Elson to stay at FHS

Leading up to that moment, impassioned pleas by several students to keep Elson, as well as a statement by Cindy Ellefson of Friends Against Abuse, were heard. Elson provided the board a detailed explanation of the events that led to the call for termination.

Ultimately, a motion made by board member Mark Lassila to accept the termination went unseconded — and the motion failed.

The original vote by the board to terminate Elson, who is a physical education teacher and coach for girls hockey, was related to incidents allegedly involving self-control issues on Elson’s part. Elson claims that he was left without support by school administration on three separate student behavior issues earlier this year, and that he was confused about its reaction, and blind-sided with news of termination.

In two student behavior issues that Elson described at length, he stated and provided documentation to the board that administration heard only student explanations and that he was never approached for information until he was reprimanded by Principal Tim Everson.

“I was never asked for my side ... ,” said Elson, “and I was begging for help.”

One of the student conflicts involved a male student who Elson said verbally assaulted him and became physically aggressive brushing his chest up against the teacher. The reprimand in Elson’s handling of the incident came for a non-profane word that he used in response to the student. The student, who has reportedly been involved in several disciplinary actions, was put on a behavioral contract agreement which Elson believes contained forged parental signatures. The student ultimately received one hour detention for his behavior in this incident.

Another incident involved a female student who Elson reprimanded for using her cell phone during school hours. The student reported to the office that Elson swore at her, which he claims did not happen and is backed by three student witnesses. He again was not contacted, Elson said.

“We have two dean of students and two disciplinary officials,” Elson said, explaining that he also has many other issues to deal with. “No one else was ever asked to recall events of that day,” he added. “Here again was an assumption by my administration that I had acted inappropriately based on student accounts.”

The teacher noted that he has never received a personal complaint from a parent.

Elson also cited his involved school roles in three years of history at FHS as well as his on- and off-season coaching in several sports. He submitted letters commending his professionalism and skill from Athletic Director Don Rolando, and Kevin Grover, assistant to the superintendent.

Elson admitted that he may have a reputation as angry because of his intense demeanor and tendency as a coach to yell, but more with passion than for intimidation, he said. Based on Everson’s recommendation, Elson did seek and complete a behavior management course through Friends Against Abuse. Their representative would speak later. But preceding that, several students shared personal experiences with the board and a large attending audience.

“Mr. Elson has bonded with us and we have become like a family,” said one female hockey player and student. “He yells but not with profanity. He helps us as individuals. I personally don’t know what I would do without him as a coach. Make the right decision.”

Parent Maurice Tessier stood and said that Elson was very important to his son who has asthma, but who was also the target of bullying at one time. He considered moving his son from the district and asked Elson for help. “He resolved it, and it means a lot to me to have him teaching here,” Tessier said.

Kathy Bates challenged the board to table their decision and “put themselves in the place of many teachers for just a short time — and not raise your voices.”

Another student in Elson’s physical education class said he was important to her because she was someone without a secure father figure. “Mr. Elson has become a trusted adult in my life,” she said. She listed other student comments about Elson as “cool, easy to talk to, a role model,” and “makes us feel accepted.”

Another parent introduced his freshman daughter and said she deserved to be heard. The student, who came from the back of the FHS library to stand near Elson’s side, told the board that its decision would affect her, too, and she was willing to share personal details.

“My behavior had sent me out of the community for 35 days,” she explained. It was coach Elson who guided her, and waited for her to get off the bus, and who she chose as confidante, she said. “He helped me see that hockey is so much more than a game,” she added softly. She said that the rumors about his anger are not accurate, and that students know his door is always open and “that wouldn’t be so if he were always angry.”

Finally, Ellefson of Friends Against Abuse spoke, stating that she was someone who had helped Elson “cope with what’s been happening to his livelihood.” She said she found it strange that in all the time Elson was working one-on-one, there were no inquiries. “I’m very concerned about policies in this school,” Ellefson said. “I question if anger is a concern, why no one has contacted me.”

Superintendent Don Langen advised the board that if the resolution was accepted, Elson would be done at the end of this year. “Should it not be accepted, all rights would be granted,” Langen said.

With the motion failed, Elson, at the end of a tenure awardee program, also stood and was granted continuing contract rights. Albeit without his plaque, Elson was granted tenure following Rosa Christianson, Kayla Gilbert, Chris Hemstad, Michelle Holbeck and Luke Zika. Cake was served in their honor.

Falls School Board News Notes

• FHS Superintendent Don Langen scheduled a budget meeting with the board at 3 p.m. on June 15, to finalize the 2008-09 budget and for preliminary work on the 2009-2010 budget. Langen told the board Monday that with still such a large discrepancy in the state Legislature’s balancing of its budget, that financial discussions are going to take more time for the FHS board. He also told the board that “if the Legislature cannot bring a balanced budget to Pawlenty, he (Pawlenty) will balance it.”

• Elementary Principal Jerry Hilfer reported to the board how things would be handled if the district would again fail to show sufficient progress in special education as it did last year. He said parents of special ed students would be notified in summer 2009 of how the district would proceed.