Wrenshall picks principal

The Wrenshall school board opted for a very familiar face when it comes to hiring a principal for the next school year. Board president Michelle Blanchard was chosen last week after the board interviewed three candidates.

The position is being created as superintendent Kim Belcastro goes to a part-time role solely as superintendent, giving up her time in principal duties at the school. The board cut the dean of students position for a fulltime K-12 principal, eventually saving money in the new administrative structure.

Blanchard is a Wrenshall graduate with a master’s degree in education. She coached and substitute-taught at Wrenshall before being hired by the Duluth school district. She is currently the dean of students at Denfeld High School. Blanchard will stay on the school board until August, when the board is expected to appoint someone to serve the remainder of her term, which is up in January 2023. Blanchard will take on the principal job July 1, the fiscal start of the 2021-2022 school year. She took no part in the hiring process since she was a candidate.

“Michelle was clearly the top candidate,” Belcastro said this week.