Wrenshall enrollments exceed board expectations

For the first time in anyone's memory, Wrenshall school will head into the new school year with multiple sections of multiple elementary grades as enrollment continues to rise during the summer offseason.

A kindergarten split was approved in July as the class hit 25 prospective students. Last week, the board agreed to split fourth grade, as it approached 30 students. The board will vote at its Aug. 12 business meeting to post a job opening for a second fourth-grade teacher at the school.

"This is a good spot to be in," board member Ben Johnson said during a school board work session Aug. 1.

Enrollment for the 2024-25 school year has been rising steadily, with several new student applications on file as well as transcripts from students' previous home districts. Wrenshall does not count a prospective student until all paperwork is on file.

Prospective student enrollment has reached 340. Earlier this year, the board passed a conservative budget based on 315 students.

"It's trending so well, and looks so good for the budget, I would not put any caution on continuing to make the proactive moves you think you need to make," superintendent Jeff Pesta said.

His only hesitation was that any students leaving the district tend to do it later in the summer. Still, the work session yielded another nine prospective students - those on top of a similar report at the board's meeting in Holyoke last month.

"We're clearly well above the target and we've known that's been one to watch for a while now," board member Eric Ankrum said of the fourth grade split. "Second grade is still on that list and worth a discussion."

The board agreed to form an ad hoc committee to track second-grade enrollment in case it, too, needs to be split or, alternatively, have added paraprofessional help.

"We have some wiggle room and flexibility," principal Michelle Blanchard said about moving paraprofessionals where needed.

The Wrenshall school has three open classrooms available to grow into, board chair Mary Carlson said, adding that any new sections will be taught in the elementary area of the school.

"If we're splitting sections of elementary, we're going to keep those kids in the elementary wing," Carlson said.

In May, the board approved the district's 2024-25 budget expenditures of $6.64 million, based on 315 students. Recent weeks filled with news that enrollment was headed north has left the board comfortable in its projected $76,264 surplus for next school year.

Extra enrollment beyond the budgeted for 315 would mean more state-based, per-pupil aid funding becoming positive, unaccounted-for revenue for the district.

"We want to be careful, but this is very optimistic," Pesta told the board about rising enrollments. "In fact, they could trend even better."

Wrenshall's enrollment is rising at a time when neighboring Carlton's enrollment appears to be suffering following its move to a four-day school week.

The two districts are in negotiations to consolidate, though those talks have been suspended until the two boards can agree on a meeting between each full board.