During its final meeting of the school year, the International Falls School Board Monday is expected to consider placing the school’s golf coach on paid administrative leave as well as hiring a number of people to fill positions for the upcoming school year.
The board is expected to consider a resolution that would place Bill Mason, the boys and girls golf coach, on paid administrative leave, effective May 8 for the remainder of the 2013 golf season and non-renewal for the 2014 season.
The board is also scheduled, according to its agenda, to consider hiring Kevin Erickson as the boys and girls golf coach for the remainder of the season and acknowledging John Cann as a volunteer coach.
Falls Superintendent Nordy Nelson declined comment on why Mason may be placed on leave, but said it was paid because that is “the usual process for suspensions or administrative leaves.”
In other action, the board is expected to consider hiring Kevin Grover as the dean of students and athletic director for the 2013-2014 school year.
Current athletic director Don Rolando resigned from the position in April and Nelson previously told The Journal the district planned to combine the job with the dean of students position, currently held by Grover.
Other expected hires for consideration are Kelly Langton-Antin as the media generalist for the district’s school libraries; Bruce Englund as a non-union regular bus driver and Joe Krause as fifth through eighth grade emotional behavioral disorders, or EBD, teacher. Nelson said the latter position is new to the district.
In addition, Paul Peterson is expected to be considered for the kindergarten through fourth grade EBD teaching position.
Also on the agenda is a proposal to consider renewing a contract with retired teacher Darrell Schmidt to teach secondary English.
Nelson said Falls High School students are also scheduled to report on the effectiveness of a weighted grading system at the meeting.
Weighted grades offer an equal credit for a lower grade in a more difficult class.
In addition to the regular meeting, the board is scheduled to enter into a closed negotiations strategy session with teachers and paraprofessionals unions Local 331 and Local 4798, respectively.
“We’ll have some general discussion to get the new teacher’s contract started and discuss progress of negotiations with the paras,” Nelson said.
In April, the board unanimously approved a contract with the district’s teachers’ union. The previous agreement was set to expire June 30. Nelson in April said the agreed-upon contract includes a 1.3 percent annual pay increase for teachers as well as a 3-percent increase in insurance costs.
