Assistant superintendent requests protection of former position; board considers interim appointment
Kevin Grover has submitted a request for a leave of absence from his position as District 361 assistant superintendent. The leave is contingent upon the International Falls School Board’s approval and Grover’s acceptance of his assignment as interim superintendent following the early release of former superintendent Don Langan in December.
The board will vote on the matter during its meeting scheduled for 5 p.m. Tuesday in the Falls High School cafeteria. If approved, Grover’s formal assignment as interim superintendent for the Falls district would be effective immediately.
Grover’s request also specifies that his previous faculty position and seniority rights within the district would be protected under the agreement, should he not attain the final appointment as the District 361 superintendent — a position he is seeking. Advertising for the open position is currently underway.
Should Grover not be named superintendent, his approved request would retain his option to return to a fully-tenured teaching position or possibly as dean of students. The position of assistant superintendent, from which he is seeking the leave of absence, would no longer exist.
Grover was mentored under Langan, whose term as superintendent evolved to a part-time position which allowed him to also serve the Ely school district. Under Langan’s administrative reorganization, a new role of assistant superintendent was created and filled by Grover. Over the course of approximately two years, Grover’s positions went from Falls High School instructor (his first teaching post) to dean of students, to assistant to the superintendent, to his current role as assistant superintendent and if approved Tuesday, to interim superintendent.
Grover’s formal request comes with a detailed and strong recommendation from Langan. In his Sept. 24 written proposal for early release from his contract ending June 30, Langan provided a time line and itemized how the district would benefit from granting Grover the leave as well as appointing him as interim superintendent for the six-month remaining period of Langan’s contract. That interim could be shorter should a new superintendent be hired sooner.
Langan stated that an ample interim period would still be open for the board to interview other candidates. And, he said, it would give the board time to study Grover’s performance while saving the district $35,752 on remaining compensation for Langan’s part-time service.
Subject entirely to the approval and the direction of the school board, the International Falls interim superintendent has charge of the administration of the local public schools.
Other business
In other business, the board should receive the 2010-11 annual facilities plan, a document which details all the facilities and sites of the district with a yearly review and consideration of indicated and necessary improvements. On that topic, Grover is also expected to give a report of Falls High School improvement projects.
Grover is also slated to report on the advertisements for the open superintendent position. Principals Jerry Hilfer and Tim Everson are scheduled to give updates on enrollments and a Jan. 25 in-service workshop.
Approval of the resignation of custodian Wally Clement is expected. A recommendation for hiring of a replacement full-time custodian may also be approved.
Attendance policy revisions for the district are expected to be approved, as are contracts for summer hockey school and summer figure skating.
Swim team parents are on the open forum schedule to address the board. This portion of the meeting is also available to other members of the public who wish to speak before the school board.
