AKRON, Ohio — The imbalance of enrollment and older buildings in need of repair are just some of the reasons Akron Public Schools is citing for the need to close multiple schools.
It's no coincidence that Tuesday's redistricting meeting took place at one of those planned locations: Firestone Park Elementary, which is more than 100 years old.
"I think the elephant in the room is what's going to happen to this building once it is eventually sold?" one man in the audience asked with concern for the structure's future.
Akron at one point had over 100,000 children enrolled in the district, but now, it's down to 20,000. APS recently unveiled its comprehensive redistricting and restructuring proposal, which includes not only new boundary lines, but the planned closures of Firestone Park Elementary, Essex Early Learning Center, and Stewart Early Learning Center.
As expected, parents have plenty of questions.
"I did open enrollment during the regular timeframe for my fourth grader going into fifth grade," one woman asked the school officials at the meeting. "Will that be affected by anything with the redistricting?"
"What happens to my property tax, my property value?" another pondered, visibly frustrated. "My property value goes down, because no one wants their kid bussed across [town to] school."
It's been a tedious yet painful decision to close schools in Akron, with many of the decisions made even before the arrival of new Superintendent Dr. Michael C. Robinson Jr. this past July. Particularly difficult has been the impending farewell of Firestone Park, which carries its scars on the hardwood floor, the wooden desks, and a stage that has seen thousands of students perform
"What is the plan to make sure that this building isn't ripped?" many are now wondering.
According to Akron Education Association President Pat Shipe, the Board of Education plans to formally approve the redistricting plan in January. After that, parents could potentially begin the enrollment period a month later, but it's unlikely kids will start in their new schools during the 2024-25 academic year.