MANSFIELD — Teachers at Mansfield City Schools will know their job assignments for next school year by May 1, according to district officials.
Mansfield City Schools moved forward with a second reduction-in-force at its Tuesday night board meeting, eliminating an additional eight teaching positions and a school counselor job.
The job cuts take effect Aug. 1 — the day after the end of the union’s contract year.
They follow the elimination of 62 non-administrative positions (equivalent to 57 full-time positions) and a dozen administrative positions in March.
The reduction in force is part of the district’s deficit reduction plan, which has been approved by the school board and the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce.
After taking into account attrition and reassignments, about nine union employees will be without a job at the end of the school year, according to Mansfield School Employees Association President Brad Strong.
Strong said the RIF process is mostly completed — all that’s left is official job assignments.
“I’m just glad the process is done and now people can move on with their lives,” he said.
District officials said the cuts are a critical part of balancing the district’s budget, avoiding state fiscal oversight and protecting core classroom learning experiences for students.
Superintendent Stan Jefferson said it’s never easy to reduce even a single position, but he is grateful the district was able to limit the net job loss to nine employees.
“We recognize how difficult this process is for our staff, families and school community,” Jefferson said.
“We remain committed to working with the MSEA and the Board of Education to complete this process in a fair and collaborative way. Our focus continues to be on making responsible decisions that protect the classroom and support long-term stability for Mansfield City Schools.”
Specific job cuts
The positions being eliminated include:
A fifth grade teacher at Springmill STEM Elementary.
An automotive/construction agriculture teacher at Mansfield Middle School.
A seventh and eighth grade social studies teacher at Mansfield Middle School.
A science teacher at Mansfield Senior High School.
A business law teacher in the Mansfield Senior High School’s career tech education program.
A school counselor at Mansfield Senior High School.
A social studies teacher at Mansfield Senior High School.
An advanced manufacturing teacher at Mansfield Senior High School.
An in-school intervention/in-school suspension/speech teacher at Mansfield Senior High School.
For more in-depth reporting on the financial situation of Mansfield City Schools, click here.