The International Falls School Board unanimously agreed to hire Eric Walls as the head baseball coach for the 2013 season.

The decision came after a motion by board member Darrell Wagner to offer the position to Tim Mellstrom failed to gain support of a second to the motion.

After a motion fails, the board has the power to nominate whomever it believes would be the best candidate for the position.

The controversy between the hire of Mellstrom and Walls began during October’s board meeting at which two of the three baseball team captains presented the board with a petition in favor of reconsidering a hiring committee’s recommendation to offer Mellstrom the job.

“It has become known to all of us (baseball) players that the hiring committee consisted of some members with very little baseball knowledge,” captain Josh Potter said last month. “Also, during the interview process, the committee was very biased towards one of the candidates.”

The petition acknowledged that the baseball team felt Walls, the current assistant baseball coach, would make a better candidate for the head coach position.

“Knowing both Mr. Mellstrom and the other candidate, Eric Walls, we feel that the two are far from equal in their qualifications and ability,” the petition read. “Eric has dedicated as much or more of his time to International Falls baseball.”

Dieter Humbert, women’s softball and basketball coach at Rainy River Community College, said his son, Ben Humbert, signed the petition and spoke on behalf of Walls.

“Eric is always coaching,” Dieter Humbert said of Walls. “He gives a high level of committment...he’s a dedicated coach and works hard with the kids.”

Humbert added he “has nothing against” Mellstrom, but feels the “best candidate” deserves a chance at the job, and that candidate is Walls.

“There are a lot of people in support of Eric,” board member Willi Kostiuk said of why he supported hiring Walls. “As a board, we have to listen to the people making these requests. Eric would be a fine, fine coach.”

The board’s decision was unanimous and supported by board member Michelle Hebner who served on the committee that originally recommended Mellstrom.

Wagner, who made the motion to offer the position to Mellstrom, also voted in favor of Walls’ hire.

Also Monday, the board agreed to advertise for a full time Tier II elementary teacher to be funded through the reading well by third grade initiative program funds.

Elementary principal Melissa Tate explained that the Tier II position would allow for more separation for special education students and their reading and learning abilities.

In addition, she explained it was projected the Reading Well by Third Grade Initiative funds would generate about $74,000 for the district, which will be put back into the plan in order to continue to make gains towards reaching grade-level reading standards and closing the achievement gap.

In other action Monday, the board approved the resignations of JoAnn Bokovy as the adults with disability coordinator effective March 1, 2013; Walter Howe as a custodian effective Nov. 3; Stacey Fougner as a kindergarten teacher effective Dec. 21; and Margaret McBride as an education support paraprofessional effective Jan. 18.

Board Chairman Stuart Nordquist offered the board’s gratitude to the individuals for their time serving the school district, and noted McBride has been with the district for 39 years.

The board also agreed Monday to the recall of Vicky Wickstrom as a secretary for a temporary position.

The board also agreed to allow Superintendent Nordy Nelson to continue to research and consider ways that would make Bronco Arena accessible to people with handicaps and wheelchairs.