MANSFIELD, Ohio — Mansfield Senior High School Principal Dr. Jose Hernandez, teachers and students offered guests a detailed outline of the school’s Ohio Improvement Process (OIP) District Action Plan on Thursday night.
The plan was deemed necessary by the Ohio Department of Education, said Hernandez.
“This is our improvement process to get better,” Hernandez said. “If you do not have a plan, you will not get better. Even if we didn’t have to do the plan, we still would. It’s the best way.”
The detailed, four-page plan, which was approved by North Central State College consultants, includes four goals along with strategies, action steps and indicators designed to keep the district on track to achieving academic excellence.
The OIP plan was drafted by a group of teachers: the academic team, the community engagement team, the college and career readiness team and the safety team.
“We feel that we have total buy-in from every member of our staff here in this building,” Hernandez said. “Because you can’t do all this work alone and you can’t do it if they’re not invested.”
But the teachers are not the only ones invested.
Community members Walt and Candy Chaffee attended the meeting. Walt also attended the community forum in October when the school and public officials addressed the swell of bomb threats.
“I was fortunate to be educated. My mother stressed the importance of it. So I want to see the same sort of attitude here in the schools,” he said.
Walt and his wife moved to Mansfield in 1983 and owned an advertising business before retiring.
“I’ve never doubted the talent here in Mansfield,” he said.
Hernandez said as principal at Fremont Ross High School, that school was also underperforming academically.
“We got it back to (an) ‘excellent’ (rating) in three years. So I believe this is the best way to move in the right direction,” Hernandez said. “Our teachers and students are really strong, we can do it.”
Ultimately, he said, implementing an academic plan for the school will not only make better students, but it will cultivate better citizens for the community.
The evening was separated into two parts: communicating the academic OIP plan and showcasing Mansfield Senior High School talent.
“You need to showcase the strengths of your ability,” said Hernandez as he pointed out the high school’s orchestra, culinary arts students and artwork displayed in the cafeteria.
Community members were treated with food prepared by the culinary arts students and serenaded by orchestral pieces.
“This staff is committed to creating opportunities for academic excellence for all our students,” Hernandez said. “So as they see the plan, which is a product of collaboration between teachers and community partners, we hope that everyone will feel that they are true stakeholders — that they are invested in the future of our school.”
