MANSFIELD — Mansfield City Schools will be receiving an additional $9 million from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund as a result of the most recent coronavirus stimulus package, district Treasurer Tacy Courtright announced Tuesday night.
The district will receive the $9 million over the next three years, which will help recoup unexpected or extra costs incurred as a result of the pandemic, Courtright said during a school board meeting.
One significant cost associated with COVID-19 is the increase in cost for substitute teachers. Courtright said the district is currently employing 15 long-term substitute teachers. In a typical year it might employ seven or eight. Under Ohio law, schools must provide substitutes with a contract if they work more than 60 days.
“Last month I indicated we already had reclassified $61,000 in subs, so we have probably another $269,000 that we have spent thus far in subs,” she said.
Courtright also said the school district is close to finalizing its lease purchase agreement to upgrade the lighting at the high school and Arlin Field — and undergo stadium renovations.
“We hope to be starting this project in early March, that way the lighting at the high school will be finished hopefully by the end of the school year and Arlin Field will be ready to be used and enjoyed next fall,” Courtwright said.
Arlin Field isn’t the only area where administrators are planning improvements. Nikia Fletcher, director of career technical education, said her department is in the process of developing a three-year strategic plan to further improve its offerings for students.
“We want to be able to start giving you elements of the plan as early as next month. We want to float some ideas by you. We’ve had some surveys from our staff. We’ve had some surveys from our students,” she said.
Also, board president Sheryl Weber commended Superintendent Stan Jefferson, the staff and the students who organized the district’s virtual celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
“Marinise (Harris), your high school students, your young ladies should be commended for their thoughts on the topic. It was very nicely put,” Weber said of the students who spoke.
Jefferson thanked all who helped put on the program, including BS Media, a steering committee and various staff and students. He also expressed gratitude to board members for their service as part of school board recognition month.
“We would like to thank each and every one of our members for your leadership, your service and your dedication to building the future of public education in our schools,” he said.
The board also approved various personnel items, gifts to the district and membership in the Ohio School Boards Association Legal Assistance Fund.
