Board approves formal consolidation outreach

One step at a time. After broaching the subject of consolidation again last week, Wrenshall school board members voted unanimously Monday to send a formal letter to the Carlton School Board with the goal of reopening consolidation talks between the neighboring (and both struggling) school districts.

Wrenshall board member Mary Carlson said they planned to get the letter requesting a joint work session to the Carlton board as soon as possible, hoping the Carlton would get it on their agenda for Aug. 21. At least two Wrenshall board members plan to be there, she added.

The letter cited the successful merging of sports and activities between the schools that began in full last school year.

“Our sports co-op is actively demonstrating how well the districts can work together,” the proposed letter says. “Consolidation will allow our districts to better serve our students and community.”

Consolidation talks between the districts have been on-again, off-again for decades, including most recently in 2021, when the Carlton board voted to pause ongoing negotiations.

During the meeting Monday, Superintendent Jeff Pesta suggested that Wrenshall might have better-than-expected financial news entering the new school year, also good news for any consolidation talks.

Even with cuts made by the board earlier this year, the district ended the financial year on June 30 with a deficit of roughly $140,000.

However, by going back over the different district assigned funds along with different revenue opportunities with the business manager being contracted from the McGregor school district, Pesta said they have whittled that deficit down to $42,000.

He cited some of the “moves” they made or are considering, for example, paying part of the Community Ed director’s salary from a different pot of money due to different duties. They also got permission from the state to claim some expenses that didn’t make the June 30 deadline for sunsetting ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency pandemic relief) federal funds. Wrenshall also didn’t receive any revenue from the safe schools levy, he said, surmising either the report wasn’t filed or there was an error.

“There are still moves we can make before the audit,” he said, explaining that even though the fiscal year ended, they have about two months to “make corrections on funds that are mobile.”

By the time the audit begins in September, Pesta said, he’s hoping the general fund balance will be slightly in the black.

“It sure feels a whole lot better to be in the black than the red,” he said, explaining that each year the district closes in the black, the easier it is to build a fund balance.

Technology contract

Board members unanimously approved a 36-month contract, at $6,700 a month with Citon Computer Corporation for technology services on the recommendation of the superintendent, who said the board needed to trust the process they followed to explore alternatives after the previous technology director was dismissed last September. The contract includes computer support, preventative maintenance, anti-virus and anti-ransomware software, and security services for all district computers, smart boards, phone system, servers, security cameras and any other infrastructure.

Wrenshall had previously used a part-time IT director who was fired, plus it contracted with former IT director T.J. Smith (who left to work for Cloquet schools) at $60 an hour. The district paid Tech Check — a firm from Sartell, Minnesota that provided technical support — $75,000 in 2022, which was double the normal outlay due to construction of the CTE building, according to administration. The new contract replaces all those measures.

“There’s historically been a gap not only in protection from cyberthreats but also in efficiency and making it the resource needed for instruction,” Pesta said. “This also prevents you from having internal tech staff expenses … this is all in one.”

He said Citon would either adapt the contract or allow the district to cancel if Wrenshall and Carlton decide to consolidate over the next three years.

“How much do we spend and what’s the cost of not doing it? The cost most likely is much greater by not putting the systems in place,” Pesta said.

In other news Monday, board member Ben Johnson shared good news Monday, announcing the fundraising campaign to buy a new basketball scoreboard with a shot clock — as required by the state — met its $36,000 goal.