The International Falls School Board is expected to consider proposed teacher and staff cuts at its regular meeting Monday at 5 p.m. at the Falls High School cafeteria. The names of the teachers and staff who are slated for potential non-renewal of contracts due to budget cuts were released to the public Wednesday.
An agenda is considered tentative until the government body begins the meeting and makes additions or deletions to the proposed agenda.
All teacher layoffs are proposed for probationary, non-tenured faculty members at Independent School District 361.
The layoffs, by non-renewal of contracts, are proposed for Stephanie Davis, fourth-grade teacher at Falls Elementary School; Kim Kuffenkam, reading specialist at Falls Elementary; Terry Mason, Title I reading and math teacher at West End Elementary; Jonelle Mellstrom, kindergarten teacher at Falls Elementary; Beth Shermoen, fourth-grade teacher at Falls Elementary; and Darrell Schmidt, English teacher at Falls High School.
If approved, these teachers would work through June 1, the last teacher workday.
Vicky Wickstrom, secretary at West End Elementary School, is also listed for layoff by unrequested leave of absence effective June 10. By law, she has recall rights for two years following the layoff.
“If we are ever able to retrieve the position, then she has first rights to it,” explained Sue Karsnia, administrative assistant for the International Falls School District.
The proposed cuts in 2.86 full-time equivalency positions, along with shifts in programs, were sparked by the district’s projected $700,000 shortfall for the 2012-13 school year.
Also during the meeting, district business manager Stacy Frederickson is expected to give the board a revised tentative budget for the 2012-2013 school year reflecting the faculty, staff and program cuts to offset the potential budget deficit.
Other items
In other personnel action, the board is expected to consider a resignation from Jerry Hilfer, elementary principal, effective June 29 as Hilfer retires. Others resigning due to retirement are Kathy Mattison, educational support professional, effective May 31; and Marianne Trask, accounts payable/receivable, effective July 31.
In position changes, John Sirotiak will be considered by the board for official hire as a regular, non-union bus driver. Sirotiak began the position April 4. The board will also consider officially increasing custodian Jody Best from a 0.5 full-time equivalency to a 1.0 full-time equivalency position. The increase was effective April 5.
The board is also slated to consider a concurrent enrollment agreement with Rainy River Community College for classes in welding; CADD (computer-aided drafting and design); and math. If an agreement with the college is not approved, the board would have the option to direct school administration to seek options through another college.
A representative from the architecture firm managing the Falls High School pool project, Minnetonka-based TSP, is expected to update the board on the progress of the project. The bottom of the pool is being deepened after a rule by the National Federation of State High School Associations required a lower pool depth for teams to use starting blocks.
Superintendent Jeff Peura is expected to give an update on the “school redesign project,” about the plan to move fifth and sixth grades from Falls Elementary School to West End Elementary School.
The board will also consider a contract with Interquest Detection Canines for nine half-day visits to the district in the 2012-13 school year, for $315 per visit.
“They’re what we call the ‘drug dogs,’” Karsnia explained. “We routinely have a monthly visit in which the dog is taken around, sniffs at the lockers and around the school. We do this to keep the environment safe; just to make sure there are no drugs on campus.”
