Carlton, Wrenshall schools report smooth starts

Reports to the school boards at Carlton and Wrenshall this week showed that the two small districts had relatively drama-free starts to the year despite intense pressure due to Covid-19 pandemic protocols.

In Wrenshall, the major hitch remains the continuing construction project to improve the heating and air conditioning in the elementary portion of the K-12 building. It is expected that the project will wrap up by early November.

Superintendent Kim Belcastro reported to the board that enrollment is slightly down from past years, at 367 students, but remains “strong.” She said at least eight families left the district, some physically and some by way of homeschooling. She said there are low numbers of children in early childhood education classes, which could indicate future enrollment slips, but thinks the pandemic is keeping many pre-kindergarten children home.

Wrenshall reports 187 students in the K-6 elementary grades and 180 in grades 7-12.

Belcastro reported a “strong start” to the year, saying to the board Monday that she’s careful to not be too rosy about how things are going because school under a pandemic has a host of challenges. She said the distance learning has had some stops and starts, but she remains hopeful that staff and students both in school and at home will adjust.

“What’s going on is going well,” she said.

Carlton has 397 students enrolled, interim superintendent John Engstrom reported Monday to the board. That’s up by about 15 students, he said. He said about 20 percent of students in both the high school and elementary are distance learning, 39 in the high school and 34 at South Terrace.

Engstrom said the first week of school went well with very few problems despite pandemic restrictions. He said the high school will adjust spacing at lunch and some hall passing times, all to avoid students getting too close to one another while in the school.

Consolidation pause

The status of funding from the state remains in limbo as the state legislature keeps meeting in special sessions and not passing a tax or bonding package. As things stand right now, the earliest the two districts could ask for a vote referendum on funding for consolidation improvements would be in February, although with the delayed passage at the capitol, a later vote is more likely.

A combined committee, made up of board members from Carlton and Wrenshall, will meet virtually at 5 p.m. Sept. 24. One topic up for discussion will be the financial impact study Carlton recently paid for to determine school tax effects a consolidation will have on property owners in the districts. Board members have said that while the latest impact study updates numbers, it still isn’t clear what the final impact will be until the boards decide on how to split debt should a consolidation plan be approved. Members said getting a clear message to voters on a referendum will be key to its result.