Nearly two dozen community leaders turned out Thursday night at the Raemelton administration building for the last of three focus groups dates that will help to shape Mansfield City Schools’ five-year Strategic Plan.
“You could feel the sense of energy and enthusiasm among the group about the future of our district,” Superintendent Stan Jefferson said. “Our schools and our entire community are working together for mutual success.”
Dr. Bobby Moore of EPiC Impact Education Group led the discussion. Moore’s firm is working with the board of education and district administrators to complete the plan by late summer.
Among the dozen topics Thursday evening:
-- What are the district’s biggest challenges?
-- What are the district’s biggest successes?
-- What knowledge, skills and dispositions should our high school graduates have?
-- What would you like to see improved in the next five years?
In January and again earlier this month, Dr. Moore conducted focus groups sessions in which participants were asked what they thought the priorities of the five-year plan should be. Those sessions included parents, other community residents, district staff and high school juniors and seniors.
Jefferson has described the Strategic Plan as a blueprint for the district to follow toward greater success on a wide range of topics, including steadily improving academic achievement, conducive learning environments in every building and the most efficient use of facilities.
“Dr. Moore expressed his excitement that so many layers of the community -- including parents of students from kindergarten through high school and the Mansfield School Employees Association – have contributed their input,” Jefferson said.
“Joining us Thursday evening were Chris Hiner, president of Richland Bank; Brady Groves, president of Richland County Foundation; Dr. Larry Rawls, president of the Mansfield Interdenominational Ministerial Association; Dr. Dorey Diab, president of North Central State College; Dr. Norman Jones, dean and director of Ohio State University-Mansfield; retired Judge Jeff Payton and many, many others.”
The final step in gathering community viewpoints will be an extensive online community survey. More information about the survey will be provided next week.
Others who participated in Thursday’s discussion were Pastor Renea Collins, Nikia Fletcher, George Csanyi, Tyree Shine, Debbie Schenk, Ludi Schenk, Brigitte Coles, Clint Knight, Anyun Chatterjee, Eric Stigall. Aaron Williams and Paul Hasenauer.
*** Photo and story courtesy of Tygerpride.com**