Akron Public Schools board approved layoffs Monday night for school deans, paraprofessionals, library aides and one art therapist with the district facing what it called tough financial decisions.
In total, the board of education approved $11 million in budget reductions that it had deliberated on for more than two months. Akron Superintendent Mary Outley had initially proposed cutting more than three dozen staff, but after the board balked at that initial plan, the administration went back to the drawing board, cutting budgets elsewhere and reducing the total number of layoffs.
Districts across Northeast Ohio have been cutting staff, reducing programs and closing school buildings in recent months as advocates say state funding has not kept up with rising costs. Critics, meanwhile, argue schools are due to cut back on expenses after enrollment declined due to birth rates and other factors. The and across the region also failed in the May 5 primary as residents deal with rising property taxes and increased costs of living.
That fact was top of mind for Akron school board member Greg Harrison Monday, noting the district can't expect to turn to taxpayers for help. The district recently had its own levy approved by voters in November 2024.
"This is a tough, tough decision to make, and it's not one that I think any of us are making lightly," Harrison said. "We have to cut $11 million dollars this year. We have start by cutting $27 million for next year. I am mindful that last Tuesday on Election Day five school levies did not pass... And so I have to look at this with an eye towards if we don't receive any money from any other source.
"We know that the state is trying to defund public education and undermine our public school system. But we also have to spend the money that we have... wisely," he added.
In total, the board approved layoffs for:
- Six school-based deans, who act as assistant principals at six schools
- Four learning resource center technicians, who help out in the district's media centers and school libraries
- Six paraprofessional intervention specialists, who work with students with disabilities
- One art therapist
The budget reduction plan also includes cutting open positions and holding off on purchasing items such as laptops and textbooks. 精东影业 also reported previously that holding off on purchasing new math books for a year would save more than $3 million, and budgets for individual departments would be slashed by 6.5% across the board.
