Superintendent interviews planned

The Wrenshall school board, half of it newly elected and installed, got straight to work on Monday, setting the table for four superintendent interviews as the district looks to replace outgoing part-time superintendent Jeff Pesta.

The board members, including newcomers Jon Beck, Ashley Laveau and Erin Riley, decided unanimously to interview all four candidates who were presented to the board by Pesta, whose last day is June 30.

"If we have all four, we get a better idea of where we want to go," board member and vice chair Eric Ankrum said.

"It's absolutely worth our time" to interview all four candidates, Riley said.

The interviews will be held during a special meeting of the board beginning at 5 p.m. Monday in the school's media center.

The candidates include Frank Schill, currently a superintendent in North Dakota, Paul Grams, currently a superintendent in Minnesota, Jeremy Rupp, a current member of Duluth Public Schools administration, and Tom Rich, a retired superintendent from Wisconsin.

The board posted for an "interim half-time superintendent" in December, and the posting closed on Tuesday prior to the board meeting. The job posting outlined compensation in the $75,000 to $85,000 range, and sought expertise in operations, strategic planning and financial management. A new superintendent would start work July 1 - the start of the 2025-26 school year.

Wrenshall continues to be engaged in consolidation discussions with neighboring Carlton. It's not clear yet what role the next superintendent will play in consolidation. Pesta has been directed to focus on operations, with the board leading consolidation discussions that have been mostly cool since last spring.

"Four is very exciting," board chair Mary Carlson said of the candidate pool. "I feel great about four."

Carlson was reinstalled for a second straight year as board chair early in Monday's meeting. She, Pesta and the previous board are seen as being responsible for balancing the district's budget and reversing a trend of declining student enrollment.

"You're looking for someone who will keep your momentum going," Pesta said of the next superintendent.

Pesta was responsible for identifying candidates through a contract between the district and his outside agency, Rising Tide School Board Services. When the board sought a request for proposals in December 2023 to look for a new superintendent, Pesta's firm - which he started after retiring as superintendent of Deer River - was the lowest by far of three bids, Carlson explained during the meeting.

The district's success with Pesta at the helm for the past two years has left the board feeling comfortable about working with another part-time superintendent.

In lieu of a full-time superintendent, the district has also posted for an assistant principal to bolster day-to-day administration and operations.

For new board members, the organizational meeting and work session to start their careers came and went in a flourish.

At one point, Carlson asked board members to share two or three items that were personal to each of the board members and that they'd like to address during their terms.

Laveau tabbed consolidation, improved school safety and better dyslexia resources in the school as her passions. Riley sought to sharpen the district's value and mission statements along with progressing on consolidation, while Beck brought more day-to-day concerns, seeking better water consistency on public faucets throughout the school building, as well as another parent-related concern.

"I'm looking at whether or not we can get a single app for parent-teacher communication," he said. "So parents with multiple kids don't have to use three apps to talk with their teachers."

Beck's request for streamlined parent communication drew calls of approval from his peers.

Returning board members Ben Johnson and Ankrum both said they were eager to better equip the Career and Technical Education program. Johnson added he wants to create a pathway to bring more grant funding into the school, while Ankrum wants to tackle a new generation of building improvements and "continue the forward momentum we have," he said, related to enrollment, consolidation and overall district success.

Carlson said she wants to be part of the board that completes consolidation, and also to bring a therapy dog into the district.

"I have seen what animals can do for students," said Carlson, a horse enthusiast.

The board unanimously approved compensation for its members, approving a continuation of the $1,000 annual stipend for board members.

"It's practically volunteer service," Pesta said, encouraging a stipend. "But it shouldn't be costing you money to be on the board."

Superintendent interviews

The first round of finalist interviews will be on Jan. 13 and is open to the public. Staff and community members will have the opportunity to submit feedback to the board during a second round session to be determined. All interviews will be conducted in the Wrenshall Media Center.

5 p.m. Monday

Dr. Frank Schill

• Currently employed as the superintendent of the Edmore School District in North Dakota.

• Previously served as the superintendent of the Cavalier School District in North Dakota.

• Licensed as a superintendent in Minnesota and North Dakota.

5:45 p.m. Monday

Paul Grams

• Currently serving as the superintendent of the Kelliher School District in Minnesota.

• Previously served as the superintendent of the McGregor (Minnesota) School District.

• Licensed as a superintendent in Minnesota.

6:30 p.m. Monday

Dr. Jeremy Rupp

• Currently employed as the districtwide coordinator for community education, integration specialist and Achievement Center coordinator for Duluth Public School District.

• Currently serving as the contract director of community education for Lake Superior School District.

• Licensed community education director and a Minnesota superintendent licensure candidate.

7:15 p.m. Monday

Tom Rich

• Recently retired as the superintendent of the Prairie Farm School District in Wisconsin.

• Previously served as the superintendent of the Melrose School District in Minnesota.

• Licensed as a superintendent in Wisconsin.