Wrenshall investigation leaves tech dilemma

An investigation into employee misconduct figures to end soon, but not before disrupting the start of the school year within the Wrenshall School District.

At a time when Chromebooks and computers need to come online for teachers and roughly 350 students, the district’s information technology director is on administrative leave.

Jaime Hopp is under investigation for profanely alluding to “killing” the superintendent in the staff lounge in June. Another district employee overheard the threat, which superintendent Kim Belcastro later reported to Carlton County authorities.

School board and district officials Wednesday, July 27 talked briefly about interim technology solutions, but moved any votes to begin next week.

“Things are really picking up right now,” Belcastro said of the ramp-up to the school year, adding later: “What’s been unfortunate is how long the situation has taken, I think we all know that.”

Meanwhile, Isaac Kaufmann, of Edina-based Red Cedar Consulting, spent Tuesday and Wednesday interviewing subjects involved in the investigation.

“I was with Mr. Kaufman for three hours today,” Belcastro told the board.

Board chair Misty Bergman updated the board on progress.

“We were hoping he would be able to have his results to us by Aug. 15, but that was just an estimate so we’ll see what happens,” Bergman said. “He is here and it is underway.”

In the interim, one teacher on special assignment outside the classroom is being asked to help with technology. Deb Fenlason, who is scheduled to work with students K-12 who are below grade level, was unable to report to the board Wednesday.

The main person proposed as an interim solution, T.J. Smith, was not available at the last minute for what had been a specially called meeting.

Smith is technology director for Cloquet Public Schools, but his prospect of a short-term contract with Wrenshall may have hit a roadblock.

“I’m kind of having a little bit of a problem with him, T.J. Smith, because I think it’s kind of a conflict of interest if we’re hiring him,” board member Jack Eudy said, seeming to reference putting another person under contract for a job that’s already filled.

Belcastro said she’d speak with the school district attorney about implications of a short-term contract with an outsider. Smith has worked with the district in the recent past, “on a very part-time basis to support us where needed,” Belcastro said.

The board expects to address interim solutions again at its committee of the whole meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 3, at the school.

Belcastro referred to the availability of the teacher, Fenlason, during what was a short meeting, with no actions taken.

“She’s hoping to be in the building on Monday to be able to do some of this prep work for the start of the school year in the interim here,” Belcastro said. “While we’re waiting on the technology director to be back on site working.”

Hopp is not under investigation with the Carlton County Sheriff’s Office. But the district’s investigation could also include at least one other unknown complaint, according to the school district’s attorney, John Edison, last month.

That complaint was submitted by board member Nicole Krisak.