MANSFIELD, Ohio — Mansfield’s Board of Education approved a resolution Tuesday evening requesting the state auditor to remove the district from fiscal emergency.
“It’s my understanding that the district did this in less than 24 months and that’s fantastic. Well done to all involved,” said interim board treasurer Trevor Gummere.
Gummere said the resolution awaits the state auditor’s approval. If it is approved, the board of education will be under the state auditor’s oversight for six to eight months.
He also said the district can anticipate two tax renewal levies in 2018. If they are not passed, “They’re right back in emergency.”
“I support the commission’s resolution and their expertise in these matters,” added Gummere.
The resolution he referenced was passed by the Financial Planning and Supervision Commission at its last meeting on Oct. 27 which recommended the board be removed from fiscal emergency.
If approved by the state auditor, the district will have worked its way out of a $4.5 million deficit in two years. Most schools in similar situations take around four years, said Mansfield City Schools superintendent Brian Garverick.
“It feels good,” Garverick noted with a smile.
The district reluctantly entered fiscal emergency Dec. 17, 2013.
The resolution that announced fiscal emergency stated, “…an acceptable fiscal watch recovery plan for the Mansfield City School district is not achievable due to factors including contractual obligations and recent shortfalls in tax collections.”
During the two-year process, the district sustained a reduction-in-force, slicing approximately 150 jobs.
“We went through some painful adjustments but I think we’re seeing some growth and the teachers really made some big adjustments,” said Board of Education President Renda Cline. “It’s excellent news that we are moving in a better direction.”
In other news, Cline gave the board an update on the search for a district treasurer. She said the board will begin the first round of interviews soon.
“We look forward to introducing our permanent treasurer in January,” Cline said.
There are five candidates interviewing for the first out of two rounds. Gummere, she said, is one of the applicants.
“That is not uncommon for an interim. It’s good for us (the board) to see his work firsthand,” Cline said.
