By Logan Wells, News Director | Logan@kymnradio.net
PREVIOUS STORY (1/31/2025): Northfield Public Schools Receives An Updated Financial Forecast; $6 Million in Budget Reductions Needed; District Looking For Volunteers To Join Prioritization Team
The Northfield Public Schools has been working to reduce the budget deficit that the district is currently projected to have in the next several years. The deficit is being driven by a combination of declining enrollment and unfunded mandates from the state government.
Earlier in the month, applications were open to joining the Community priority-based budget reduction team. Over 50 community members and staff applied to join the team. The committee has already met twice and will meet one more time next week before making a recommendation to the school board. The team has been split into 5 smaller groups based on school grades and activities. Here’s Superintendent of Schools Dr. Matt Hillmann at the February 10th School Board meeting:
“We are asking people to make sure that they come with an open mind, that they’re willing to work productively and respectfully with others, that they’re willing to put out their ideas about where they think we should consider reducing the budget and making sure that they’re providing feedback About those recommendations.” – Superintendent of Schools Dr. Matt Hillmann at the 2/10/2025 School Board Meeting
Overall, the district is looking to reduce spending by about $6 million. Each of the teams is presented a packet of data from the district administration breaking down the budget with different information:
“We resist from giving specific ideas to the committee because we want people to look at things through some different eyes. We will give a little bit more guidance this time with some examples, just because that’s something that we’ve learned in the past. Are. They certainly aren’t recommendations from administration, but they are examples of the kinds of things that committees could consider.” – Superintendent of Schools Dr. Matt Hillmann at the 2/10/2025 School Board Meeting
Hillmann said that they are using a “tried and true” method that has worked for the Northfield Public Schools over the last 20 years in order to hear the public feedback. He noted that the board is not directly involved in the budget reduction process, instead hearing ideas from the community:
“The board gets reports as we go along. And then you really have a chance to hear that ahead of the March 11th meeting with the rest of the community. You’re listening to people. As time goes on, when the recommendations come to you, you will have an opportunity to say, as the final arbiters, we thank the Community for this work. I will tell you that the history of this board over the last two decades has been the vast of recommendations from the Community committee have been approved by the board, but the board has also had what I would you know, you’d call line item veto ability where the board can say we really appreciate people’s thoughts around this one. But we really want to take this particular recommendation and not move it forward.” – Superintendent of Schools Dr. Matt Hillmann at the 2/10/2025 School Board Meeting
The final steps of the budget reduction process include a public input meeting on Tuesday, March 11 at 6pm to 8:30pm in the Northfield High School Auditorium. The board will consider the recommendations at its April 14 regular meeting and is anticipated to finalize the reductions at the April 28 regular meeting.
Will keep you posted on updates regarding the budget reduction process in the upcoming news.
Newscasts on KYMN air on weekdays at 6am, 7am, 8:30am, Noon, 3pm, and 5pm. If you miss it live, you can subscribe on your preferred podcast app:
> Click here to listen on Spotify
> Click here to listen on Apple Podcast
Do you have a news tip or press release? Send it to us email: Logan@kymnradio.net
