Akron Public Schools earlier this week shared plans to trim $10.2 million from its annual budget — a decision leaders said would impact 59 jobs across the school district.
Does that mean 59 educators and staff will lose their jobs?
The most likely outcome, said Chief of Staff Angela Carter, is that most of the positions would be lost through a combination of attrition — leaving open jobs unfilled — and layoffs. Only a fraction of the total, Carter added, are expected to be through layoffs.
“This plan is a proactive step to ensure we are maximizing every dollar to support our mission of preparing all APS scholars for college, career, and life readiness through innovative educational experiences, while ensuring the sustainability of our district,” Superintendent Michael Robinson said in a press release.
How many APS departments may be affected by budget cuts?
APS did not provide a breakdown of which positions would be cut, or whether losses would impact classrooms. The district did propose the following salary reductions during Monday afternoon’s Finance Committee meeting:
- $2 million from academics
- $85,000 from communications
- $2.6 million from operations
- $542,000 from schools and accountability
- $276,000 from student services and supports
- $147,000 from the Division of Talent and Organizational Development
When would layoffs begin?
The administration said it would begin notifying employees who are laid off on April 1 — two weeks before presenting the plan to the entire board for approval on April 14.
How much will APS save in its latest proposal?
The $10.2 million APS is asking the school board to approve in budget cuts includes a mix of operational expense reductions and personnel. If the plan is approved, the district would cut more than $4.4 million from operational expenses and $5.7 million in salary reductions.
“We’re proposing a reduction in force to eliminate redundant roles and create a leaner, more efficient organization,” Carter told the board. “Importantly, this reduction is based on structure, not individual performance.”
Has APS already started saving money by not filling open positions?
District administrators did not provide any financial details about savings through attrition, noting their obligation to let unions know before announcing anything publicly.
“Our approach prioritizes minimizing impact on current employees,” district spokeswoman Stacey Hodoh wrote in an email. “We are initially focusing on attrition through retirements and voluntary terminations. Subsequently, we are evaluating open, unfilled administrative and staff positions to assess their necessity and explore potential role consolidations.”
Why does APS need continued cost cutting after November’s levy was passed?
The proposed budget plan is the second such plan Robinson has floated to the school board. The first came in December; both left board members wanting more details.
The $10.2 million in cuts falls short of the $14 million the administration proposed cutting in December. Board members, specifically Barbara Sykes, asked the administration to create a plan to reduce expenses following the successful levy to ensure the district remains on stable financial footing through the life of its five-year forecast.
In November, Akron passed a dual bond and levy issue, which will fund the construction of a new North High School and provide $26.4 million annually for the district’s operating expenses.
Sykes noted the need for $10 million in cuts could go higher, given the math behind the state’s public education funding formula and higher-than-expected insurance rate increases, which Treasurer Steve Thompson also presented Monday. Still, she wants more details from the administration, regardless of the amount of cuts.
“It’s understanding how they’re getting to that dollar amount, to see if it’s an actual reduction,” Sykes said. “I need to understand it better, how are you getting to that $10.2 [million]?”
Will this impact contracts and upcoming union negotiations?
Carter said the administration would engage in contract renegotiations to come to terms that are more agreeable to the district.
In response to questions from Signal Akron, Hodoh said over email: “We have achieved notable success in renegotiating our energy capacity charges with Constellation, resulting in an estimated savings of $350,000 over two years, based on 2024 energy consumption. Additionally, we are transitioning waste management services from Republic Services to Waste Management, projecting annual savings of $200,000 over the next two years.”
All seven of the district’s unions are up for contract negotiations this year. The district recently entered into a contract with the law firm Pepple and Waggoner, which specializes in union negotiations.
On the operational side, Carter said the administration is considering cost reductions in the short term and cost avoidance in the longer term. One example of this was a reduction of energy use during peak load times during the summer, which the administration said saved around $400,000 this fiscal year.
