Meet the Candidates for Northfield School Board

September 14, 2024
3:48 pm

The Northfield School Board is the main oversight group of the Northfield Public Schools, composed of 7 members who serve a 4 year term. Their approval is needed on all major policy changes, budget allocations, and tax referendums. Learn more about the School Board Operations Here.
Each voter can vote for up to 4 candidates in the school board election in 2024.

Candidates:

Amy Goerwitz (Incumbent)
Tristan Cox
Maggie Epstein
Iris Lee
Claudia Gonzalez-George (Incumbent)
Corey Butler (Incumbent)
Andreas Thurnheer

Amy Goerwitz

Please list any current political offices you hold. (if any)
Northfield School Board, 2017-present

Please list any previous political office you’ve held. (if any)
n/a

Please list any civic, community, or professional organizations/clubs your a part of. (if any)
Northfield Rotary Club

What qualifies for the office you’re running for?
It has been my honor to serve on the Northfield school board for eight years. Additionally, I have been a school volunteer in various other ways for the last 30+ years (photographer, teacher’s helper, ECFE board, field trip chaperone, SIT Team, parent booster, poinsettia distributor, etc.). I have advocated for the Northfield School District for over 20 years, writing letters and visiting state politicians. I am also a proud parent of two NHS graduates. I have always had an interest in education and a desire to enhance the educational experience both of my children and all district students.

What inspired you to run for office? If you are running for reelection why do you want to stay in office?
I am proud of all the school district has accomplished in the last eight years and wish to continue making a positive difference for our district students, staff, families, and community. I am excited about the possibility of a reimagined high school and wish to see this project through to completion.

What is something that you would like to accomplish while in office?
The biggest change I support is having a later start time; ideally sometime between 8:30-8:50 a.m. for the high school and middle school. The research is all there, and it is clear that a later start time helps teenagers whose body clocks are designed for a different sleep schedule than adults. We also have local data and anecdotal information from the pandemic that the later starting time that e-learning allowed was very appreciated by most students and parents. Over the last 30 years many other Minnesota school districts made this change. We just need to figure out how to make a later start time work for us.

What does being a leader mean to you?
For me, being a leader means gently guiding and positively impacting outcomes; working together to accomplish goals; encouraging, motivating, and inspiring district staff & students; and providing the support and tools necessary for the district to do its best work, all to ensure our vision to “prepare every student for lifelong success by developing critical thinkers who are curious and ready to engage in our society.”

One of the most significant issues facing the Northfield Public Schools is declining enrollment. For Example, a decline of 14 students is approximately a decrease in $100,000 of funding for the school district.How would you work to address declining enrollment in the Northfield Schools?
There was a huge decline in birth rate after the Great Recession of 2008 creating a decreased student population that affects almost all school districts in Minnesota (and the U.S. for that matter). Overall, we expect Northfield’s enrollment to go down a total of 10%, or approximately 400 students. We are currently several years into this expected gradual decrease and have already gone through two budget prioritization processes to prepare for further reductions to student numbers and to keep our district finances solid for the next several years. The good news is that in general the U.S. student population numbers are expected increase again in the 2030s.

However, to take advantage of that increasing birth rate we need to make Northfield attractive to young families and to create more housing for them. While housing is not an issue that the school district can fix, we can certainly work with other government entities (cities, townships, and counties) to encourage more housing development.

We can also work with our Minnesota state government, which will be funding fewer students overall, to advocate for more revenue per pupil to help make up the difference, basically asking them to distribute the same total dollars to the school districts.

One solution that the school district does oversee is making sure that our district is attractive to families by providing modern learning facilities and offering our students an excellent education. Attracting young families not only helps our school district, but it will help keep our local economy thriving.

Are you in favor of the 2024 Northfield Schools Referendum? Why? or Why not?
I support the referendum 100%. To attract new residents, we need to show that we care about our schools. To provide a top-quality education, we need to update the high school, our flagship school. The school board put a lot of work into addressing the question of what to do with a 1960s-era school with mechanical systems at the end of their lives, 40 entrances, accessibility issues, insulation R-values of 1.9 (when the code for schools is 14), HVAC equipment situated outside and ductwork on the roof, inadequate and aging classrooms, and more. Our half-and-half solution—renovate half the high school and rebuild half—will provide us with a modern high school that we can be proud of and expect to last at least 50 years. For more information about the referendum and to find a date to take a tour so you can see for yourself, go to https://northfieldschools.org/reimagine/ .

Campaign Website & Social Media
n/a

Tristan Cox

Candidate declined an interview.

Please list any current political offices you hold. (if any)
n/a

Please list any previous political office you’ve held. (if any)
n/a

Please list any civic, community, or professional organizations/clubs your a part of. (if any)
Friends of Way Park board member (2022- present), Friends of Downtown Northfield board member (2003-2006), School District Finance Advisory Board member (2018-2021),

What qualifies for the office you’re running for?
I am a parent of 3 kids, 2 of which attend Greenvale Park Elementary. I am a former Northfield High School teacher and I am a strong believer and supporter of public education in Northfield and throughout Minnesota. I regularly attend school board meetings and I pay attention to legislation that impacts public education. I talk to teachers, administrators, parents, students and stakeholders often and I enjoy learning about how a variety of community members engage with our K through 12 schools.

What inspired you to run for office? If you are running for reelection why do you want to stay in office?
I want the best for my children and for all students who attend Northfield Public Schools. I care about the Northfield community and want to help ensure we continue to have strong and vibrant public schools. As a former teacher I know how impactful education is for students and families and I look forward to helping current and future students achieve academic success through my service on the school board.

What is something that you would like to accomplish while in office?
I would like to help craft an updated cell phone/smart phone use policy at Northfield High School.

What does being a leader mean to you?
To me being a leader means being in touch with stakeholders, working on gathering data, constantly learning about our school district and those who are a part of it and using what I learn to help guide policies that are in alignment with the mission of our district, the values of the community and the best interest of stakeholders.

Are you in favor of the 2024 Northfield Schools Referendum? Why? or Why not?
It is clear that we as a community need to invest in Northfield High School as we have for the past 6 decades and it will truly take a community effort to ensure we are able to secure resources in an equitably and sustainably now and in the future. One of the responsibilities of school board members it to disseminate information to all stakeholders regarding bond and levy questions. As a member of the school board I will work toward that goal.

Campaign Website & Social Media
https://tristanforschoolboard.com/

Maggie Epstein

Please list any current political offices you hold. (if any)
n/a

Please list any previous political office you’ve held. (if any)
I have not previously held an elected position. I was appointed to the Northfield Public Library Board and served a two-year term (2017-2018).

Please list any civic, community, or professional organizations/clubs your a part of. (if any)
I served on the Friends of Way Park Board for six years (2016-2022).

I served as a parent representative on the Design Team for the new Greenvale Park Elementary School (2019).

I joined the district’s Legislative Action Committee last year because I felt the need to speak out more at the state level to advocate for increased funding for schools.

Last year, I volunteered weekly in the Greenvale Park Elementary School Media Center.

My husband and I are licensed foster parents in Rice County (2021-present).

I sing with the Northfield Youth Choirs in their HS/Adult choir. I play pickleball at the Northfield YMCA and through Northfield Public Schools Community Education.

What qualifies for the office you’re running for?
I believe that schools change lives and strengthen communities. As a parent and foster parent in the district, I am deeply invested in ensuring that our schools provide safe and enriching spaces to learn. I also want the teachers and staff who work with my children to be supported and celebrated. I have a broad understanding of issues in education thanks to my bachelor’s degree in American Studies and Educational Studies from Carleton College and a master’s degree in Learning and Teaching from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. For six years after graduate school, I worked at a non-profit organization providing professional development for K-12 teachers. I learned about the invaluable expertise of our educators and the importance of supporting them in their vital work. I next worked as a librarian for ten years, first at a public library and then in various research instruction and access services roles at St. Olaf and Carleton. As an engaged community member here in Northfield, I have shown my dedication to service and would be grateful for the opportunity to serve the district in this role.

What inspired you to run for office? If you are running for reelection why do you want to stay in office?
I believe that public education is key to a thriving democracy. Every student deserves access to an excellent education, and it is the responsibility of school boards to craft policies and foster values that ensure high-quality, inclusive, and equitable education for all children. I would be honored to serve the Northfield community as a member of the School Board.

What is something that you would like to accomplish while in office?
School board members should be engaged community members who come to meetings prepared to discuss and vote with an open mind. The board as a whole should serve in the role of well-informed guide to ensure that the district adheres to its stated vision and strategic commitments. In order to fulfill this important role, school board members should consider district-wide needs and ensure that all policies are fair and equitable. Finally, the board must hire and evaluate a superintendent who will implement district policies and create a culture of excellence and care. I hope to accomplish my goal of serving as a responsible, prepared, and forward-thinking board member.

What does being a leader mean to you?
One of my core values is service to others. I am particularly committed to service that enhances the lives of children. In our role as foster parents, my husband and I serve one or two children at a time, in a deeply intensive way. As a school board member, I will serve in a role that makes a difference for many more children at a community-wide level. To me, being a leader means listening actively, maintaining high ethical standards, and taking on leadership roles that align with my core values.

Are you in favor of the 2024 Northfield Schools Referendum? Why? or Why not?
I am in favor of all three questions put forth in the 2024 Referendum. I closely observed the process as the district and board worked with experts in school construction to develop the current proposal. I believe it is a fair proposal that can and should be supported by the community.

First, I support question one because renovating the high school and adding a classroom tower would provide a vastly improved learning space for students and a better workplace for teachers. It would also improve the safety of the building which currently has too many exits.

Second, I support question two because adding much-needed gym space would free up gym spaces at the elementary schools that are currently often occupied by high school sports and activities. This would increase opportunities for young learners, community education classes, and general community members to utilize the elementary gym spaces.

Third, I support question three because geothermal energy will allow the district to reduce future operational costs while also reducing harmful emissions. Our school district will be able to spend more money on educating our students rather than heating our buildings.

The reality is that a “No” vote will actually increase the amount of money our community will spend on the high school in the coming years. Delaying this much-needed project means that we will spend money in the short term to repair and replace failing infrastructure (heating and cooling, windows, etc.). While we are making these repairs, construction costs will continue to rise and we may eventually be unable to make the needed changes to update our learning spaces for modern-day education. Over the long term, this means burdening our children with both an outdated learning environment and the future costs of repairing and renovating a building that has already lived its useful life. The time is now to complete this project.

Campaign Website & Social Media Accounts
https://www.unitedfornorthfield.com/
https://www.facebook.com/maggieepsteinschoolboard

Iris Lee

Please list any current political offices you hold. (if any)
n/a

Please list any previous political office you’ve held. (if any)
n/a

Please list any civic, community, or professional organizations/clubs your a part of. (if any)
American Society of Professional Journalists

What qualifies you for the office you’re running for?
I am a mother of five NHS graduates, including a Special Ed. student. I attended schools in Europe and the US, and I believe that my experience
as a parent, in addition to my education and profession (journalism, law, history, business admin.) makes me a good candidate to serve on behalf of
Northfield parents.

What inspired you to run for office?
During COVID I basically served as my daughter’s assistant teacher. I came to the conclusion that the curriculum left much to be desired, and that if I wanted to make changes, I should do something proactive, rather than just complain, so I decided to put my name in the hat!

What is something that you would like to accomplish while in office?
I would like to ensure that all curricula, instructions, administrative regulations and directions are fact-based and free of ideological influence. I would also like to ensure that students, their education, and experience are not damaged by cell/smart phone use.

What does being a leader mean to you?
A leader is someone who listens to everyone and carefully considers all viewpoints and is not afraid to make decisions, however unpopular, based on what he or she believes will deliver the best results for the community.

Are you in favor of the 2024 Northfield Schools Referendum? Why? or Why not?
Ever since I moved here 25 years ago, Northfield residents have taken pride in the outstanding quality of education in our school district. The potential benefits of investing 95$ million of taxpayer money in a new high school have been very well advertised, but I don’t believe the district has sufficiently explained to residents the alternative options, as well as the financial burdens on future generations of taxpayers. Northfield taxpayers have already seen their property taxes increase by 45% in the last three years. Now we are talking about $95 million for a new high school and the City of Northfield’s current list of projects* that will cost taxpayers almost 160 million* (not including a .5% tax increase proposal from Rice County for a new jail). I don’t think residents have had an opportunity to discuss all these very momentous and expensive plans.
*$60 million water treatment plan
$31 million bike trails,
$24 ice arena project
$31 million bike trails,
$10 million park plans

Campaign Websites & Social Media
n/a

Claudia Gonzalez-George

Please list any current political offices you hold. (if any)
I am currently an elected school board member of the Northfield School Board. I was elected to a 4-year term in 2020.

Please list any previous political office you’ve held. (if any)
n/a

Please list any civic, community, or professional organizations/clubs your a part of. (if any)
I am a member of the Cannon Valley Friends Meeting – a Quaker church in Northfield.

I am a member of the Northfield Garden Club and of the Spanish Book Club at the Northfield Library.

At work, I serve on the Public Safety Advisory group and am co-facilitating a professional group for non-academic administrative support personnel at St. Olaf college.

What qualifies for the office you’re running for?
A good board member is someone who keeps students first, can work collaboratively with the other board members and their only employee (the superintendent), is a good listener of all district stakeholders, and is engaged in the work of the district at a governance level. I believe I am highly qualified for this position as I have served in this very capacity for nearly 4 years now. I was a classroom educator for 6 years in a previous community. I have been involved in some form of education most of my life from teaching adults to read to encouraging student development in college students. My classroom experience was with 3rd and 2nd graders. Having been directly involved in education gives me a unique perspective as I hear from district staff regarding what the district needs. I am a consensus builder which means I look for ways to arrive at hard decisions after helping all parties consider each others’ perspectives. This is a good trait to have as a school board member in this highly collaborative work.

What inspired you to run for office? If you are running for reelection why do you want to stay in office?
Being on the school board has been very meaningful and satisfying work. Proper, reasonable, and representative governance of our local school district by elected community members is a nobel responsibility which requires time, dedication, seriousness, sacrifice, and a collaborative attitude. I enjoy being a part of a team that together builds something much bigger than themselves. The work of the school board is to govern the district through policy, budgetary decisions, legislative advocacy, and via the hiring and evaluation of the superintendent. This work has allowed me to bring my unique perspective to the table to shape direction and culture in the district alongside 6 other elected officials and our superintendent. I want to stay in the office of school board member, so that I can continue to care for students’ experiences. I want to continue to partner with our district staff to see all of our young neighbors receive an exceptional education that prepares them for the future.

What is something that you would like to accomplish while in office?
My hope for myself in my 2nd term would be to continue building our board into a strong governing body that advocates at the capital, connects with all district stakeholders in positive ways, and continues to relate to each other respectfully. I would also like to renew our conversion around early school start time. Research shows that high school students need to start later in the morning and young elementary students need to start earlier in the morning. Other MN schools have successfully implemented this schedule and I want to help Northfield have that conversation again.

What does being a leader mean to you?
Kamala Harris’ recent phrase about the measure of a leaders’ strength is who you lift up resonates with me at many levels. Leadership is about helping others maximize their potential. It is about working and caring that we all succeed because none of us has to fail in order for all of us to succeed, another Harris phrase that speaks loudly for me. A leader is not someone who takes all the credit and blames others when things don’t work out, but instead a leader is someone who works with the whole team, sorting out talents and gifts for the good of all, and someone who problem solves at all times rather than looks for blame. A leader is someone who coordinates the team with inspiration, gratitude, and an ability to make the final call.

Are you in favor of the 2024 Northfield Schools Referendum? Why? or Why not?
As a current board member I worked on and voted to send this referendum to our voters. I hope all three questions pass, but I absolutely need Q1 to pass. The HS needs updates and many students, staff, and parents agree. The high school has needed updates for a long time and while we have not neglected it, there are some needs such as HVAC and insulation that our Long Term Facility Maintenance fund cannot pay for on its own.

Campaign Website & Social Media
https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudia-gonzalez-george-for-school-board/
https://www.unitedfornorthfield.com/
https://www.facebook.com/claudiaforschoolboard/

Corey Butler

Please list any current political offices you hold. (if any)
Northfield School Board 2020 – Present

Please list any previous political office you’ve held. (if any)
n/a

Please list any civic, community, or professional organizations/clubs your a part of. (if any)
Minnesota School Boards Association, Associations North, & Former board member, Health Community Initiative

What qualifies for the office you’re running for?
I take my role on the school board seriously. As vice chair, I engage with constituents, prepare for meetings and committee assignments and participate in good-faith conversations with my peers to help move our district forward in the best interests of our students. It’s been an incredibly fulfilling four years and I hope the good people of this district support me to serve them and our students, staff and administration for another four years.

I’ve completed all four phases of the MSBA Learning to Lead Workshop series, earning my Leadership Development Certificate. I also attended the negotiations seminar in preparation of joining the district negotiations team. Concurrently, I earned a 60-hour Management Practices Certificate from the University of Minnesota College of Continuing & Professional Studies. Highlights of that program included courses covering leadership skills, emotional intelligence, coaching, problem-solving and allyship.

I’ve served as board vice chair for the past two years, running meetings a few times in the chair’s absence.

Professionally, I manage communications for a professional association serving CPAs and accountants. I spend much of my time breaking down complex laws and rules, both enacted and proposed by lawmakers in Minnesota and in Congress. Previously, I was an education reporter for five years, digging into the financials and operations of districts, developing relationships with adults and students, and spending time in classrooms highlighting the excellent work happening there.

What inspired you to run for office? If you are running for reelection why do you want to stay in office?
I’m the parent of two children in the district and I’m married to a townie. My mother is a school bus driver and my dad was a school custodian. Public education has played a significant role in my life, and I am forever grateful for the adults with whom influenced me to achieve what I have in life.

Serving — and continuing to serve — allows me to contribute in a meaningful way, advocating for a vital educational system that is critically important to our society, locally and at large.

What is something that you would like to accomplish while in office?
Should I be fortunate enough to return to the board, I will continue the work my colleagues and I have accomplished the past four years.

This means lifting up and supporting students academically, mentally, socially and emotionally. This means strengthening relationships with our 16 employee groups and aiding them in their invaluable work for our students. This means representing the interests of all constituents on the board. This means working with my fellow board members, modeling what a quality, engaged board member is.

This means finding solutions — both in contract and policy — to recruit, retain and grow quality staff in what has become an increasingly challenging educational talent pipeline. This means leading the board in the role we are elected for — oversight of the district through the work of the superintendent, not running the district ourselves. Lastly, this means always striving to be better so I can better serve others.

What does being a leader mean to you?
Leadership is offered and modeled in many ways. I believe my leadership style is adaptive, assessing the situation and people involved in any circumstance, and leaning into different styles to get the most out of an individual or a group, as well as myself. I do this both in my board work and in my career.

Though I may be known by some for hardly ever being short on words, I take special care in making sure I listen closely, ask plenty of questions in seeking to understand and deeply reflect on the information I collected.

In a school board setting, we need to be a collaborative group, working together for the benefit of our schools, students and staff, rather than adversarial. A practical, calming and firm voice is necessary in these situations.

One of the most significant issues facing the Northfield Public Schools is declining enrollment. For Example, a decline of 14 students is approximately a decrease in $100,000 of funding for the school district. How would you work to address declining enrollment in the Northfield Schools?
Declining enrollment is not unique to Northfield. The United States has seen a significant decline in birthrates the past two decades, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2007, the United States produced 14.3 births per 1,000 people. In 2022, it had steadily declined to 11.1 births per 1,000 people — nearly 23% lower.

Our school board and district take financial stewardship seriously, which is why two of the past three years we adjusted our budget to reflect current and projected enrollment declines. We are entrusted with state and federal funding, as well as generous local financial support through our operating levy, to provide the best quality education we can for our students, which means recruiting and retaining quality teachers and staff. This is good governance.

Northfield schools have been and remain a destination district for students and families. Historically, more students open enroll to our schools than those who opt for other options.

We live in a time where parents have a choice about where to send their children to school. This is great! Even with its stellar reputation, the Northfield district isn’t going to be the best fit for every family. Some need a different size school system. Some prefer an online avenue. Some prefer a project-based focus offered by our friends at Prairie Creek Community School and Arcadia Charter School. Some want a parochial experience. It’s great students and families have these choices in today’s world and I empower them to make the choices that best suit their children’s needs to prepare for their lives after graduation.

In the end, our district needs to continue fostering a culture of academic excellence and a sense of belonging. This will help us remain a strong offering and build on our stellar reputation.

Are you in favor of the 2024 Northfield Schools Referendum? Why? or Why not?
I will answer this question from two perspectives.

The first is as a sitting board member who supported the ballot initiative. For the better part of two years through two separate cycles, the current and most immediate past school boards engaged with the community on this topic and, ultimately, decided to move ahead with a proposal.

Getting to that final proposal was an exercise in good process, ultimately creating the three-question ballot and ensuring the most important priority, the replacement of the primary academic space, while addressing many other core issues with the current high school, was included in Question No. 1. This is within range of what the community indicated it would financially support through a scientifically sound survey.

Question Nos. 2 and 3 are also important, bringing forward a new four-court expanded gym, which addresses many academic and community needs, as well as a geothermal option to heat and cool the high school. But No. 1 is by far the priority for me.

Ultimately, I feel the board needed to present practical options to the community (with options ranging from doing nothing to building a new school). The board is not approving the project; we send a conceptual proposal to the community on which to decide on Nov. 5. This is as democratic as it gets, leaving the decision to the voters.

The second perspective is as a property owner. I am an emphatic three yeses to support these bond questions. It’s time.

Campaign Websites & Social Media
https://www.facebook.com/CoreyforNorthfieldSchools
https://www.unitedfornorthfield.com/

Andreas (Andy) Thurnheer

Candidate declined an interview.

No picture provided.

Please list any current political offices you hold. (if any)
n/a

Please list any previous political office you’ve held. (if any)
n/a

Please list any civic, community, or professional organizations/clubs your a part of. (if any)
I am not involved in any civic organization other than the Rice county DFL organization.

What qualifies for the office you’re running for?
I have more than 40 years private sector experience mainly engineering and automation in the Food Industry. I grew up in Switzerland and attended their school system which is a bit different. The Swiss school system is K9 followed with typical apprenticeship and additional engineering specialization. Later in my life a job assignment brought me to Minnesota. I came to Northfield in the late 1990’s. Our family had two girls attending the Northfield schools. I would contribute innovation and experience to the school board.

My business and engineering experience will bring a fresh perspective to the district’s infrastructure conundrum. We are faced with declining enrollment, aging and inefficient school buildings, soaring energy expenses and ever increasing operating costs for the coming years. It is not only declining enrollment and soaring costs, it is also finding a good middle ground between needed smart investments and financial burden on the community

What inspired you to run for office? If you are running for reelection why do you want to stay in office?
I believe parent involvement and community representation are important on a school board. Our two children went through the district K12 education. My goal is to leave the Northfield School District and the community financially and academically better than when I joined.

What is something that you would like to accomplish while in office?
For me, the most important thing is to ensure the district has the financial and human resources and support its needs to educate and prepare our students. Adequate funding helps us keep reasonable class sizes and employ qualified teaching staff. It also helps us to provide the academic support in a fast-changing world and create or sustain opportunities that support the student interest. Representation of the community’s financial interests and sustainability are important. In a declining enrollment environment some reorganization, reassignment and finally budget cutting is not avoidable. The current High School “reimagine” needs refinement and competitive input by another architectural firm with engineers to develop a final project the taxpayer can afford. The infrastructure needs to be adapted to climate change and soaring energy costs. All seven school buildings will need long-term energy and real comfort improvements. Defining long term guidelines and policy changes will guide how to move towards the community’s “net zero” goals. Northfield is at a crossroad. It will take a joint effort with input from the superintendent, board, educators and community to find the most efficient, affordable rebuild of the High School

What does being a leader mean to you?
The school Board with the Superintendent is a team running the Northfield public schools. The school board represents the community interest and sets the policy background to operate the schools. As a member of the school board I would bring my experience and expertise and will look for other Team members to do the same. Leadership is listening and learning from the team members and outside sources. Leaders do not always know the answer or solution for every problem but are able to do the research in an effort to address the challenges. Multiple perspectives and open discussions are required to find the best solution. After 40+ years in industry, I have learned to engage others in the process.

Are you in favor of the 2024 Northfield Schools Referendum? Why? or Why not?
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