Renda Cline, Sheryl Weber and Judy Forney completed a recent two-day OSBA Leadership Institute in Columbus.
Three members of the Mansfield City Schools Board of Education participated in the recent Board Leadership Institute (BLI) in Columbus sponsored by the Ohio School Boards Association.
Renda Cline, Sheryl Weber and Judy Forney were among nearly 200 Ohio school board members at the intensive April 21-22 professional development training program. The event featured workshops covering a wide range of essential topics.
All three reported on the leadership institute during Tuesday’s board of education meeting.
“It is important for us, as board members, to be informed about current issues,” said Ms. Cline, the board president, who attended sessions on pending state legislation affecting schools.
House Bill 98 would expand the ways career information is presented to students, she said, while Senate Bill 34 would require schools to open after Labor Day.
“I believe that districts should have the option to open when the superintendent believes it is best,” Ms. Cline said.
Mrs. Forney, who was appointed to the board earlier this year, reported on a session about Medicaid in schools.
“Staff who work with Medicaid students must log their hours so that we are reimbursed for time spent with them, whether in speech therapy, occupational therapy or physical therapy,” she said.
Treasurer Robert Kuehnle said the district received $354,000 in Medicaid reimbursement in 2014-15, the most recent year for which figures are available.
Mrs. Weber, the board vice president, participated in workshops concerning homeless and foster-care students, those learning English as a second language and transgender students.
“Anyone who doesn’t have a permanent home is identified as homeless,” she said. “The number of homeless and foster kids (in Ohio) is increasing.”
Children are classified as homeless if they reside in shelters, hotels or are doubled-up with relatives or friends.
Mrs. Weber said efforts are underway to involved more homeless and foster-care students in extracurricular activities. She described the workshop as “a chance to share ideas.”
Keynote speakers at the 16th annual leadership institute were Ohio Superintendent of Public Instruction Paolo DeMaria and state Rep. Robert R. Cupp, R-Lima.