With the Carlton school district’s declining enrollments, falling test scores and budget deficit, the clock is winding down on the opportunity to save the Carlton schools. There is nothing like opportunity lost to cast a light on the Carlton school board’s approach to the recently proposed and abandoned consolidation discussions with Wrenshall. It was painful to watch.

Last September, by a 5-1 vote, the Carlton school board sent a letter to the Wrenshall board inviting a discussion on consolidation. “We are making this request without assumptions or prerequisites” the letter read. “We are prep...