Contract extension causes consolidation worries

Despite worries it would create another obstacle to consolidation with Wrenshall, Carlton school board members voted 4-2 Monday to extend business manager Angela Lind’s contract through June 2027.

The three-year contract included a pay increase, and a year’s wages and benefits if the two districts consolidate during her contract and Lind is not selected as business manager for the new district. Lind was previously business manager for Wrenshall, which did not renew her contract in June 2023.

Wrenshall school board members previously expressed a desire to have all staff and administration apply for jobs in the new district with a consolidated board to make hiring decisions.

Consolidation talks appeared to slow down after Carlton approved a contract with its superintendent, Donita Stepan, paying her $140,000 annually through July 2026. There is currently no target date for consolidation, and sides were expected to resume discussions this fall following a cooling off period over the summer.

Two audience members spoke Monday, both addressing the business manager contract.

Rachel Swanson said she’s been following the consolation process and pointed out that contracts have been a sticking point between the two districts.

“I feel offering an extended contract to the business manager position … will be another impediment to consolidation talks,” Swanson said. “I feel as a struggling school district we need to be mindful of our actions and how they will affect consolidation talks. I understand not wanting to start a new district with totally new administration and supervisory staff, but at some point you’ll have to trust the new board to take the reins.”

Hold up

Resident and regular attendee Tommy Jacobson, who recorded the meeting and has posted it to the Wrenshall/Carlton Better Together Facebook page, brought up both the length of the contract and the 12-month severance package, calling it a “potential speed bump” in the road to consolidation. He expressed hopes that the board would discuss the contract before voting.

Jacobson got that wish.

After board chairwoman Julianne Emerson called for and got a motion and second to approve Lind’s contract, board member Laura Nilsen motioned to postpone the vote so board members could discuss the contract and its possible effect on consolidation talks at the next work session.

Board members had received a copy of Lind’s contract only Monday morning, the day of the school board meeting, Nilsen said.

Past business manager contracts have always been for two years, she added.

“It’s important to review this,” she said. “I believe we should go to a two-year contract.”

When board member Sam Ojibway asked if previous business manager contracts included a year’s severance package, Emerson said yes.

“It’s the same as with previous business managers,” Emerson said. “It’s been in place ever since consolidation was discussed.”

While Emerson was correct that severance pay was included, the previous business manager’s contract included only a $25,000 payment in case of job loss due to consolidation, and no benefit extension.

Lind’s contract includes severance pay equal to 12 months salary to be made in a lump sum 30 days after termination, plus health insurance and other benefits for up to 12 months, or until she secures new employment, whatever comes first.

Lind’s new pay is also substantially higher than the $61,000 she was making last year and higher than that offered to the previous business manager. Lind’s pay starts this school year at $81,087, increases to $84,330 next year and $87,703 in the third year. The previous business manager would have topped out at $63,000 after eight years.

The process

Emerson spoke at length about the committee process.

“This is the recommendation of the finance committee. Her contract is up,” Emerson said. “It’s not anything unusual, out of the ordinary or different.”

Lind has less staff support in the business office than did the previous business manager and is working “extensive hours,” Emerson said.

“Our district administration has been working at a [lower staffing] level with all the same issues and concerns,” she said, asserting the finance committee “vetted” the contract and considered what the district could afford.

Board member Ryan Leonzal had high praise for Lind, but advocated strongly for a two-year contract. He worried that the “optics” of the three-year contract might make people think the Carlton board wasn’t really interested in consolidation.

“I get concerned … we’re making decisive moves that are putting us further away instead of closer [to consolidation] or just being a community with open arms,” he said.

The superintendent quickly replied that no one was talking about not consolidating.

“We still have every intention of moving forward,” Stepan said of consolidation. She stressed that quality business managers are difficult to find and she was 100 percent in support of the new contract terms.

“We’re making decisions for Carlton right now because that’s who we are,” Stepan said. “We’re not making decisions for Wrenshall.”

After losing the vote to delay the contract decision, Nilsen and Leonzal voted no to Lind’s contract while board members Emerson, Ojibway, Sue Karp and Eryn Szymczak voted yes. Karp and Szymczak did not weigh in on the discussion.

Work ahead

After the meeting, Nilsen said it was unfortunate a board work session originally scheduled for Sept. 9 was canceled due to a lack of “pressing topics,” because she would have liked more advance notice and discussion about the contract, which she received at 11:15 a.m. Monday. Additionally, she noted the district isn’t offering teachers or staff severance packages, even for employees who’ve been with the district for decades.

But her biggest worry is getting consolidation talks back on track, after the two districts agreed to take the summer off after various disagreements on everything from contracts to who can speak for each district.

“From a community member standpoint, I just love the small-district feel. Even with Wrenshall and Carlton combined, they’ll still get that small-district feel as the Raptors, and still be afforded many, many opportunities,” Nilsen said. “But I’m very worried about the foreseeable future of our district, with the way things continue to operate.”

Following Monday’s meeting, Stepan said enrollment is fairly steady. The district budgeted for 295 students K-12 and had 291 as of this week (or 308 if early childhood students are counted).

Numbers will be in flux until about October, Stepan said, stating that three new students had enrolled Tuesday.