Wrenshall: City, school could share some burdens

The Wrenshall school board converged Monday on Holyoke, where board members watched a sudden downpour and a whistling train outside, and were met by Wrenshall mayor Gary Butala.

Butala agreed with the board that the city and school district ought to examine how to share snowplowing duties in the winter as well as fuel costs and access, already located on school district property.

“We would like to share if we could with the school,” Butala said, inviting board member Eric Ankrum, head of the school’s building and grounds committee, to the July city council meeting.

“We’ve gained a lot with partnerships and want to continue to benefit from that,” Ankrum said, citing shared services with Carlton, and other services, such as contracting community education administration from Esko last school year.

More than that, though, the board’s annual stop along County Road 8 in Holyoke meant a better understanding of the school district’s overall position.

The position is increasingly good.

Enrollment is climbing, forcing the district to split its upcoming kindergarten class, and as a result finances are stabilizing in ways unseen in recent years. A $250,000 loan to cover summer’s cash flow before the receipt of state aid monies ultimately wasn’t necessary, superintendent Jeff Pesta reported, meaning the money was being invested to offset interest until the bond repayment was due. It’s the third straight year the board secured the aid anticipation bond funding, and likely the last time it figures to be necessary.

“When we look at enrollment projections, you’re going to feel a whole lot better about the financial footing beneath you at the moment,” Pesta told the board, forecasting further positive developments.

After the board proposed in May the district’s 2024-25 budget expenditures of $6.64 million, based on 315 students, the news that enrollment was headed to the 335-336 area left the board comfortable in its projected $76,264 surplus for next school year.

The figure was based on $6.72 million in projected revenues.

The district also showed a $69,064 surplus on its 2023-24 budget expenditures of $6.68 million.

Extra enrollment beyond the 315 budget would mean state per-pupil funding headed into the Wrenshall coffers as positive, unaccounted-for revenues.

“This is a strategy we used last year very effectively,” board chair Mary Carlson said. “So, I’m glad that the board and administration leaned in again to underestimate … going super- conservative with the enrollment.”

Pesta noted how the district was picking up students in kindergarten, and second-, fourth-, sixth-, and eighth grades. With a target of 20 students, kindergarten was projected at 25 students, with even more student additions possible.

“If we’ve got 25 in kindergarten, I don’t need much discussing or convincing on that one,” Ankrum said about splitting the class by adding another teacher. “We just need to especially watch second and fourth grade right now; they’re already at plus-2.”

Target enrollments for second and fourth grades are 23 and 25 students, respectively, and projections are already at 25 and 27. To handle the possibilities, the board agreed to post for another elementary school teacher, in addition to another kindergarten instructor.

“We need to move with haste on this one,” board member Ben Johnson said of adding the teachers. “The school year is rapidly approaching and I’d hate to have a teacher setting up the night before classes start.”

The board has closed some elementary grades, creating waiting lists. But it also wants to create access for as many nearby Carlton students as possible. Carlton moved to a four-day school week for 2024-25 — something that leaves Wrenshall offering harbor for families seeking a full week.

“We’re hoping that especially for our Raptors students who feel like they want to be involved in a five-day-a-week school that they have a place to come be in a five-day-a-week school,” Carlson said. “We want our Raptors to stay as Raptors.”

Carlton and Wrenshall already cooperate in sports and some other activities, and the districts are engaged in consolidation negotiations, which are on hold through August. There were no developments on that front at the Holyoke meeting other than Wrenshall board members reiterating that full board meetings ought to commence before any further written communication unfolds.

New bus coming

The school board unanimously approved receipt of a $35,000 federal grant to help purchase a new propane school bus for use beginning in 2024-25. The propane bus would replace a diesel model that began failing last school year. A diesel is required to be turned in with acceptance of the grant, under the notion that propane fuel burns cleaner for the environment.

The district will lease to purchase the bus and will be faced with payments of roughly $1,800 per month for five years on a vehicle that costs approximately $130,000.

The board had rejected a similar grant proposal for an electric bus earlier in the year.

“It’s proven technology and still considered green,” Johnson said.

Four of seven buses in the fleet will be propane buses, Johnson added.