MANSFIELD, Ohio — Four candidates are running for two seats on the Mansfield Board of Education, two of them are incumbents.
According to Mansfield City Schools’ public relations officer Larry Gibbs, the board will elect a president and vice president during its annual reorganization meeting in January, 2016.
For additional information on the candidates, community members are encouraged to attend to a “Meet the Candidates” event on Monday, Oct. 26 in Mansfield Senior High School Auditorium from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Here’s a closer look at the choices for Mansfield voters:
Chauncey Bragg Sr.
Bragg said he does not have formal experience in the educational sector, but his professional experience comes from 16 years in the military.
“I had to teach the French, the British, the Danish, the Polish and the Jordanians how to use the computer system that we were using to track mine clearing,” said Bragg, who earned a joint commendation medal while overseas.
Bragg has two children, one at Mansfield Senior High School and the other at the Spanish Immersion School. He sees the school district’s graduation rate as the most important issue.
“They aren’t the best, and they’re not the worst. But we need to do a better job at monitoring the older grades because they aren’t held to the same standard as the younger grades,” Bragg said.
Renda Cline
Cline said administrators, teachers and parents approached her to run in 2010, and she was elected. She has one child in the school system.
“I’ve always been involved in my children’s academic careers, so I was always involved in the schools,” Cline aid.
Cline is concerned about closing the achievement gap and unifying the district, particularly the board.
“It’s not helpful when we are being torn apart from the inside-out. We have enough challenges on the outside that we don’t need to tear ourselves apart on the inside,” Cline said.
Cliff Crose
Crose worked in the school district for 13 years before he was elected as a board member in 2010.
“I figured that if I was going to complain that I might as well do it on the board,” Crose said.
As a hall monitor, custodian and groundskeeper at Arlin Field, Crose had exposure to students and administration. His main concern is directed toward the board’s current President, Renda Cline.
“The only way things are going to change for good in the district is if she’s gone. That’s my main concern in the whole district,” Crose said. “If she resigns, I resign.”
Sheryl Weber
Weber has worked 32 years in Mansfield schools, first as a teacher and 10 as an administrator.
“I have no personal agenda, I have no child in this school system, no grandchildren in the school system. I have nothing to gain except to see those kids be successful,” Weber said.
Weber’s main concern is turn around negative perceptions. She wants to reinstate programs and promote existing programs.
“We have such wonderful programs and they’re hidden. It’s that two or three percent of negativity that gets the most attention,” Weber said. “We shoot ourselves in the foot by not actively promoting ourselves all the time. I think that needs to be done.”
