Mansfield City Schools teachers and support staff gather for a continental breakfast in the Senior High commons Monday morning before moving to the auditorium for an opening-day program.
For teachers and support staff, the 2016-17 school year formally began Monday morning, 48 hours before the return of students.
“It’s August 15 already. That’s hard to believe,” Superintendent Brian Garverick said as he welcomed employees to the annual opening day program at Mansfield Senior High School.
Emphasizing how quickly time seems to pass, he recalled the dire predictions just before the calendar turned to Jan. 1, 2000.
“Remember Y2K? Seems like just yesterday. Remember how some said all the technology was going to fail? Remember?
“Well, some of you don’t because you were just young children,” he said, drawing laughter.
Garverick introduced 45 new or returning staff members by building, some of whom were called back after previous layoffs. He also used a slide presentation and brief video to outline how the district will implement professional development and other strategies to achieve academic improvement in response to a mandate from the Ohio Department of Education’s Center for Accountability and Continuous Improvement.
Board of Education President Renda Cline read the district mission statement, which says, “All students will be highly educated and prepared academically for personal success in life, for their chosen careers, for life-long learning, and for contributing positively to their local and national communities and global communities.”
She also said district goals, as defined by the board over the summer, will be adopted at Tuesday evening’s board meeting.
“Everything we do should lead back to student achievement,” Ms. Cline said. “As you touch all these young lives, let them touch yours too.”
Treasurer Robert Kuehnle said he hopes the district can be released from state-imposed fiscal emergency by April 1 and he cited the importance of passing two renewal levies on the May ballot.
Counselor Pam Jones, president of the Mansfield School Employees Association, told staff that they change lives.
“I know you all will rise to the occasion and be the best teachers that you are. Make children the best they can be,” she said. “You are these kids’ parents when they are in your classrooms.”
Dorey Diab, president of North Central State College, was guest speaker for the morning program. Afterward, staff were released to their respective buildings. Teachers will have a work day on Tuesday before classes start on Wednesday.
The district food service department provided a continental breakfast in the Senior High commons before the start of Monday’s program.