By Logan Wells, News Director | Logan@kymnradio.net
Last week, we covered a series of stories related to the Northfield Public Schools budget reductions. Today, we continue that series ahead of the district’s public input meeting tonight.
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
- 4/1/2025: What is Being Proposed for the Budget Reductions for the District Services
Today we are reviewing the Special Services package of budget recommendations. Among the most significant recommendations are eliminating six special educational assistant positions and replacing them with one special education teacher. Three of the special educational assistant positions are currently vacant, and Superintendent Dr. Matt Hillmann noted that this was one example of the district trying to maintain support while reducing the budget:
“That’s partially just because of a difficult labor market there and we have been able to get some special education teachers. So that’s, I think, a creative way of reducing the budget while still providing that direct services to students in a different way.” – Dr. Matt Hillmann, Superintendent of the Northfield Public Schools, KYMN News Special
Another major reduction is the elimination of three RN/LPN School Nurses and replacing them with health aides. Hillmann says this would reduce the total number of licensed school nurses in half. He stated that health aides are trained but not licensed like school nurses.
“And so you would put in tandem a licensed nurse and a health aide. They would share buildings and work on supporting students’ health needs.” – Dr. Matt Hillmann, Superintendent of the Northfield Public Schools, KYMN News Special
Other reductions include reducing 1 FTE of English learner teachers, reducing the hours of several positions, and reallocating positions to different funds. The full list of budget reduction recommendations is on our website in today’s news.
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