The Mansfield Board of Education voted and passed the reinstatement of four teachers for Sherman Elementary and Mansfield Middle School during their regular meeting on Tuesday.
The board acted on Superintendent Brian Garverick’s recommendation of the reinstatement of a kindergarten teacher and second grade teacher at Sherman Elementary. Also reinstated was a science teacher and a social studies teacher for Mansfield Middle School.
Some teachers from the district were present during Tuesday night’s meeting. They said they wanted to see whether or not the board would approve the teachers. Among the teachers present was Susan Rice, a seventh grade teacher who, according to her, has 192 students to teach currently. This equates to approximately 37 students per classroom, according to Garverick.
“It’s very, very difficult to teach that many kids in one classroom. I’m just trying to keep my head above the water,” said Rice.
Garverick explained to the board that Sherman’s enrollment has increased 640 students. He said this could be in part due to the closing of Newman Elementary and one charter school earlier in the year. The district cut many teaching positions because of its declaration of fiscal emergency earlier this year.
The Financial Planning and Supervision Commission, a state-appointed team that is currently working to develop and enforce certain financial decision’s of the district, will discuss the reinstatement of the four teaching positions at their next meeting: Tuesday, October 28 at 4 p.m. in the Raemelton Administrative Building.
Also approved was the Superintendent’s recommendation to hire Hull & Associates to “provide preliminary alternative analyses of the existing construction debris at the Simpson site.” Hull & Associates will provide the district consultation with the Ohio EPA to decide on proper disposal of the debris. The estimated cost of services amounts to $4,700.
The Mansfield Board of Education’s next meeting is on Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. in the Raemelton Administrative Building.
