AKRON, Ohio — After months of public debate, Akron Public Schools now has its redistricting plan in place.
The Board of Education approved the final proposal Wednesday night following several changes and input from members of the community. The lengthy plan notably calls for the closure of Firestone Park Elementary School as well as the termination of the Essex and Stewart early learning programs. All of those students will be transferred, although Essex is expected to welcome new pre-K students at a later date.
“We have to achieve a balance,” said Superintendent Dr. Michael Robinson in a statement. “For years in our city, while we were busy rebuilding our inventory and consolidating our footprint, population changes created new challenges we must meet. We must address our building capacity amid a diverse yet declining population throughout our city."
APS says the closing of Firestone Park next school year will see its scholars going to McEbright, Voris or Glover community learning centers in the Garfield cluster of schools.
In addition, Robinson Community Learning Center students will be moved to David Hill and Mason CLCs, while STEM High School students will move into the Robinson CLC building. STEM High had been leasing the old Central-Hower High School complex from the University of Akron, but that agreement will end at the conclusion of this school year.
The district has also laid out a plan to address overcrowding at Harris-Jackson Community Learning Center:
- Barber CLC: Scholars from Harris-Jackson CLC will be transferred to Barber CLC.
- Harris-Jackson CLC: Kindergarten students from Essex will join Harris-Jackson CLC.
- Seiberling CLC: Scholars from Barber CLC will be welcomed at Seiberling CLC.
- Forest Hill CLC: Some current scholars will transition to Harris-Jackson CLC.
An earlier plan had called for STEM High to share the East CLC building with students already at that high school, but that proposal was met with backlash from parents due to concerns over safety as well as transportation. While Robinson is only slightly closer than East, the STEM students will have the building all to themselves.
APS says the plan is in response to population changes over the last 20 years. However, some teachers continued to share their concerns at the special meeting tonight.
"We need some answers," Sue Loughrie, who works with the early learning program, said. "We need answers for our children, for our families, and our staff.
However, Robinson stressed that the time to finish the redistricting process was now.
"It is not fair that our teachers have had to wait, our parents have had to wait," Robinson told those at the meeting. "Our kids are anxious, we are anxious, and we are doing the best that we can do."
Parents with questions can find more information at akronschools.com.
"Our conversations have been productive with our community. Our families need to be fully aware of what we are planning," Robinson added. "We have listened to their voices. This has been very important to this process."