MANSFIELD — The Mansfield City Schools board of education approved a new treasurer for the district at its Tuesday night meeting.
Ashland native Tacy Courtright will join the Tygers next year.
“We’ve been around many cycles looking at candidates and looking at what our needs are for our district and our community,” said board president Renda Cline. “She has a lot of experience in areas that we need.”
Courtright worked as a budget analyst for Columbus City Schools since 2012. Before that, she worked as assistant finance director for the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission in Columbus, also serving as an accountant and senior budget analyst.
Courtright graduated from Ashland High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from Ashland University. She also has a treasurer’s license endorsement.
“I’m happy that we’re getting someone that’s a local person, somebody that wants to be here long term,” said board member Chris Elswick.
Courtwright was offered a two-year contract commencing Aug. 25, 2020 and ending July 31, 2022. She thanked the board and said she was excited to return to north central Ohio.
“I’m just excited to be that much closer to home. That’s been my husband’s and my long-term goal, trying to get back,” she said.
The board considered seven candidates for the treasurer position, including Mansfield 5th Ward Councilman Jason Lawrence.
In other business, school resource officer Matt Brewster briefed the board on his plans for using the school safety threat assessment grant from the Ohio Attorney General’s office.
Brewster said he pursued the grant because he expects schools will be mandated to create school safety threat assessment teams in the future and wanted to get a head start.
The school safety threat assessment team will made up of teachers and staff who evaluate the danger level of any threats of violence made by students.
He also hopes the teams will help keep troubled students from “falling through the cracks,” noting that some students who make threats may be “in crisis” or acting out due to external factors.
“If there’s a course of action that doesn’t require law enforcement, we want to make sure we get them the services they need,” Brewster said.
“Obviously I have a job to do. I have to ensure safety and if I have to cite a kid, I have to cite a kid,” he added. “However, if I can counsel them, get them the services they need, that’s my ultimate goal.”
Cline thanked Brewster for his approach.
“I love that it is proactive, you’re looking at the climate and you’re making the adjustments before we have a crisis and that’s the way it should be,” Cline said.
The board also unanimously passed a resolution denouncing racism, stating that it will not be tolerated in the district.
“I’m very proud that our board came together to make a stance on how we feel, in particular that we denounce racism,” Cline said. “It has no place in education, it has no place at all in this county.”
“As a district, we will not tolerate any acts of hatred or exclusion. Now more than ever, we must confront hatred and stand up for one another,” said Supt. Stan Jefferson. “We will continue as a district to have ongoing conversations about racism, social injustice and privilege and will make positive changes for the betterment of our district.
“We will commit as a district that we will continue to celebrate the diversity of our community and always advocate for inclusiveness and equity.”
During his update, Jefferson noted the district is preparing to offer an online schooling option for its students in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We must be able to prepare for whatever plan comes from the governor and the Ohio Department of Health,” Jefferson said.
While the most recent word from the governor is that schools will be open in the fall, Jefferson said that there still may be parents who feel safer keeping their children at home.
“Based upon surveys that we’ve seen from our parents, there will be a situation where some parents may want to elect to send their child for online schooling,” he said. “We are working as a district to be able to provide those opportunities for an online school.”
He also stated that the district’s CARES Act funding will be used for Chromebook replacement, purchasing personal protective equipment and providing WiFi for families in the district that cannot afford it.
