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Akron school board OKs elimination of 285 jobs, saving $24 million

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Akron school board OKs elimination of 285 jobs, saving million

The Akron Public Schools board voted Monday night to eliminate about 285 jobs, saving $24 million through a combination of layoffs and attrition.

The vote was 5-1 on the main reduction in force votes, with Rene Molenaur dissenting and Bruce Alexander abstaining.

Employees received preliminary notices last week if they were on the list to be cut, but official notices will now be sent. The names of those to be laid off were included in one of the board resolutions.

About 160 people — including teachers and administrators — will be losing their job across all areas of the district.

About 52 teachers are losing a job. An additional 77 non-certified tutors on one-year contracts will not have their contracts renewed and are included in the layoff totals.

The votes came almost four hours into a marathon board meeting Monday night where board members received two presentations about district finances and the proposed cuts. They asked several questions as they tried to wrap their heads around the impact of the cuts and the implications of their votes.

The meeting was at time tense, as Molenaur expressed frustration at the tight timeline and questions she said she’d asked that went unanswered. Board President Diana Autry used her gavel to rein in Molenaur’s complaints, saying she had asked many questions but that at some point, they had to move forward.

About 150 Akron teachers rallied ahead of the meeting, where early-career teachers who are on the list to be cut stood next to their mentors, some in tears, as they faced the reality that they are likely to lose the jobs they just acquired.

If jobs open up do to resignations, some who are laid off could be recalled, but there are no guarantees now that the vote is final.

Teachers in the crowd held signs, one asking if the superintendent will take a pay cut, others saying “support our teachers” and “Support for teachers = support for students.”

Leadership from the Akron Education Association spoke at the rally, lobbing accusations of unionbusting and painting the superintendent as a leader unwilling to meet with them.

Union leaders said the district was laying off teachers who are assigned to work in central office but are still covered by the union, and creating new positions that will be non-union to replace them.

‘We love these teachers’: Garfield high students walk out to protest Akron Public Schools’ layoffs

“I want all of you to know that AEA leadership is and will continue to fight what we believe an unwarranted attack on our labor union,” President Pat Shipe said in a speech to the crowd. “Be mindful to take care of yourselves. We will get through this. Speaking to truth, doing what is right, advocating for your students and families, I believe that we will all prevail.”

District spokesman Mark Williamson called the unionbusting claim “speculation.”

“This allegation has not been brought to the district’s attention,” he said in a statement. “That would be the appropriate way to address such concerns. Therefore, we will not respond to assertions based on speculation.”  

The board meeting is still going. Watch live here.

This story will be updated.

Contact education reporter Jennifer Pignolet at jpignolet@thebeaconjournal.com, at 330-996-3216 or on Twitter @JenPignolet.

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