Akron Public Schools is in a tough spot with aging facilities in need of significant repair, or in the case of North High School, replacement; while projecting year-over-year deficits. The school board has taken action by reorganizing administrative responsibilities and eliminating two positions, while signaling more staffing cuts are on the way. All this while the district is being lead by interim superintendent after the resignation of Christine Fowler-Mack who was only on the job for a year and a half. 

 

Akron school board, facing deficit, cuts two high-level administrative posts, promises more

Ideastream Public Media | By Conor Morris

Published May 23, 2023

 

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The Akron Board of Education late Tuesday night voted to cut two high-level administrative positions after three-plus hours in a closed-door executive session. More layoffs are likely as the district faces financial challenges.

 

The cuts will affect the positions of longtime district administrator Rachel Tecca, assistant superintendent and chief of leadership and learning, and Nicole Vitale, executive director of teaching and learning, who was hired by former Superintendent Christine Fowler-Mack last year.

 

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The five-year forecast approved by the board Monday night showed the district spending at a $6.5 million deficit for the next fiscal year, which starts in July. The deficit is projected to be $37 million in the following year. Hall said those deficit projections prompted the reduction of the two high-level administrative positions.

 

https://www.ideastream.org/education/2023-05-23/akron-school-board-facing-deficit-cuts-two-high-level-administrative-posts-promises-more

 

North High School teachers say Akron school desperately needs replacement

Ideastream Public Media | By Conor Morris

Published May 23, 2023

 

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North High School teachers, alumni and others showed up to the Akron Board of Education meeting Monday night, arguing the building, the oldest parts of which are more than 90 years old, is in desperate need of replacement.

 

Teachers reported dealing with failing heating and cooling systems, collapsing ceilings, pests like roaches, and health issues resulting from the building’s poor conditions. The concern came as community members - and the board - toured the building over the weekend as part of a "Rally to Rebuild" demonstration, meant to encourage the board to prioritize the building's replacement.

 

Lindsey Trivisonno, an early childhood education pathway teacher, said replacing the building needs to be a top priority.

https://www.ideastream.org/education/2023-05-23/north-high-school-teachers-say-akron-school-desperately-needs-replacement

 

Akron Board of Education moves forward with school superintendent search

Ideastream Public Media | By Conor Morris

Published April 26, 2023

 

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The Akron Board of Education voted 6-1 Wednesday to move forward with a search for a new superintendent despite concerns from one board member and some in the community.

 

The vote comes as the board has faced criticism for alleged micromanagement of former superintendent Christine Fowler-Mack, who left the district last month after less than a year and a half on the job.

 

Meanwhile, three seats will be up for re-election in November, with current board president Derrick Hall and board member Valerie McKitrick’s terms ending, while a vote will be needed to choose a permanent replacement for N.J. Akbar who left recently to focus on a new job (new board member Rene Molenaur was appointed this week to that vacant seat). Hall is also running for an Akron City Council seat.

https://www.ideastream.org/education/2023-04-26/akron-board-of-education-moves-forward-with-school-superintendent-search

North High School apparently got bumped to the bottom of the priority list in terms of facilities.  I'm sure the district doesn't have the bond capacity to build many new high schools simultaneously.  The newly-expanded Firestone High School just opened maybe 3-4 years ago.  And building a new Garfield High School was a high priority because they consolidated Kenmore and Garfield; that new HS just opened last year (i.e., for the current 2022-2023 school year just ending).

 

Also, just eyeballing what I see around town, upgrading elementary schools seems to have been the higher priority overall.  Many of the elementary schools I pass all over town have clearly been recently renovated, even if I didn't necessarily follow the timeline or whatever bond issue made it possible.

 

I'd be interested in seeing enrollment trends at North over the past decade or two.  There's not a lot of new construction in that neighborhood, but it's also the school that would cover North Hill, where Akron's growing Nepali immigrant population is centered.

Akron schools choose next superintendent, contract negotiations remain

Ideastream Public Media | By Conor Morris

Published June 29, 2023 at 11:08 PM EDT

 

"The Akron Board of Education voted late Thursday night to move forward with pursuing C. Michael Robinson Jr. to be the district’s next superintendent.

 

The board voted, after more than six hours in executive session, to allow chair Derrick Hall to engage in contract negotiations with Robinson, who is chief academic officer for East Baton Rouge Parish Public Schools. The district has previously said it hopes to have a superintendent in place by Aug. 1.

 

Robinson was superintendent of Pine Bluff School District in Arkansas and worked two-and-a-half years as a leadership coach in Texas before his time at East Baton Rouge, according to his resume. Before that, he had administrative and principal jobs at public schools in Maryland and Georgia after about six years spent as a teacher."

 

https://www.ideastream.org/education/2023-06-29/akron-schools-choose-next-superintendent-contract-negotiations-remain

Akron Public Schools opts for new school in Kenmore; replacement for North High will have to wait

Ideastream Public Media | By Conor Morris

Published July 10, 2023 at 9:46 PM EDT

 

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The Kenmore neighborhood on Akron's southwest side will get a new school facility for the first time in at least two decades following a vote by the Board of Education Monday night.

 

However, due to a tough financial outlook, that win for Kenmore residents - who have lobbied the board for a new school to boost neighborhood vitality that had been lost over years of school closures - comes at a cost for students and staff at North High School on Akron's north side. Students, parents and other advocates have raised concerns about poor building conditions at North in recent months as well, lobbying the board not to force them to wait for a building replacement.

 

The board's current plan is to wait to get a 1.75-mill bond issue approved by voters to pay for construction of an estimated $83.5 million building to replace North High School. In the meantime, North will need $20 million in fixes to keep it going over the next few years, with the hope of constructing the new replacement by August 2028.

 

https://www.ideastream.org/education/2023-07-10/akron-public-schools-opts-for-new-school-in-kenmore-replacement-for-north-high-will-have-to-wait

Akron Public Schools introduces its new superintendent, C. Michael Robinson

Ideastream Public Media | By Conor Morris

Published July 11, 2023

 

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Akron Public Schools officially welcomed its new superintendent during a press conference Tuesday, after the Board of Education approved a new contract with C. Michael Robinson Jr. Monday night.

 

Robinson will have his work cut out for him, with the district facing looming deficit spending as soon as 2027, as well as struggles with student academic performance, absenteeism and behavior made worse by the pandemic.

 

Robinson takes the reins after his predecessor, former superintendent Christine Fowler-Mack, stepped down from the position after roughly a year and a half on the job. She faced a challenging relationship with the board - some in the community accused the board of micromanaging her after a harsh evaluation last year. She also faced criticism from the district teachers’ union, which almost went on strike in January after stalled negotiations.

 

 

https://www.ideastream.org/education/2023-07-11/akron-public-schools-introduces-its-new-superintendent-c-michael-robinson

Akron schools to 'right-size' district due to declining population, closing facilities

Ideastream Public Media | By Conor Morris

Published December 11, 2023

 

Akron Public Schools says it plans to "right-size" the district in the wake of years of declining enrollment, constructing new schools and closing some old ones, the district said in an early December news release.

 

The school district is set to host meetings Monday at Firestone Park Elementary and Thursday at East Community Learning Center to discuss changing school building boundaries, and the closure of some school buildings.

 

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In total, the district is closing Firestone Park, Pfeiffer and Essex elementary schools (Essex is currently being used as a kindergarten) as well as the Miller South School for the Performing Arts and the Stewart preschool, according to a facilities plan approved by the Akron Board of Education earlier this year. The board of education in that resolution also approved a plan to house the Miller South and Pfeiffer students at a new building, to be constructed at the former Kenmore High School location. The district has said it also wishes to rebuild North High School but currently doesn't have a plan for how to fund that construction.

 

https://www.ideastream.org/education/2023-12-11/akron-schools-to-right-size-district-due-to-declining-population-closing-facilities

What a shame to close Firestone Park. A beautiful school in a walkable neighborhood.