By Logan Wells, News Director | Logan@kymnradio.net
This week, during the news we will focus on a different topic each day related to the budget reductions in the Northfield Public Schools focusing on the different proposals and answering some of the most asked questions.
Stories in This Series:
- Listen To More: An In-Depth Look At the Northfield Public Schools Budget Reductions
- 3/10/2025: Northfield Public Schools Publishes Budget Reduction Proposals; Public Forum Rescheduled to April 3rd
- 3/24/2025: With the Northfield Schools Budget Cuts, Why is the District Continuing High School Construction Project?
- 3/25/2025: What Happens To The Ice Arena Agreement With the School District Budget Reductions?
- 3/26/2026: What is being proposed in the Elementary Schools Budget Reductions
- 3/27/2025: What is Being Proposed for Budget Reductions at the Middle School, High School, and ALC
- 3/28/2025: Fee Increases are the Primary Item in the Activities Package of Budget Reductions
Today, we are reviewing the proposed budget reductions for the Elementary schools. A total of $1.3 million in cuts is being proposed, which is proportional to the overall $6 million in cuts.
The largest item being proposed and making up $1.1 million dollars in reductions is reducing nine full-time teachers across the three elementary schools. This would adjust the classroom size targets to 20 students for Kindergarten, 24 students for 1st – 3rd grade, and 27 students for 4th – 5th grade. With the reduction in regular classroom teachers, their is also a smaller reduction of specialist teachers needed.
The other reductions are all significantly smaller dollar items but include eliminating the student council advisory stipend and reducing the band/orchestra supply budget.
Northfield School Board member Ben Miller reminded the community that these cuts have impacts on the students and staff:
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“You know, at the end of the day, we’re talking about class sizes and that’s important, but these are 9 positions, 9 people that you know went into this profession because they’ve got a passion for it, and you know it at the end of the day we have. These are people who may not come back next fall, right? … You know, I want to acknowledge that obviously all of this is, you know, we’re talking about numbers and cost and all, but there’s a very human aspect as well.” – Ben Miller, School Board Member, KYMN News Special
These proposals are not yet final, and the district is looking for feedback and input on the items. The main opportunity to comment will be at a public forum at 6pm on Thursday, April 3rd at the Northfield Middle School. At the beginning will be a budget presentation at 6pm. Starting at 6:30pm will be Small Group Discussions with board members and administrators from 6:30pm till 7:45pm. For the rest of the meeting, till 8:30pm public comment will be available in the auditorium again.
You can also share your input by emailing the board at board@northfieldschools.org
View the full budget recommendations here:
Tomorrow we will be reviewing the budget reductions in the Secondary package which includes the middle schools, high school, and the ALC
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