Mansfield City Schools welcomed teachers and support staff to the 2014-15 school year during a breakfast Monday in the Senior High commons.
Mansfield City Schools’ fiscal emergency status will not detract from student achievement as the district’s No. 1 goal, Superintendent Brian Garverick vowed Monday.
“We’ve been through a lot since last August but what has been will not dictate what will be,” he said during a breakfast for teachers and support staff in the Senior High School commons.
Students will report to classes on Wednesday.
“I promise you that the Mansfield School Employees Association leadership, the board of education and I will do all in our power to avoid the circumstances that put us in fiscal emergency,” said Garverick, who is entering his second year as superintendent.
Since January a state-mandated Financial Planning and Supervision Commission has governed district fiscal affairs in collaboration with the board of education and administration. Development of a financial recovery plan, approved by the Ohio Department of Education in May, required the closing of Newman Elementary School and the layoffs of dozens of teachers and support staff.
Acknowledging that jobs had been lost and some teachers reassigned to new grades or buildings, Garverick drew a comparison to his experience as a member of the Ashland University football team.
“After we lost the first three games one year Dr. (coach Fred) Martinelli called a team meeting and said we would not lose another game that season. He said the team that makes adjustments has the best chance to win,” Garverick recalled.
“Some players were moved to other positions. Some lost their starting positions. We went back to working on fundamentals because fundamentals make the difference. Adjustments were made for the good of the team.
“We have made adjustments. We will work together and we will continue to put student achievement at the front of our work.”
Garverick shared the podium with Renda Cline, president of the board of education, and MSEA president Jen Lepard.
Cline cited what she called “the four P’s” – purpose, perspective, perseverance and possibilities.
“I am excited about a positive new school year. I don’t like hearing ‘This is the way we’ve always done it,’” she said. “We have great teachers. Keep focused on your purpose and the possibilities you create for students.”
Lepard also cited the sacrifices that had been made to achieve the district’s financial recovery plan.
“The past year was one of challenges,” she said. “Some of our colleagues are not sitting next to us this morning. Some are in new buildings.
“Collaboration will be the key to making this year successful,” Lepard said. “We all see the world in a different way but we must work together with no judgment, no competition and no hidden agendas.”