By Rich Larson
Northfield school board members will gather Monday evening for a special meeting focused on a major construction project at Northfield High School, long‑term budget planning and the next steps in the search for the district’s next superintendent.
The meeting begins at 5:15 p.m. in the Northfield District Office boardroom and will open with consideration of bids for the Reimagine Northfield High School project. Representatives from Wold Architects and Knutson Construction are scheduled to present results of the bidding process on the voter‑approved renovation project. The board is expected to act on four of the 23 trade package contracts, representing a total award of $26.5 million. The bids include work for structural concrete, precast concrete, roofing, and site demolition, earthwork and utilities.
District finances will also be back before the board as administrators provide a follow‑up to earlier financial forecasting discussions. Superintendent Matthew Hillmann and Finance Director Val Mertesdorf are expected to outline potential budget restorations and proposed administrative restructuring for the 2026–27 school year. While no action is planned Monday, the proposal is scheduled to return for a vote at the April 13 regular board meeting.
A significant portion of the meeting will center on the superintendent search. Board members will review results from the Northfield Public Schools community survey, presented by Amy Jordan of the Minnesota School Boards Association, and compare them with board feedback to identify shared priorities. The board is also expected to decide how community members and staff may provide input during the interview process.
In addition, MSBA officials will provide interview training for board members, who will then review and refine draft first‑round interview questions and confirm the upcoming interview schedule. Special meetings later in April are planned to identify finalists and conduct first‑ and final‑round interviews, with a contract approval tentatively slated for early May.
The meeting is also available to view online at the Northfield Public Schools website.
Rich Larson is the owner and General Manager of KYMN Radio. Contact him at kymnradio.net
