Wrenshall investigation to wrap Aug. 24

The Wrenshall school board will convene for a special meeting Aug. 24 to hear results of an investigation into possible misconduct by the school’s information technology director.

The board will gather at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the school to learn what Edina-based Red Cedar Consulting found out during days of interviews related to a comment made by technology director Jaime Hopp.

Hopp is alleged to have profanely alluded to “killing” the district superintendent while in the staff lounge in June. Another district employee overheard the threat, which superintendent Kim Belcastro later reported to Carlton County authorities.

Hopp is not under criminal investigation, but has been on administrative leave since earlier this summer.

It’s been a costly endeavor for the district. The board agreed to a $10,000 cap on the investigation, and has had to approve additional spending related to addressing technology needs on the crest of a new school year.

Ongoing facility upgrades have also created an increased need for on-site technical expertise throughout construction.

Board member Jack Eudy expressed disgust with the process at the Aug. 3 committee of the whole meeting, calling for Hopp to be reinstated by a board vote.

“We need to get (her) back in the school, because all of this added stuff is costing us more money,” Eudy said. “It just doesn’t make sense to keep her out.”

Board chair Misty Bergman said the board didn’t have the authority to do anything further while the investigation was unfolding. The board approved the investigation June 30. Since then, other board members have lamented how long things have taken.

“I’m losing patience with this,” Eudy said Aug. 3. “I’ve never been so disgusted.”

In lieu of having its own technology director available, the district is relying on one of its teachers as well as outside help, including T.J. Smith, a technological consultant from Cloquet who charges $60 per hour, and Tech Check, a firm from Sartell, Minnesota, with which the district contracts to fill gaps left by its limitations.

Board member Ben Johnson wondered Aug. 3 if Smith’s fees were too much.

“Do you foresee any changes in your rates?” Johnson asked Smith, who attended the meeting via videoconferencing.

Smith explained his rates, and that he’d previously been technology director within the Wrenshall district. He gave examples of how he’d been able to spare the district costlier repairs and solutions in the past.

“I’m very familiar with systems in place at Wrenshall, and in my full-time job I’m technology director for Cloquet Public Schools,” Smith said. “This is what I do full-time, and I’ve got 20-plus years of experience I bring into what I do. I’m just here to help out until things can get a little more decided.”

District officials also described paying Tech Check $75,000 this year, a figure they said was double the normal annual outlay because of work associated with building renovations.

“Tech Check is technical support that Jaime consults with a lot, and also they do things to support her with things she’s not able to do,” Belcastro said during a special meeting July 27.

“We use them a fair amount, but really used them a lot when we were under construction,” Belcastro added.

Bergman stressed patience, and said that John Edison, the district’s attorney, recommended staying the course by relying on outside contractors.

In addition to setting up Chromebook computers used by every student, the school requires its internet, desktop computer network and phone system to be maintained by technology services.

“We’re all kind of concerned about our technology needs getting met before school starts,” Bergman said Aug. 8. “We should be able to get some answers from the investigation if we hang in there for another two weeks.”