By Rich Larson
The Northfield School District has begun rebidding multiple portions of its “Imagine Northfield” high school project after initial construction bids came in significantly higher than expected earlier this spring.
Superintendent Dr. Matt Hillmann said 13 bid packages are now being sent back out, with new bids due in mid-June, following what he described as a “very difficult bid day” in March, when many project areas exceeded estimates by about 20 percent.
In response, district leaders and project partners have worked to reduce costs without altering the overall scope voters approved in the district’s 2024 referendum.
“People sometimes wonder, if the bids came in more, does that mean we’re going to pay more?” Hillmann said. “No, that is not what it means.”
Hillmann emphasized that Minnesota school districts operate under strict financial rules that prohibit spending beyond what voters authorized through property taxes. He said the district will stay within that limit and does not have the authority to increase taxpayer costs for the project.
“We cannot go past what the voters approved, and we will not,” he said.
To bridge the gap created by higher-than-expected bids, the district plans to use other available funding sources, including investment interest earned since the bond sale and existing long-term facilities maintenance funds. Those resources, Hillmann said, can help preserve the original vision of the project without increasing the tax burden.
The district has also adjusted its bidding strategy to improve competitiveness. In some cases, work previously bundled together—such as materials and labor—has been separated into different packages, which officials hope will attract more bidders and lower costs.
Some design modifications are also anticipated, though Hillmann said most changes will be subtle. For example, the exterior may use a higher proportion of metal instead of brick, a shift that reduces costs while maintaining performance and appearance.
“We’ve come back to the core question—what problems are we trying to solve?” Hillmann said. “We’re doing that within the budget that was set.”
Officials remain optimistic the rebidding process will yield more favorable results and keep the project aligned with voter expectations.
Rich Larson is the owner and General Manager of KYMN Radio. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net.
