Mansfield City Schools proposes shuttering Brinkerhoff
Charles (Chuck) William Bell
Mansfield City Schools proposes shuttering Brinkerhoff building, merging Woodland & Prospect
Mansfield City Schools board is voting next month on a possible reconfiguration of the district’s buildings. Included in this plan is the closing of the Brinkerhoff building. Yup, you heard that right. According to Superintendent Stan Jefferson, it might be time at last to say goodbye to the Brinkerhoff building.
Brinkerhoff currently houses Mansfield’s Spanish Immersion program. The plan would maintain the Immersion School as an educational option, but move its students out of their current location at Brinkerhoff. K thru 6 students would move into Woodland elementary, and seventh and eighth graders would move to an open wing at Mansfield Middle School.
Michael Brennan is the president of Mansfield’s Spanish Immersion program.
He said all Spanish Immersion students would benefit from newer, more up-to-date buildings. The current building has no central cooling and is not handicap accessible.
Treasurer Tracy Courtright said the district spends about $65,000 on the Brinkerhoff building per year to keep it up and running. And the fact of the matter is, the costs of maintaining Brinkerhoff no longer outweigh the benefits.
Meanwhile, Woodland Elementary students in kindergarten thru second grade would join their peers at Prospect Elementary. Third graders from Woodland, Prospect and Sherman would move to the Malabar Intermediate building. Malabar would continue to serve all district students in grades 4 thru 6.
Sherman would use its extra space to house the district’s growing pre-K program, which currently operates out of Springmill STEM Elementary School. This would allow Springmill to add a grade level. The district would also be able to add about 40 more spots in the pre-kindergarten program. The move would also allow Spanish immersion students to feel like they’re part of a bigger school
If the school board passes the proposed grade configuration come February, changes will begin next school year. District administrators will hold “office hours” over the course of the next three weeks to take comments and questions from the community before bringing the plan to the school board for a final vote.
Community members who wish to comment or inquire about the proposed grade level and facilities changes can stop by the board office on the next three Mondays from 8 to 9 a.m. Anyone who can’t make it is encouraged to contact the board office and set up an alternate time.
Ashland’s Mary Hannah Fulton was a medical missionary sent to China
Now, some local history. Did you know that inspiring Ashland-native Mary Hannah Fulton was a medical missionary sent to South China by the Presbyterian Church?
She began her work by setting up a dispensary in Kwai Ping, then continued by working with the Canton Hospital. She then set up the Hackett Medical College to train women to be medical professionals and served as the dean there for 16 years.
Dr. Fulton ultimately began a multi-denominational Christian congregation in Shanghai where she translated English medical volumes into Chinese.
Kosta’s features live roots & reggae music
Next, an event that you should know about. Tonight, on Friday at 8 p.m., head over to Kosta’s for an evening of storytelling and live roots and reggae music.
Everyone who shows up before 11 p.m. will be entered into a raffle to win a trip to the Bahamas.
We’ll see you there!
Charles Bell
Finally, we’d like to take a moment to remember Charles Bell of Mansfield. Charles was born in Mount Vernon in 1942 joined the United States Navy in 1960 and served for three years which included 15 months of foreign and sea service.
He was actively involved in the Cuban Missile Crisis in October and November 1962.
Charles graduated from Kent State University, with a Masters in Education in 1969. He later received a doctorate from The Ohio State University.
He was employed by numerous county, state, and federal agencies as well as manufacturing employers and took part in eight professional associations including the Central Ohio Psychological Association. Charles loved spending time with fellow Christians and others in the study of the Bible and quality fellowship.
He strived daily to live, practice and share his understanding of the Gospels with many people as he journeyed daily in his adult life. Charles is survived by his son and a brother. Thank you for taking a moment with us to remember and celebrate his life.
