Levy could be renewed; Hagenah resigns

Carlton superintendent John Engstrom asked the Carlton school board to renew the current operating levy for another seven years. The per-student levy has helped Carlton with general operating expenses and was voter-approved twice. The Minnesota Legislature now allows school boards to renew, on their own authority, a voter-approved operating levy.

Since the funding is based on enrollment numbers, the actual amount each year varies, but in 2022, it meant roughly $400,000. Engstrom was not enthusiastic about asking for an increase to this amount, which would require voter approval.

“Sure, it’d be nice to have more [funding] per kid,” he said. “But the key thing is, we need kids. We need more kids more than we need more money per kid.”

Only four board members were present at the committee of the whole meeting Monday, but there was no opposition voiced and plenty of support for the idea. Board member Tim Hagenah has resigned, and Sam Ojibway was absent.

Hangenah’s resignation was noted by Engstrom but not explained. “Thanks to Tim for 23 years of service,” Engstrom said, calculating that Hagenah had attended 550 meetings. Engstrom said he assumed Hagenah simply felt he had served the district and his time was done.

The board now has the option to appoint a replacement or hold a special election no later than November. The winner of a special election would then serve the remainder of Hagenah’s term, which would be one year.

Shop class returns

Counselor Amanda Radtke announced a plan to bring an industrial arts class back into the curriculum. It would be, she said, a “one-hour-a-day shop class.”

“We don’t have anything currently, and we have a lot of kids who need something hands-on,” she said. She knows of at least one area person qualified and willing to teach the building trades class part-time. Engstrom said that because it comes under Career and Tech Education, the class is eligible for 30-percent reimbursement from the state.

Board chairwoman Julianne Emerson was approving, but cautioned that other areas, such as art, were also lacking at Carlton.

“We’re still working on closing the gap in terms of our debt,” Emerson said, explaining that she was going along with the new shop class because the reimbursement made the move economical. Carlton does have one other CTE class, welding, which is taught online except for seven lessons that take place at Lake Superior College.

Employment matters

Carlton now has two vacancies in administrative staff. Business manager Norm Nelis has accepted a position at Hermantown Public Schools, and the district has now posted an opening for an American Indian education coordinator to replace Kevin Kot.

Substitute teachers will be getting raises unless the board changes its mind by next week.

“It’s been a struggle to get subs,” Engstrom said. Substitute teacher pay in Carlton is behind other area school districts by $30 to $60 dollars per day. Carlton pays its subs $115 per day. Engstrom recommends bumping the daily rate to $150, which is what Cloquet pays for substitutes. There appeared to be broad agreement on the raise, which could come up at next week’s school board meeting.