The International Falls School Board Monday is expected to begin negotiations for a contract for a new superintendent, and offer a position to its selection of elementary principal candidates at a special meeting.
The meeting is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. Monday in the Falls High School library. An agenda is considered tentative until the government body begins the meeting and makes additions or deletions to the proposed agenda.
The vacancy for superintendent position is a result of current superintendent Jeff Peura’s resignation at the end of the month for a position at Lake of the Woods School District in Baudette. Current elementary principal Jerry Hilfer is retiring June 30.
The board is expected to choose from three candidates for superintendent and four candidates for elementary principal. Interviews took place Monday. One candidate, Jackie Ward, has applied and interviewed for both positions.
Ward is currently the superintendent and special education director of Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig School in the Leech Lake Indian Reservation in Bena. The district is located in Cass County and is part of the Brainerd area. She was previously a special education teacher for Cass Lake-Bena Public Schools.
For superintendent, the other candidates are Nordy Nelson and Tamara Schultz.
Nelson has served as superintendent of various school districts, including Melrose Area Public Schools in Stearns County in south central Minnesota, and at St. James Public Schools. He is currently self-employed as a school financial assistance consultant.
Schultz is the superintendent at East Central School District, serving the cities of Sandstone, Ascov, Bruno and Kerrick. She was previously superintendent of West Central Education District in Sauk Centre.
Elementary principal
Two current employees of International Falls schools are candidates for the elementary principal position: Andy Fougner and Kevin Grover.
Fougner has been the Response to Intervention Coordinator and special education teacher for the Falls district since 2007. Prior to that, Fougner was a special education teacher, administrative assistant and activities director at Red Lake County Central Schools in Oklee.
Grover has been dean of students and math teacher since 2010. He also served as interim superintendent in 2010 and assistant superintendent in 2009.
Others up for the elementary principal position are Kristine Lamb and Ward.
Lamb is currently a K-12 music teacher at Cromwell-Wright Public Schools. She has held this position in Carlton County since 2002. She also served as a K-12 intern for that district.
