AKRON, Ohio — Akron Public Schools announced more changes to its proposed redistricting plan at the Board of Education meeting Monday night.
"From the first time that we started this up until now, there have been changes along the way," APS Superintendent Dr. Michael Robinson said, citing continued conversations with parents and citizens.
Robinson says literacy improvement is a big focus for the district, and that starts in pre-kindergarten. His goal is for all students to be enrolled in full-day pre-K starting next school year.
However, such enrollment factors would determine if buildings initially set to close in the redistricting plan — Essex and Stewart Early Learning Centers — would need to stay open.
"We're doing the best that we can with what we have to work with," Robinson told those assembled, "but we have to also remember that we must make sure that our buildings are to capacity."
A district spokesperson said a vote on this proposed plan was initially on the agenda Monday night, but was pulled shortly before the meeting began. That led to confusion from some Board members.
"So is this saying that throughout all of the other changes that are happening now, we also aren't going to close Stewart and Essex?" Board Member Dr. Rene Molenaur asked. "We're not going to do what we voted to do?"
Another change called for a special open enrollment period that district leaders say could open as soon as this Wednesday for students who want to go to a school outside of their new zone.
The lengthy plan includes moving STEM High School to Robinson CLC, which will cost $500,000 to $1 million on updates for programs like robotics and eSports. Robinson CLC students would then be moved to David Hill CLC or Mason CLC. APS leases STEM High School from the University of Akron, and that lease is up.
One parent shared their concerns.
"I am disappointed that Akron Public Schools has waited for its two premier schools at the very last minute to try to accommodate those programs," Chris Davis said. "So it's kind of like you're trying to shoehorn one of the premier programs now, at the clock striking midnight, into a different school."
Davis specifically expressed frustration over transportation for STEM students.
"Akron STEM School has a special relationship with Akron University," he said. "Please, please try to make accommodations to address that partnership and make sure those kids have that maintained connection."
APS says the meeting for the board's vote on the final proposal will be scheduled within the week.