By Logan Wells, News Director | Logan@kymnradio.net
Last Monday, the Northfield School Board heard a presentation from Director of Finance Val Mertesdorf and Director of Buildings and Grounds Justin Raabolle about the school district’s Proposed operating capital and Long-Term Facilities maintenance budget. The two budgets are a restricted portion of the district general fund, and a series of several state and local formulas determine the amount of funding available. The fund pays for several items but focuses primarily on maintenance projects around the school. Here’s Mertesdorf at the school board meeting:
“And then all of these are very restrictive. So there’s revenue that comes in and the state has a statute that says here’s what you can and cannot pay for with each of these funding streams. So they have their own fund balance codes. So the revenue that comes in has to be spent on those items and we can’t. Mix and mingle with the other general fund dollars.” – Val Mertesdorf, Director of Finance for the Northfield Public Schools, at the 2/11/2025 School Board Meeting
In the last few years, projects completed include resurfacing the Middle School Pool, a new sign and lighting at Bridgewater Elementary School, and new vehicles for the school.
Mertesdorf noted additional funds authorized by the 2022 referendum had several benefits for the district:
“That’s allowing us to pay for all of the technology staff salaries. That was one of the operational savings in the General Fund. They’re the only salaries that can be paid for with this funding. That was one of the items, as well as some curriculum and other things.” – Val Mertesdorf, Director of Finance for the Northfield Public Schools, at the 2/11/2025 School Board Meeting
Among the other items funded include technology items in the school district, including iPads and internet systems.
Among the projects being completed in the next year include locker removal at the Middle School to be replaced with flexible workspace, a new playground at Spring Creek Elementary School, new High School Media Computers, refinishing the gym floor at the Northfield Community Education Center (NCEC), painting, a new transit van and front loader among other items.
Raabolle noted the positive impact the high school renovations will have on maintaining the other schools in the district:
“Moving forward, The nice thing is the high school has taken put a lot of pressure on the LTFM (Long Term Facilities Maintenance) and the maintenance and what it takes up the district maintaince staff, the time that they allocate to the HS building. It will be nice to be able to spread that around. Because the other buildings, they all need attention as well.” Justin Raabole, Director of Buildings & Grounds for the Northfield Public Schools, at the 2/11/2025 School Board Meeting
The presentation was only informational and no votes were taken, at the next school board meeting, the board will vote to approve the budget. Mertesdorf noted that they approve this maintenance budget early on so that the schools have time to collect bids and get work done in the narrow window they have:
“We can secure contractors and things for any projects we have coming because the summer months are pretty tight for school districts to get work done. So we want to make sure we’re ahead of the game so that we avoid getting higher pricing and less optimal scheduling and those sorts of things.” – Val Mertesdorf, Director of Finance for the Northfield Public Schools, at the 2/11/2025 School Board Meeting
You can watch the full report here.
