MANSFIELD, Ohio – Mansfield City Schools Financial Planning and Supervision Commission Chairperson Paul Marshal said at this week’s commission meeting that he was surprised by the findings in the Ohio auditor’s performance audit.
The report’s summary suggests that the district could save approximately $4,790,500 annually by eliminating 24.5 fulltime teaching positions, 11.5 fulltime equivalent positions and 61 non-teaching positions, as well as renegotiating certified salary schedules.
“I was surprised by some of the findings in that report,” Marshall said. “We met with [Ohio Auditor Dave Yost’s office] a couple weeks ago and they shared their work papers with us and made a commitment to work with the district to resolve the differences.”
The school district was placed in fiscal emergency in 2013 by Yost’s office and the commission has been tasked with helping the district get their finances in order.
According to the state auditor’s office, the Ohio Department of Education requested a performance audit after there was a $35 million general fund deficit predicted by fiscal year 2017-18 in the districts October 2013 five-year financial forecast.
“The Mansfield City School District is simply over spending,” State Auditor David Yost said in a press release. “Although the district deserves credit for significant cuts, including nearly 150 full and part-time employees, similar districts still spend much less.”
In addition to the staff cuts, the commission also closed Newman Elementary School and three conversion community schools; stopped offering regular education preschool; and reduced supplemental positions and stipends. These reductions are expected to save the district nearly $5 million.
The changes the commission has implemented are exclusive of the performance audit, the audit stated.
Auditors found that the district should reduce 36 teaching positions and 61 non-teaching positions, which would equal a savings of $4,567,700 annually. The district also offers higher starting salaries and greater step increases to its employees versus other school districts of the same size. The district could create a one-time savings of $209,100 by implementing a one-year freeze on step increases, according to the audit.
The audit also found that the district could save $13,700 annual through purchasing fuel through the Ohio Department of Administrative Services and applying for the Ohio Motor Fuel Tax refund.
“I think there are some serious differences between what they recommend and the current situation,” Marshall said. “We don’t have the numbers yet, so I don’t want to say anything specific, but the district is going to work on that…what we are going to try to do is to match up where the auditor office thought we should/could be on staffing with where we actually are.”
Marshall said the changes they implemented were not included in the performance audit and they were using data that was a year old.
“We are going to confirm and resolve (everything) with the auditor,” he said. “The auditor’s office was very gracious with us and they want to get it right too.”
The next meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. March 31 at the board of education offices, 856 W. Cook Road.
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