Our View: Consolidation is suddenly on the ballot

With the surprise entry of Barnum into the Carlton School Board consolidation talks this week and the uproar that followed, it would seem that consolidation really is on the ballot in Carlton on Nov. 5.

While there is no formal question for voters, there is a clear choice between the five candidates for Carlton School Board in terms of whether or not they support continuing consolidation talks with Wrenshall.

Board members pretty much staked out their positions during Monday’s Carlton School Board meeting.

Chairwoman and candidate Julianne Emerson — who initiated the discussions with Barnum along with Carlton superintendent Donita Stepan — is clearly looking to Barnum. So is fellow incumbent candidate Erin Szymczak, who made a motion Monday to explore consolidation with Barnum and expressed dissatisfaction with the Wrenshall negotiations.

Incumbent Ryan Leonzal argued passionately during this week’s meeting for not abandoning talks with Wrenshall. Challengers Ben Nilsen and Dan Solarz are of like mind — so much so that the three created yard signs implying their joint support for continuing the process with Wrenshall. Additionally, a reread of the Carlton School Board answers in last week’s Pine Knot voters guide (pages 26-27) is worth a person’s time, in light of Monday’s news.

To consolidate or not to consolidate is not the question at this point in the life of the Carlton School District, it’s with whom.

We at the Pine Knot can see advantages of consolidation between Carlton and Wrenshall, Carlton and Barnum, and also Carlton, Wrenshall and Barnum. Superintendents cost a lot, so do finance directors, principals and other administrators. These are also vitally important jobs, so why not join forces — and hire one good superintendent, one very competent finance director to serve a larger district?

But if consolidation is ever going to be a solution, the power struggles will need to stop.

Talks must be in good faith, something many (including us) have occasionally questioned in the long saga between Carlton and Wrenshall. It seems like there have always been personalities that clash and get in the way of completing the deal.

Leonzal suggested maybe the board members should try acting more like their Raptors students.

“I’m watching what these kids are doing, and what they are setting up and what they are choosing to spend their time doing, and they are doing remarkable things and they’re doing it together, and they’re doing it in a manner that I really wish some of the adults could emulate,” he said. “If the adults could [persevere as much as] these kids, this would have been done a long time ago. Instead, we’re counting on our kids to show us that, holy buckets, we can do this.”

Carlton voters, the cards are on the table and you have a choice to make.