In this week's video, Superintendent Chris Richardson talks about a recent visit he and other area superintendents had with Republican Congressman John Kline, who represents the Second Congressional District in Minnesota. Richardson said the group talked about school safety and the ramifications of sequestration. Follow Northfield Patch on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | Sign up for our free newsletter

After a proposed calendar to start school on Aug. 13 was voted down by the Northfield School Board last month, the school district plans to host a series of public meetings to discuss potential calendar options for the future. Superintendent Chris Richardson said the board wants to continue researching calendars from around the world and speak with the Northfield community about what's important to them and what would help students the most. The first meeting is scheduled for 7-9 p.m. March 7 in the upper cafeteria at the Northfield High School. Two more meetings will follow on April 2 and 30…

In this week's video, Superintendent Chris Richardson addresses the push from both Gov. Mark Dayton and the Legislature to move school districts to have all-day, everyday kindergarten for students. The Minnesota Senate introduced a bill early in the session with an eye on the initiative; it's been sitting in the Finance Committee since. Because kindergarten education isn't fully funded by the state right now, many districts offer half-time options with the opportunity for full-time kindergarten through a tuition program, which Northfield does.  Check out what Richardson has to say about the …

After a proposed calendar to start school on Aug. 13 was voted down by the Northfield School Board last month, the school district plans to host a public meeting to discuss potential calendar options for the future. Superintendent Chris Richardson said the board wants to continue researching calendars from around the world and speak with the Northfield community about what's important to them and what would help students the most. The meeting is scheduled for 7-9 p.m. March 7 in the upper cafeteria at the Northfield High School. Follow Northfield Patch on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | Sign …

In this video, Superintendent Chris Richardson talks about short- and long-term security changes administration and the Northfield School Board are considering. Given the heightened awareness around school security following the December shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut, Richardson said the district started looking at what could be done differently in Northfield. Also following the shooting, there were security concerns at both the middle and high school. In the short term, Richardson said all buildings except for Sibley Elementary, where visitors to the school have to be …

In this video, Superintendent Chris Richardson talks about the upcoming public meetings to discuss leasing and distributing tablet computers to the district's students. The proposal includes a 1:1 tablet computer initiative for students in sixth through 12th grade and a pod-based approach at elementary schools using a ratio of one device for every three and a half students.  Faculty and staff have been using tablets—iPads—this school year. The school board last year approved a plan to integrate tablets into the district. District officials were hopeful to eventually get a tablet in the hands …

In this video, Superintendent Chris Richardson talks about Schools for Equity in Education, an organization made up of 62 school districts, including Northfield, which has a goal of helping all Minnesota school districts provide "high-quality education to students" and help with "property tax fairness for all the taxpayers of the districts." School district funding and property tax reform were highlighted in Governor Mark Dayton's proposed budget this week, which focuses on a tax overhaul to balance the state's projected $1.1 billion budget shortfall. Richardson said a video created by SEE …

In this video, Superintendent Chris Richardson talks about the Northfield School Board's decision on Monday to change the district's approach to the annual Eagle Bluff trip. The Environmental Learning Center overnight trip, traditionally taken in the fall by Northfield Middle School seventh-graders, will now be split into two options as the district's incoming seventh-grade class is too large to follow the previous procedure. Now the trip, aimed at offering environmental learning and team building, will have two components: day trips in the fall for all interested students during school and …

The Northfield School Board on Monday voted unanimously to direct administration to stop pursuing a balanced calendar for next school year and to cancel the upcoming public meetings regarding the balanced calendar, which were scheduled for this week and next week. The proposed calendar would have started school on Aug. 13. In addition, the board directed administration to develop a strategy to engage the community in an ongoing discussion looking at different calendar options for the future.  In this week's video, Superintendent Chris Richardson talks about the board's decision. Read other …

In this week's video, Superintendent Chris Richardson talks about the Minnesota Legislature starting its new session and how it could affect Northfield schools. With the DFL in control of the Legislature, Richardson said Minnesota could see changes in how school funding is approached and how property taxes are handled, both moves he believes could benefit schools and taxpayers. Representing Northfield in the Minnesota House are David Bly (D-District 20B) and Pat Garofalo (R-District 58B); in the Minnesota Senate, Kevin Dahle (D-District 20) and Dave Thompson (R-District 58) represent …

In this week's video, Superintendent Chris Richardson talks about the upcoming meetings to talk about Transformational Technology (iPads for students and staff), the proposed modified "balanced" calendar and the Eagle Bluff trip for seventh-graders. Northfield Public Schools will host a series of public meetings during January and February to get community feedback regarding the three aforementioned topics coming before the Board of Education. See Richardson talk about the calendar changes See Richardson talk about the Eagel Bluff trip The meeting schedule is as follows: Saturday, January 5th…

In this week's video, Superintendent Chris Richardson talks about how it is decided if school should be delayed or canceled. Follow Northfield Patch on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | Sign up for our free newsletter

In this week's video, Superintendent Chris Richardson talks about the district's decision on how to, if at all, continue with its annual Eagle Bluff overnight trip for Northfield Middle School seventh-graders. The district is faced with a few larger middle-school classes in the next few years, which presents possible issues with how the trip has been approached in the past. Typically, Richardson said about one-third of students opt out of the trip, but with more students, there still may be too many students for the limited space at Eagle Bluff, an Environmental Learning Center in Lanesboro…

Editor's note: The school district will host three public meetings to discuss the proposed calendar changes with the community. UPDATED: Friday, Jan. 11: The district has released more information about the proposed calendar, including start and end dates of the school year. _____________ In this week's video, Superintendent Chris Richardson talks about the district's exploration of a "balanced calendar," which could see next school year start in mid-August and end around Memorial Day. The focus of the balanced calendar, according to Richardson, would be to "align instructional periods, …

In this week's video, Superintendent Chris Richardson talks about preparing new school board member Rob Hardy, who was elected for a four-year term in November. Follow Northfield Patch on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | Sign up for our free newsletter 

In this week's video, Superintendent Chris Richardson talks about the school board authorizing refunding bonds. Follow Northfield Patch on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | Sign up for our free newsletter 

In this week's video, Superintendent Chris Richardson talks the Response to Intervention program. Follow Northfield Patch on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | Sign up for our free newsletter 

In this week's video, Superintendent Chris Richardson talks about updated enrollment numbers and how the district uses those numbers to plan for its budget for the 2013-14 school year. Follow Northfield Patch on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | Sign up for our free newsletter 

In this week's video, Superintendent Chris Richardson talks about how the schools respond to possible threats in the community, including Monday's armed robbery and subsequent manhunt. Follow Northfield Patch on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | Sign up for our free newsletter 

In this week's video, Superintendent Chris Richardson talks about changes to the Community Services Division. Follow Northfield Patch on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | Sign up for our free newsletter