on any topic they see fit. Those wishing to voice their opinions without addressing the council should email their councilors directly or post a comment through the eComment button on the “Agendas” section of the City Council website.
Tonight’s meeting will begin at 6:00.
Public invited to Northfield Holiday Social
And the City of Northfield has announced it will hold its annual holiday social next week.
On what would normally be a night for the City Council to meet in a work session, the members of the Council will join with City Staff, members of the city’s boards and commissions, and, they hope, quite a few people from the general public to celebrate the season and enjoy each others’ company.
The social is scheduled for next Tuesday, December 12th, at the upstairs lounge area of Reunion.
A statement issued by the city’s communication department said representatives of the city will make a brief presentation. Appetizers will be provided as well.
The City of Northfield’s annual Holiday Social will begin next Tuesday at 5pm and will run until 7pm.
For more information visit the City of Northfield Website at northfieldmn.gov.
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
