Members of the Akron Board of Education on Monday reinstated public comment provisions into their redistricting policy months after removing them in order to speed up the process of deciding where students attend school.
They also approved reviews for Superintendent Michael Robinson and CFO/Treasurer Steve Thompson after meeting in executive session for more than two hours.
The need to reinstate public comment into the board’s redistricting policy dates back to March, when board members fast-tracked a vote that had long been delayed amid changes to the plan. But in passing a new policy to let themselves move quickly, board members eliminated public comment requirements in future votes.
Some board members pledged the change would be temporary, with board member Barbara Sykes saying then that restoring public notice would be a priority.
“I can assure you this will not go into No Man’s Land,” Sykes said in March. “It will not take all year to do this. It’ll be done post-haste.”
On Monday, she said the concerns of the public had been heard.
“Everything is back and hopefully is back to stay,” she said. “This is a promise made and a promise kept.”
Sykes said in addition to reinstating public comment, the board made a few “changes for the better.” The policy returned to the Legal, Contracts & Board Policy Committee, where it was negotiated before reaching the full board for consideration.
The new “assignment within district” policy requires the superintendent to give 30 days’ notice to the parents and guardians of current Akron public schools students and to members of the Board of Education before recommending changes to assigned schools. Those changes will then be brought to two consecutive board meetings, where the public will have the chance to offer feedback.
The policy says no other notices, including to the broader public, will be required for future redistricting proposals.
The new policy also requires that redistricting be considered annually instead of every four years — as was the case in the original policy — or periodically, in the updated version.
Board members approved the new policy with a 6-0 vote; vice president Carla Jackson was not present at the meeting.
Superintendent, treasurer reviews ‘glowing’
Board members voted 6-0 to approve the reviews for Robinson and Thompson.
The reviews were not immediately available Monday, but Diana Autry, the school board president, said the evaluations were positive.
“Both have glowing reviews,” she said. “We’re happy.”
Notably, the district’s last superintendent, Christine Fowler-Mack, resigned following a scathing performance review.
APS brings back five employees laid off after May job cuts
Board members also agreed, in a vote following executive session, to spend up to $90,000 this year, and more the following two years, on a contract with the North Coast Shared Services Alliance.
The group will assist Thompson with levy strategy, long-term planning and mentoring, among other categories.
And board members voted to bring five people who were laid off amid May’s job cuts back to work in the district.
They also agreed to hire a new director of safety and security. Alan Jones starts the job Tuesday after retiring earlier this year from the Akron Police Department.
