Funding the future: Mansfield, it’s time to get off the bench and into the game

Today concludes a five-part series called “Funding the Future,” which examines the financial picture of the Mansfield City Schools.

To read the full series, click the links below:

Monday: An overview of Mansfield City Schools’ recent financial history.
Tuesday: How MCS found its way into — and out of — fiscal oversight
Wednesday: MCS enrollment declines, deficit-spending continues
Thursday: Five things you may not know about MCS finances
Friday: How can you get involved in the effort?

MANSFIELD — “Decisions are made by those who show up.”

It’s something Richland Source Managing Editor Larry Phillips says often enough that it took a Google search for me to realize it’s actually a quote from The West Wing, a political TV drama based on a fictional presidential administration.

But the words ring true nonetheless.

This week, Richland Source has looked at the financial history of Mansfield City Schools, from a pre-pandemic period of state oversight to the district’s challenges today.

Last month, the district submitted a deficit reduction plan to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. This week, district officials told Richland Source the plan has been approved by the state.

The plan is projected to reduce district costs by $5.3 million next school year and about $7.2 million each in the next three school years. Most of these savings come in the form of staff cuts, some of which were approved Tuesday night.

If the plan is implemented fully, it’s projected to keep the district out of deficit spending through the 2027-2028 school year. But district officials have said more cuts or even a new levy attempt could be possible in the future.

Now, it’s time to ask: What’s next?

Public schools are accountable to the citizens they serve. But ensuring the long-term success and viability of a public school district doesn’t happen without the public. So here’s how the community can show up by getting involved:

Talk to the people in charge

School districts are run by the superintendent. Financial operations are handled by the treasurer with assistance from her staff.

School board members typically act on recommendations from these administrators, who are working in the district full-time. But that doesn’t mean they don’t play an important role in the running of the district.

School board members are the community’s elected representatives. District expenditures, contracts, policies and procedures ultimately require their approval.

The Ohio School Boards Association puts it this way:

“The board’s most important role is to employ the superintendent and treasurer and work closely with them to establish and set policy, vision and long-range goals and be accountable for the fiscal health and opportunities provided to the district’s students and families. . .

The board is a policymaking body and members are the chief advisers to the superintendent on community attitudes. Board members do not manage the day-to-day operations of a school district; they see to it that the system is managed well by professional administrators.

Board members do not evaluate staff, other than the superintendent and treasurer, nor do they typically become involved in employment interviews, other than those of the superintendent, business manager and treasurer.“

So if you have a question or concern, contact an administrator or school board member.

Go to a school board meeting

School board meetings are open to the public. Meetings generally take place on the first and third Tuesday of the month at 5:30 p.m. at the Raemelton Administration building.

The board’s homepage on the district website includes a link to the 2025 regular board meeting schedule, board policies and both current and past meeting agendas.

Those who wish to speak at a school board meeting should show up a few minutes early, fill out a one-page form and hand it to the treasurer before the meeting begins.

Members of the public who wish to speak to the board do so during the public participation portion of the meeting. Public participation is available at every regular board meeting, per school board policy.

Also per board policy, members of the public may only speak on matters related to an item on the board’s agenda. Members of the public who wish to speak must state their name and address before they begin.

Speakers are limited to four minutes, although the board president may offer to extend their time.

Stay informed of changes at the state and national level

Like all public schools, Mansfield City’s finances are directly impacted by decisions made at the state and federal level.

Ohio legislators are currently working on the next biennium budget, which will determine how state operating funds are spent for the next two years.

That includes operational funding provided to Ohio schools.

Because of low property tax values, Mansfield receives a greater share of its overall funding from the state than the average school district.

Gov. Mike DeWine has proposed fully phasing in the “Fair School Funding Plan,” a formula first included in the state budget in 2022.

The formula was designed to address an Ohio Supreme Court ruling that found public school funding in the state is unconstitutional because it’s too reliant on property tax values.

But some school officials are concerned higher property values will impact the state’s calculations on how much local tax revenue a school district can reasonably generate.

Meanwhile, some public school supporters have criticized DeWine’s proposal because it doesn’t update the formula’s base costs (or inputs) to reflect how inflation has affected schools.

It’s still too early to tell how changes with the U.S. Department of Education will impact school. But it’s never too early to contact your elected officials at the state and federal level with your questions and concerns.

Run for school board

Want to really get involved in the future of Mansfield City Schools? Three seats on the board could be up for grabs in the November election.

Board members Chris Elswick, Linda Golden and Gary Feagin will all be completing their elected term at the end of the year. It’s unclear if any plan to run for re-election.

No candidates have filed to run, according to the Richland County Board of Elections website.

Brandon Polak, a 2024 graduate of Mansfield Senior High School, has pulled a petition.

Petitions are available at the board of elections office. They must be returned, along with a $30 filing fee, by Aug. 6 at 4 p.m.

The number of signatures a candidate needs on their petition depends on the size and population of their district. Candidates in Mansfield City Schools need at least 75.

“We always recommend coming in with way more than that,” said Matt Finfgeld, director of the Richland County Board of Elections.

Finfgeld said signatures are scrutinized closely and invalid signatures don’t count towards the total requirement.

A signature could be invalid if the person who signed isn’t registered to vote at their current address or their signature doesn’t match the one on file with the board of elections.

Finfgeld said he’s seen signatures not count because the signee printed their name in an effort to make it legible.

Under Ohio law, a school board candidate must be a U.S. citizen who is at least 18 years old. Candidates must be a resident of the school district and registered to vote in the school district for at least 30 days prior to the election.

Regardless of how you plan to get involved, remember that school finance is complicated. Supporting your school district means showing up anyway.

It also means not being afraid to ask tough questions and be open to nuanced perspectives. There are no perfect solutions. There are no easy answers.

But there are great school systems for the communities willing to accept nothing less.