Northfield Wants New School Buildings

Northfield Public Schools conducted a survey March 9 through April 6, using a ThoughtExchange survey. According to Northfield News, ThoughtExchange, which has been used in only one of the more than 330 school districts in the state, provides group insight services and software that allows communities like Northfield to have online conversations.

The message came through pretty clear. The high school and elementary school need to be replaced. Most respondents felt that repairs and upgrades were only band-aiding issues and making short-term fixes, when ultimately replacement needs to be done.

But a larger disagreement comes when the subject of how the replacement buildings would be paid for.

The school board will use the survey information to come up with a master plan over the summer. Northfield Director of Administrative Services and soon-to-be-superintendent Matt Hillmann said the start of any major projects is still at least 18-24 months out.