Update:
On Thursday, July 24, the Akron Education Association voted to approve the tentative agreement associated between the teacher's union and Akron Public Schools. “AEA remained steadfast in advocating for a contract that respects the professionalism of Akron educators and supports the needs of students and families across the district,” said AEA president Pat Shipe.
After five months of “dedicated negotiation,” Akron Public Schools and the Akron Education Association have reached a tentative agreement on a new labor agreement.
The development, reached on Tuesday, follows more than a year of contentiousness between the teachers’ union and school district — including dozens of labor grievances and at least four unfair labor practice lawsuits filed by the union. All occurred during former Superintendent Michael Robinson’s tenure.
Contract details are scant for now, with neither side disclosing specifics ahead of final approval from union leadership and the Akron Board of Education.
AEA membership, which represents more than 2,000 teachers in Akron, is scheduled to meet on July 24 to vote on the agreement. The school board has not announced a meeting to specifically consider the contract, which its members will likely consider in executive session. The board’s next meeting is scheduled for July 28.
Akron schools superintendent calls tentative agreement an example of a ‘shared vision for student success’
“This tentative agreement is a testament to what we can accomplish when we work together with a shared vision for student success,” Superintendent Mary Outley said in a press release.
The new contract will last for three years, ending in June 2028.
“This development reflects the ongoing commitment of both the Association and the Board to support Akron’s students, families, and community through a stable, future-focused agreement that honors the dedication of our educators while addressing the evolving needs of the school system,” Pat Shipe, the president of the teacher’s union, said in a press release.
The status of the union’s unfair labor practice lawsuits remains unclear.
The last contract negotiation, under former Superintendent Christine Fowler Mack and former board president Derrick Hall, became contentious before it ended in January 2023. At one point, the union issued a 10-day strike notice and began to picket, according to media reports at the time. The action was averted by a tentative agreement.
