School surveys are due Monday

Residents of the Carlton and Wrenshall school districts received a community survey regarding consolidation talks and facility plans between the two districts earlier this month. Copies of the survey were mailed to school district residents and any parents/guardians of students who open-enroll into either district. Staff received the survey electronically.

In her report for Tuesday’s Carlton School Board meeting, Superintendent Gwen Carman said the consulting firm handling the survey had received 549 surveys from people in both districts as of Jan. 14.

Surveys are supposed to be completed by Jan. 27. The results of the survey will play a huge role in the future of the two districts and whether or not they will consolidate or continue to operate independently of each other. Each adult member of a household can answer their own survey.

Each printed copy also contains a unique survey access number that people can use if they would prefer to answer the questions online. People can also reach out to either district to request additional survey copies for other adult members of the household to fill out or additional online codes.

Carlton school district residents can call 218-384-4225, ext. 114 and Wrenshall school district residents can call 218-384-4274, ext. 2001 for more information.

The two school boards will get the results on Feb. 10, and they will be discussed publicly at a Feb. 11 joint board meeting at South Terrace Elementary School. The boards planned to meet at 1 p.m. today, Jan. 24, in Wrenshall with State Sen. Jason Rarick and Rep. Mike Sundin to discuss asking for state aid to help pay the costs of a possible consolidation.

The Minnesota Legislature begins is bonding session in early February.

If the surveys come back and residents are favorable to moving ahead with consolidation, acquiring the state funding would be the next step for the districts.