Editor's note:
The Akron Board of Education on Tuesday afternoon, in a 4-1 vote with two abstentions, placed Superintendent Michael Robinson on paid administrative leave — one day after an investigative report confirmed allegations that he bullied, harassed and retaliated against district staff, creating a hostile work environment.
A special meeting of the Akron Board of Education will be held Tuesday, April 15, at 4 p.m. following the completion of the months-long investigation into the conduct of Akron Public Schools’ Superintendent Michael Robinson and other district administrators.
While the report has not been made public, it comes as board member Gregory Harrison called on his colleagues at Monday’s school board meeting to place the embattled superintendent on paid administrative leave.
Robinson remained on the job during the investigation as the board spent hours in several lengthy executive sessions called to discuss personnel matters.
The public notice of the meeting, to be held at the Sylvester Small Administration Building, stated it will “recess into executive session to consider the employment, dismissal, and discipline of a public employee(s) and/or official(s) and to take potential action, in open session, related to the employment, dismissal, and discipline of a public employee(s) and/or official(s).”
During Robinson’s tenure, the district passed its first levy in 12 years. The district also boasts the highest graduation rate component rating (88.1%) among Ohio’s eight largest districts.
But Robinson’s position as the public education leader in Akron has also been marked by a series of public missteps, from threats against union members and a poor relationship with the district’s treasurer to accusations of bullying from a board member.
What happens next?
It’s unclear whether action will be taken at the special board meeting or how the board will proceed now that it has the findings of the investigation in hand.
The investigative report, completed by the law firm Brennan Manna Diamond, is expected to be paired with suggestions compiled by a second law firm, Bricker Graydon, related to the superintendent.
They’re likely to include the possibility of termination, a structured buyout of Robinson, suspension, or executive coaching, according to several board members. The board does not have to follow the report’s suggestions and can chart its own course for responding to the information it shares.
Also unclear is what the difference will be between the draft version of the report delivered to board members Monday and a final report.
Robinson’s tenure marked by numerous public controversies, passage of levy
Robinson was hired in July 2023, following the resignation of Christine Fowler Mack, who was hired in April 2021 and resigned in February 2023. Mack followed longtime leader David James, who spent after 13 years in the role.
Since Robinson took over in 2023, several controversies have rippled into public view, including:
- Robinson spoke to a church congregation in May, saying he was facing his “crucifixion” at the hands of detractors. At the time, his guest sermon drew the ire of the Akron Education Association, the teachers’ union, which has filed nearly 20 grievances and one lawsuit against the district.
- Board member Rene Molenaur wrote a lengthy letter in July to her board colleagues outlining a series of incidents in which she said Robinson was dismissive of her, threatened legal action against her, and ultimately screamed at her in a Zoom meeting.
- The implementation of a new full-day pre-kindergarten program raised concerns about staffing shortages that teachers said led to hygiene and safety issues for the young students. A quote from the superintendent in a press release appeared to violate national labor laws, drawing a grievance from the teachers’ union. The issues have continued for months. In March, teachers in the program raised concerns publicly to the Board of Education.
- In December, Director of Facilities Services Steve Keenan was removed from his supervisor role after he sent a letter to then-School Board President Diana Autry accusing Robinson of subjecting employees to “ridicule, demeaning behavior, and beratement.”
- Robinson sent emails set to self-delete from recipients’ inboxes using the Google Confidential setting. While not strictly illegal, the practice drew the ire of board members. First Amendment experts also said his actions violated the public’s trust and limited transparency.
- The Akron Education Association filed an unfair labor practice against the district for its decision to lay off four union-represented school psychologists. It’s the fifth unfair labor practice filed against the district during Robinson’s tenure.
- The Beacon Journal’s Jennifer Pignolet recently reported that Robinson began berating and threatening employees as soon as he started his job in 2023. The story reports that Robinson told employees that they’re all replaceable. It also alleges that Robinson insinuated that all students at Buchtel Community Learning Center are criminals.
Robinson’s administration has also undergone a series of departmental reorganizations as senior-level staff have left the district. Yamini Adkins, the executive director of human capital, and Mike Defibaugh, the director of labor relations, both submitted their resignations in December.
One highlight of Robinson’s time as superintendent is the passage of the district’s levies in November, which will give the district enough revenue to avoid major deficit spending for the next few years and build a new North High School.