Wrenshall School Board makes another pick to fill open seat

The Wrenshall school board completed its do-over on the appointment of a new school board member last week. Eight candidates applied for the spot, including Ben Johnson, Karola Dalen, Cindy Bourn, Tony Sheda, Brandon Burt, Caroline Johnson, Janaki Fisher-Merritt and Ethan Harvey.

The second appointment came after more than 200 community members submitted a petition to recall Bill Dian, the person the board appointed in August without holding any public interviews or extended board discussion.

This time the board held public interviews in a special session following the Committee of the Whole meeting Oct. 13. The special session was only to interview candidates for - and appoint a new board member to fill - the open seat made vacant when board member Michelle Blanchard resigned in August to become principal of the Wrenshall schools.

The eight candidates had completed written applications for the board position. Sheda withdrew at the beginning of the special session. Each of the remaining seven sat before the board to briefly answer a set of questions posed by Wrenshall superintendent Kim Belcastro. Her questions were said to be designed to help evaluate each candidate's availability to do the work of the board, and their understanding of how school boards work together to make and support decisions.

When the individual interviews were completed, with no interaction between the candidates and the board, members were asked by chairman Jack Eudy to make nominations. Three of the candidates - Harvey, Bourn and Johnson - were nominated by Nicole Krisak, Alice Kloepfer and Debra Washenesky. There was a bit of an awkward silence until a person in the crowd suggested that Eudy ask for seconds on the nominations. Of the three nominations, only Bourn received a second. There was no call for discussion after the second and Bourn was voted in, 4-1. Only Krisak opposed. Misty Bergman joined Eudy, Kloepfer and Washenesky in favor of Bourn's appointment.

Bourn will be eligible to be sworn in seated after 30 days, or at the November regular meeting of the board.

She did not return a call from the Pine Knot News requesting comments on her appointment. When asked during her board interview about her previous volunteer service to the Wrenshall school district or the community, Bourn said, "I served on the (Wrenshall Schools) facility subcommittee for a year, working towards a third referendum." She added that outside of Wrenshall she has "served on multiple boards, had multiple roles and responsibilities in decision making (and) construction projects," as well as having served on the executive committee of her church board. Bourn previously ran for Wrenshall School Board in 2018, but was not elected.

Also in the last week:

• Superintendent Kim Belcastro reported Wrenshall school district enrollment was at 375 students (175 elementary, 200 secondary). Five students have had confirmed cases of Covid-19 this school year, including a member of the football team, exposing nine additional students who were then sent home. The football team has forfeited its past four games and will not field a team for the playoffs.

• Belcastro recommended the school nurse's hours be expanded to meet Covid-19 needs, and the district hire an additional long-term substitute paraprofessional as well as a four-hour-per-day cafeteria worker.

• Custodial and maintenance staff are receiving training and certification to support the school's new boiler system. Two custodians were officially hired at the regular board meeting on Monday.

• Belcastro reminded board members that the board investigation report, stemming from a contentious meeting on Covid mitigation rules at the school in August, may be viewed only in the district office.

• Belcastro told the board that ongoing construction projects are making progress, with the gymnasium nearly complete and already usable. The multipurpose room should be usable by the end of November and cafeteria work is proceeding. Phase 3 planning for the industrial and graphic arts areas is underway, with work expected to commence in January and be complete by the end of May.

• On Monday, the board approved the district's 2021-2026 strategic plan.