Mansfield City School’s Board of Education voted to sever ties with three charter schools Tuesday morning during a special meeting. The vote passed 4-0, ending the sponsorship effective on June 15, 2014.
Interactive Media and Construction, (IMAC) Inc., Mansfield Elective Academy, and Mansfield Enhancement Academy have been on academic probation since August of 2013. Management on various levels has been ongoing between Mansfield City Schools and the three charter schools since the probationary status. Mansfield City School District Treasurer Rosetta Stephans has been the charter schools’ fiscal manager.
In August, the board passed a resolution that invoked the probation based on “failure to meet student performance requirements and failure to meet generally accepted standards for fiscal management.”
Stephans’s responsibilities included managing funds and advising expenditures.
Superintendent Brian Garverick explained, “Current enrollment of these charter schools cannot be sustained to where they can reimburse us [Mansfield City Schools] for expenses. This situation would be a burden to taxpayers of Mansfield City Schools.”
IMAC Inc. currently has 63 students enrolled. Mansfield City Schools have sponsored them since 2005. Mansfield Elective Academy has received sponsorship since 2004 and currently has 34 students enrolled. Mansfield Enhancement Academy has received sponsorship since 2006 and currently has 23 students enrolled.
The three charter schools are located at the Ocie Hill Neighborhood Center, on 445 Bowman St. All three schools accept kindergarten through grade 12 students.
“The charter schools have every right to search out a new sponsor. This is part of why we voted on it today,” added Garverick. The schools will receive services and obligatory payments from Mansfield City Schools through June 15.
“The charter schools have every right to search out a new sponsor. This is part of why we voted on it today,” stated Superintendent Brian Garverick.
