Diana Autry (board president) started the meeting at 5:30 pm with all members present Jennifer Towell swore in Gregory Harrison to the board beaconjournal.com/story/news/edu…

Robinson said Acme is partnering with APS to support the Superintendent's Book Club Autry allowed Harrison to have more than 3 minutes for his reflection akronschools.com/book-club

Harrison recognized his second grade teacher and his parents He said he is a product of APS and that his success is due to the love and support of APS teachers and staff during his schooling

Other board members gave the following reflections: Rene Molenaur encouraged residents to attend the Sam Salem CLC trunk or treat Carla Jackson encouraged young people to register to vote Autry spoke about football games she attended

Carla Chapman (APS Citizen Committee member) said the committee is speaking at local meetings about the issue 27 (a levy to build a new North High School and increase APS operations funding) Volunteers are canvassing in wards including 1, 2, and 8 signalakron.org/akron-schools-…

Linda Omobien (Akron City Council) said she personally endorses the Levy A Freedom Bloc representative said the presence of armed police officers in schools has resulted violence against students and encouraged non violent solutions to student safety signalakron.org/video-shows-ak…

Michael Robinson said a student and two Student Resource Officers (SRO) had an altercation at Firestone CLC at a metal detector before school He said he reviewed the footage and he requested those SROs are removed from schools. He spoke with city officials about his concerns

Robinson said the district sent counseling resources to students and staff who are struggling from the incident Jackson asked who was dispatched Robinson said a crisis team was sent Separately, Robinson said two APS elementary students passed last week

Steven Thompson (treasurer) thanked Chapman and Barbara Sykes for leading the work to pass issue 27 (Levy) He said income was more than was forecasted in May and enrollment increased He said expenditures are trending $23 million higher than anticipated causing a deficit

Thompson said he is asking the board to approve the September financial report He presented the attached financial timeline Robinson said another levy will be "back in the ballot" in four years to keep the district funded

Hall asked what will happen to North High School if the levy does not pass Thompson said it would be an economic question about whether the district could afford to keep the building open Robinson said the district has "kicked the can" on building and vehicle maintenance

The financial report passed unanimously Autry said there is a "state of the schools" address on October 30th Policy 8660 (restricting parent transportation of students for field trips and other school events) passed unanimously

Sykes said the Finance and Capital Management Committee will meet on Tuesday at 4:30 and will reorganize with a new committee chair and vice chair She said the State of Ohio is being sued over the voucher program and hearings will begin in 2025 education.ohio.gov/Topics/Other-R…

The Board Retreat minutes passed unanimously with Harrison abstaining and correcting his name The October 7th board meeting minutes passed unanimously with Harrison abstaining The October 15th board meeting minutes passed unanimously with Harrison and Hall abstaining

The personnel recommendations passed unanimously The consent agenda passed unanimously The business affairs recommendations passed unanimously with Hall abstaining from item 25.1 Certification of the 2024 high school graduates passed unanimously

The board went into executive session at 7:36 pm for the purpose of consulting an attorney over disputes that's pending court action The board returned from executive session at 9:49 pm

Item 32.1, resolution 24-151 approving a settlement agreement passed Unanimously

The meeting at 9:51 pm. The next Akron Public School Board meeting will be November 4th at 5:30 pm at the Administration Building (10. N Main). For more coverage check out Akron.documenters.org

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