Members of the International Falls School Board appear to have a busy night ahead of them Monday.

In addition to conducting interviews for superintendent candidates, the board will also make final decisions on areas to make cost adjustments for the district.

The interviews and special meeting will be held in the library at Falls High School.

Gwen Carman will be first to interview at 3:45 p.m., followed by Kevin Grover at 4:30 p.m., and Beth Shermoen at 5:15 p.m. Interviews are open to the public. Superintendent Nordy Nelson stressed that people who sit in on the interviews are discouraged from coming and going.

“We don't want to disrupt the process,” he said.

At 6 p.m., the board will make its final decisions on cost adjustments.

The process of making certain cuts began in November due to the district's declining enrollment. Rather than dip into its general fund, or savings account, the board took into consideration a number of areas appropriate for reductions.

When the process began, however, the board set its goal at saving $500,000 based on a 70-student drop since May 31, 2013. Monday, however, that goal will be revised to $630,000 based on an 86-student drop.

Nelson said the additional loss of students was unexpected.

“I didn't expect so many to be leaving during the school year,” he told The Journal. “It has created some issues.”

The superintendent said the district is also aware of about 15 additional children who will be leaving with their families during the summer.

To date, the board as made a few adjustments including offering early retirement to eligible teachers to save $430,000, and removing the library media position to save $50,000. Monday, the board will consider the following:

  • Contract out the yearbook for a savings of $8,600.
  • Keep the community education secretary at a half-time position to save $18,000.
  • Drop remedial seventh and eighth grade classes to save $42,000.
  • Delay the phy-ed curriculum cycle one year to save $75,000.
  • Reduce the dean of students position to half-time to save $38,000.
  • Non-renewal of Alex Ringhofer's teaching contract to save $43,214.

An agenda for the special meeting notes final decisions for the positions of the dean of students and Ringhofer will be decided in May.