Districts move closer on consolidation

Things are back on track for the school consolidation moves by the Carlton and Wrenshall school districts after the Wrenshall board held a special school board meeting at 6:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 21.

The board revised two resolutions it passed Monday: removing a sentence in each that made the resolutions contingent on “the full support of the Carlton Board and Superintendent.”

The special meeting was called after Carlton Board member Tim Hagenah voted no on the resolutions during Carlton’s meeting Tuesday.

The revised resolutions referred to “clear support” from residents in both communities for consolidation using two sites, and directed administration to:

1.Seek approval by the legislature for enhanced state debt equalization aid for voter-approved facility bonds for the consolidated district;

2.Proceed with planning for a potential Aug. 11 facility referendum that would establish an elementary school at South Terrace in Carlton and a grades 6-12 secondary school in Wrenshall. The second resolution also included language that the neighboring districts would proceed to negotiate a formal consolidation plan should the referendum vote pass, with consolidation tentatively set for July 1, 2021.

“I feel good about it,” said Wrenshall board member Jack Eudy Friday. “We’re back on track. Both schools are moving forward.”