School Board tables baseball coach position

“It has become known to all of us (baseball) players that the hiring committee consisted of some members with very little baseball knowledge,” Potter said. “Also, during the interview process, the committee was very biased towards one of the candidates.”

In a petition presented to the board, it was acknowledged that the baseball team felt Eric Walls, the assistant baseball coach, would make a better candidate for the head coach position. 

“Knowing both Mr. Mellstrom and the other candidate, Eric Walls, we feel that the two are far from equal in their qualifications and ability,” the petition read. “Eric has dedicated as much or more of his time to International Falls baseball. He has experience as well at the Little League, summer league and high school level.”

The petition also mentioned that the two captains had “nothing against” Mellstrom and “respect his dedication” to the sport.

Both Potter and Dahlin requested the board table its decision to hire a new coach to allow for “more time to discuss the matter and possibly organize a new, unbiased committee.”

Board member Willi Kostiuk requested more time to look over the captains’ request. “With all the information that we got tonight, before we rush into this, I’m in favor of waiting a month, looking over this petition with the names,” he said. “I didn’t know anything about this until just in the last day.”

Board member Mark Lassila agreed that there is a need to make sure “the right type of people” are on each hiring committee. 

Falls Superintendent Nordy Nelson said the process of any school district in securing coaches for different activities shouldn’t “wait until the last minute.”

“This district has an arrangement utilizing five individuals to interview for certain positions,” he said. “The athletic director did secure five individuals, including himself, and went through the process of interviewing three candidates. The recommendation comes from the committee that they recommend a certain individual. The board really needs to follow that recommendation...the committee has come with the recommendation, the board should follow it.”

Lassila questioned fellow board member Michelle Hebner, who served on the baseball coach hiring committee, to “come forward with the certain makeup of the committee.”

“I decline to answer that question,” Hebner said. “(The hiring committee) is chosen by (athletic director) Don Rolando and I don’t necessarily know that he can go through all the appropriate steps to make sure the right people are on those committees. I don’t think we’d be any further behind by taking a month to go back...look at the petition we got and listening to feedback.”

Kostiuk clarified he doesn’t have a problem with the committee, rather that he was only requesting time to look over the information he received from the captains. 

“I’m not saying anything about the process, I just want time to take in the information and ask any questions,” he said. 

In other action, on a 4-1 vote, the board agreed to grant Kevin Grover, dean of students, a 12-week leave of absence beginning on Jan. 2. Board member Stuart Nordquist opposed the motion and board member Darrell Wagner was absent from Monday’s meeting.

“I’m opposed to this, and I’m going to tell you why,” Nordquist said. “(The request) is asking for a benefit over and above anything asked for.”

A portion of Grover’s request falls under the Family Medical Leave Act, the other is sick leave and accumulated sick leave. 

Nelson said, in the past, the board has granted similar requests and that “the district should continue with that arrangement...we need to stay consistent.”

Also on a 4-1 vote with Nordquist opposing, the board granted a leave of absence request from Stacy Fredrickson, business manager, for a minimum of eight weeks to begin on Dec. 26. 

The board presented Sen. Tom Bakk, DFL-Tower, who is seeking election to serve District 3 with an “outstanding legislator for 2012” award. 

Bakk will be on the Nov. 6 ballot with Republican Jennifer Havlich for the District 3 position.

Grace Keliher, director of governmental relations for the Minnesota School Board Association, commended Bakk for his work on school trust lands last year.

“He created a new way to manage the trust lands, evaluate the trust lands, so not only next year will you see $26 per pupil from this trust land, but into the future, it could be significantly more,” she said. 

Bakk stressed the importance of K-12 schooling. He said he would commit to making sure schools are paid back money borrowed by the state.

“I look forward to working with Gov. Dayton after the first of the year to make school funding a priority again,” he said. “I’m very troubled by the fact that for the state to balance its books, it’s delaying late payments to you.”