Caroline Wood
Birch Grove Community School (BGCS) Director Caroline Wood submitted a letter of resignation at the Birch Grove Community School board meeting held July 26. Wood’s last day will be August 15.
“Thank you so much for the opportunities for professional growth provided during my nine months of employment. I have enjoyed working with such a committed team and appreciate the support provided. I believe the board going forward will best be served by an experienced and skilled school administrator to address the recommendations in the attached final directors report for July 26.”
In that final report Wood wrote several recommendations for the board to consider and she noted that the school year ended in the black, just barely, for the first time in a long time.
“I am very pleased with everything that has occurred over the last nine months,” Wood said. “I believe you have a very sustainable and bright future.”
School Board Member Judy Motschenbacher said, “From the bottom of my heart, I appreciate all that you have done.”
“Your hard work and dedication has been noted,” said BGCS Board Member Skip Lamb. “We will miss you and certainly wish you good luck in all that you do.”
Caroline and her husband Russ retired from careers in the Navy where both served as air traffic controllers. They purchased land in Schroeder in 2004 and moved to Cook County in 2014.
Two years ago Wood graduated with a master’s degree in gerontology from Minnesota State University-Mankato. Not letting any dust settle around her feet, the next week she interviewed for the Birch Grove Foundation executive director position, which she accepted.
Nine months ago Wood became the director for Birch Grove Community School and jumped in with both feet.
Before moving to Cook County, Wood owned her own company in Mankato, Inspired Aging, LLC.
Wood said she was exploring job options in her field of study in Washington state.
With six short weeks left before the start of school the school board is now searching for a new director and discussing what that position will entail. Wood suggested hiring a director and an assistant who could free up the director who could then pursue writing grants for the school. She said she thought the school would be money ahead with this approach. Her suggestion was noted and will be discussed further.
No word from State Auditor’s Office on school funding
It was initially reported at the July 26 meeting that the Minnesota State Auditor’s Office had ruled that the three West End townships could not donate levied funds to the school as they have been doing, but that information—for now anyway—appears to be unfounded.
Currently Tofte, Lutsen and Schroeder each give $20,000 per year to the free, public charter school. Residents attending those meetings voted these funds for approval at annual township meetings held in March.
Still, some residents questioned whether the townships were meeting state statutes, which govern how much and where townships can donate levied funds. With that in mind, some citizens brought those concerns to the attention of the Minnesota State Auditor’s Office.
On July 27, Minnesota State Auditor Rebecca Otto told the Cook County News- Herald that she could not deny or confirm that her office was investigating the matter.
“This is tough for us because we like transparency, but we don’t want to impair an investigation so all I can report at this time is that we can neither confirm nor deny that we are investigating the townships.”
Otto was asked what constitutes an investigation from her office and she said, “When a concern is reported to the OSA, the following list are possible outcomes,” Otto said.
What are possible results of an OSA review?
. Referral to the appropriate agency or entity with jurisdiction; . Answer provided to a general financial question; . Review conducted during the next financial audit;
. Review conducted and recommendations forwarded orally or in writing to the local government;
. Proceed with a formal investigation and issue a final report; . Decline review because issue is outside the authority of the OSA or because a determination has been made that a review is not warranted.
When a ruling is made, Otto promised to forward it to the townships for their review.
In the meantime, Schroeder Board Chair Tina McKeever has been working with state Senator Tom Bakk (DFL) on producing a state statute that clearly defines that townships can donate levied funds to Birch Grove Community School.
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