Results of a school-administered investigation prompted the Falls School Board Monday to suspend the school’s golf coach for the remainder of the current season.

On a 5-1 vote, the board agreed to a resolution that places Bill Mason, boys and girls golf coach, on paid leave for the remainder of the 2013 season. Board member Mike Holden voted against the action.

Discussion sparked among board and audience members regarding the events that led to an investigation by Falls Superintendent Nordy Nelson, who recommended the removal of Mason from the position.

While Nelson declined comment on details that led him to conduct the investigation, reports to The Journa indicate Mason gave a ride to someone while transporting students in a school vehicle.

The reports were also substantiated by a board member’s comments during the meeting.

“When I showed up to get the (school) van, the most that was ever told to me was ‘make sure the garbage was picked up in the van.’ There was nothing else said about what you’re supposed to do as far as picking up somebody or whatever,” said Holden, referring to his experience as a junior high baseball coach several years ago.

Holden continued to speak in support of Mason, who has been the golf coach for 18 years.

“That speaks for itself,” he said of Mason’s history in the position. “I’ve talked to a lot of people who don’t want to see (Mason removed as coach).”

“(Mason) would never do something like this on purpose,” said board member Darrell Wagner. “It was one small lapse of judgment. He knows he made a mistake, a big mistake, but I don’t think a permanent termination should be involved for a first-time offense in 18 years of coaching.”

Joe Schwartz, chairman of the Falls Recreation Commission Board, spoke in support of Mason, who serves as the recreation director.

“We feel we have failed the kids,” Schwartz said on behalf of the Rec Commission. “We take responsibility for that as a Rec Commission...We have not properly trained our (school vehicle) drivers, we have not properly trained our coaches.”

Schwartz suggested there be a policy established by the school and the Rec Commission addressing the safety of children. He added that training drivers and coaches on “how to act” also needs implementation.

Holden said he contacted other school officials in the area to determine how a similar situation would have been handled.

“All that should have been done was something in his personnel file and we’ve got no problem with that,” he said.

Nelson said while he appreciated Holden calling other schools, certain specifics of the investigation are not known by those school officials.

“Based on the investigation, I determined a suspension was in order,” Nelson said. “The board should follow what’s listed.”

Board member Will Kostiuk asked Nelson if he talked to both Mason and students involved in the incident before making a recommendation.

“The determination for suspension was made after talking to Mr. Mason,” Nelson replied.

Following the board’s decision, Nelson said he will send Mason a letter explaining he is entitled to request a private hearing with board members.

Mason declined comment to The Journal following Monday’s meeting.

In related business, the board agreed to hire Kevin Erickson as the boys and girls golf coach for the rest of the 2013 season.

The board also agreed to hire Kevin Grover as the school’s athletic director and dean of students.

Current athletic director Don Rolando resigned from the position in April. His resignation is effective June 30.

Nelson said board approval of the position was contingent on an arrangement with additional coverage of athletic director duties to other school personnel for after-school or weekend activities.

“That (arrangement) we haven’t pursued yet,” Nelson said. “We will have to stipend them for the athletic director duties...The sharing of that coverage and the sharing of the stipend will be brought to the board at a later date.”

In other business Monday, Falls High School students Gary Harala and Taylor Hebner, spoke in favor of implementing a weighted grading system at FHS.

“Weighted grades give more credit to students taking more challenging classes,” Hebner said.

She included examples that an “A” grade in an advanced placement class is worth more points that the same grade in a regular course.

“We would really like to establish a weighted grade system in our school,” Harala said. “Many other schools in Minnesota have already switched to this system. Our student council highly supports this.”

Tim Everson, FHS principal, said more information on such a system would be researched and brought back to the board for the June meeting.

The board agreed to remove an item from the agenda that called for the approval of a retired teaching contract for Darrell Schmidt to teach secondary English for the 2013-2014 school year.

Board member Gordon Dault said because the position had not been opened to other applicants, he asked to see it posted before offering Schmidt the contract.