The campaign culminated in a tense school board meeting Thursday in which the school board’s final decision not to renew Mann’s contract prompted shouts of disapproval.
Mann previously said he was not given a reason for his contract being dropped. He declined to comment about being placed on leave this week.
“Given the emotions of the situation, I think it’s a prudent move,” Kramer said Monday.
According to the Ohio Revised Code, a district may place any employee on paid leave at its discretion.
Four of the five Northeastern school board members were present at the vote last week and three voted to not renew Mann’s contract. More than 25 community members stood up and vocalized their support for Mann, including the student body president, the possible valedictorian of the 2014 graduating class and a current math teacher at the high school.
For the first four years of an Ohio teacher’s career, they sign a one-year, limited contract, which is renewed on a year-to-year basis. Mann has served four years and if the school district were to offer him a new contract, it would be for a three-year commitment, Kramer said.
Mann made $34,713 per year plus $3,000 for coaching football in 2013, according to Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel’s state employee pay database. According to Mann, he made between $36,048 and $37,717 for the current school year.
Kramer said his classes will be taught by a substitute while Mann is on leave. The district has about one month left of classes.
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