Displaying items by tag: Akron Public Schools

The proposals on what to do with Akron Public Schools’ consolidation continues, and six options are on the table being carefully reviewed. The state of Ohio will only fund one high school, which should have a capacity of over 1,000, and that would mean two of the smaller schools will have to be merged.

APS superintendent David James and treasurer Ryan Pendleton joined the Ray Horner Morning Show to recap Monday night’s meeting with Akron city council. James says the engineers are actively searching for property to build this new school, but due to high costs, the facility will most likely be constructed on APS property, specifically Garfield.

Pendleton says he feels excited about giving the Garfield and Kenmore areas new technology-rich facilities.

What schools will be closing? What schools will merge?

Those questions have been on the minds of Akronites for months as the Akron Public Schools decide how to proceed with the plan to build new buildings in the face of reduced funding from the state. A new option, the sixth option presented to the public, would lead to the mergers of Kenmore and Garfield High Schools along with the consolidation of Kent and Innes CLCs at Innes and the consolidation of Bettes and Harris CLCs at Harris. Superintendent David James joined Jasen to talk about the new option and when a final decision could be made.

It is no secret that Akron’s population has dwindled in recent decades. With a decreased population comes decreased enrollment in schools. The question that needs to be asked: can Akron keep all these high schools in business?

One of those schools is Kenmore, and there has been word it may merge with another school, as the building is less than half capacity. There has been pushback, however, and Matt Lance is leading an effort to save his alma mater.

Matt joined the Ray Horner Morning Show to discuss the Change.org petition to raise awareness of their effort to keep Kenmore afloat.

UPDATE 3:58 PM 9/12/16: Akron Public Schools announced Monday afternoon that Ellet High School will be closed again Tuesday, as cleanup continues.

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(Previous coverage) Ellet High School will be closed Monday as smoke damage is assessed following a late-evening fire Saturday that apprently started in a room used for building maintenance and the school's construction program.

Firefighters were alerted by an alarm triggered around 11:00 p.m.

Damage estimates haven't been released but the worst of the fire was contained to the room and adjoining area, although firefighters did find hallways filled with "light smoke" on their arrival at 304 Wolf Avenue. AFD responded with multiple alarm calls that included four fire engine trucks, a medical unit, a pair of battalion commanders and additional shift commander on site as well as an arson investigator. Firefighters used a foam truck which also doubles as a ventilation truck to help exhaust the smoke from the building.

Akron Public School opted to keep the school closed tomorrow while clean-up and investigation into the cause continues.

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(Akron Fire Department)Akron Fire responded to a private alarm at 304 Wolf Ave Ellet High School. Companies on scene
investigated the building and found light smoke in the hallways. The alarm was upgraded to 2nd alarm that includes 4 Engines ,2 Ladder trucks, 2 Battalion Commanders, Med unit, Shift Commander, and Arson investigator. After a search of the building room to room, Firefighters were able to locate the fire and extinguish it.

Foam Truck 660, which is also a large commercial ventilation truck, was called in to assist in ventilating the smoke from the building. Unknown at the time of this press release of the extent of the damages or where at in the building was effected most.

 

 

 

The finishing touches are going into the new Firestone High School. Though not everything will be completed by the first day of school, according to the superintendent of Akron Public Schools, the bulk of the project will be all done.

David James, the APS superintendent, joined the Ray Horner Morning Show to gloss over the Firestone/Litchfield project. James says this has been a process directly from listening to the community as far as input in the school. He believes this building will serve a larger purpose for the surrounding community, not just for the students.

The open house at the new facility will be on August 28th.

Some tough questions lay ahead for Akron Public Schools in the near and distant future. APS brass understands the concerns from the community on the future of the local schools, but can the buildings function with such decreased enrollment?

Superintendent of Akron Public Schools, David James, joined the Ray Horner Morning Show to recap his address at Kenmore High School from last night. Enrollment, or lack thereof, was at the forefront of the conversation, with talks of closing or merging schools being mentioned. A possibility brought up was having Kenmore merge with Innes CLC, among other brainstorms.

James was asked why not keep the status quo. The superintendent said some of these schools are only at half capacity, and by merging the students into a magnet school, it will help cut costs and save taxpayer money. James also said they will receive state funding from the state level soon.

Some local communities have faced the issue of poor access to fresh and affordable food. It's a problem the Akron Public School District is well aware of, which is why they have created a summer event to educate families on how to purchase and cook a fresh meal.

"We know that our community has a need for increasing the access to quality, fresh fruits and vegetables at affordable costs," said Carla Sibley, director of community relations.

The two-event, "From Fast to Fresh" program will give families a chance to visit local farmers markets and learn how to prepare healthy meals on a budget.

"We have food deserts in our community and we also know that many of our families suffer from illnesses and health conditions that are often times related to what they eat."

Sibley calls the program a link between a healthy lifestyle and quality education.

The first event will take place on Thursday, June 16 at the Akron Summit County Public Library in Highland Square. Families will take a tour of the Countryside Farmer's Market and Mustard Seed Market & Cafe.

Guest will also tour the newly opened Hattie's Food Hub on Douglas Street in Akron on July 14. 

More information can be found on the district's website at www.akronschools.com

Police and Akron public schools security searched an Akron school Wednesday afternoon after rumors of a weapon at the school, but nothing was found.

Those rumors resulted in the doors at Jennings CLC being locked - in what the district calls a Safe School Watch - at about 3 PM.

Police and security searched both the building and grounds at Jennings and interviewed students.

Dismissal was delayed by a half hour, and classes at Jennings were not disrupted...and the district called families of those who attend the school.

The district and police are encouraging students who may know anything about the reports to come forward.

(APS, phone call to Jennings families) Dear Jennings Families:

Just before 3 this afternoon, Akron Public Schools placed Jennings CLC on Safe School Watch.

Akron police and APS security conducted a thorough search of the building and grounds and interviewed a number of students after a report surfaced of a weapon on the premises.

The thorough search turned up nothing, there was no interruption of learning and we delayed dismissal by 30 minutes.

During Safe School Watch, all doors to the building are secured to prevent entry or exit from the premises.

We continue to ask for your help and support in encouraging students to let us know if they ever hear any student might be involved in something that could pose a security concern for Jennings students and staff.

Our thanks to the Akron Police Department for its hard work every day. We work closely with law enforcement on procedures and plans to maintain safety in our schools for students and staff.

Security will be enhanced this week at Jennings due to this report. We will keep you apprised.

Akron Public School officials are hoping to attract more teachers to the district during a statewide education job fair this weekend. The Ohio 8 Coalition Job Fair in Columbus will conduct on-site interviews for those interested in teaching in a number of Ohio school districts, including Akron and Canton.

APS Recruitment Coordinator Teresa Kossuth says they're in need of educators who can teach english as a second language -- especially in North Hill where many refugees have settled.

"Because our diverse population of students is growing, we have the need for teachers who have an endorsement to teach english as a second language," said Kossuth.

Kossuth said one of their main priorities is to find passionate teachers.

"While some of the challenges may be greater in teaching in an urban district, the rewards tremendously outweigh that."

The job fair will be held at the Embassy Suites North in Columbus on Saturday, March 12 at 9 a.m.

Click here for more information.

New tests and new standards meant tougher grades for Ohio's school districts in the most recent state report cards, released Thursday.

Akron Public Schools recorded a D in "Performance Index".

But APS assistant superintendent Ellen McWilliams-Woods says that is difficult to compare to past results.

She says districts were warned by state education officials that results would likely drop this year due to the testing and Common Core changes.

Cleveland.com reports that only six Ohio school districts got an "A" under the "Performance Index" this year, compared to 37 last year.

Despite "F"s in 4 year graduation rates and in the "indicators met" category, APS is happy with A grades in year to year measures of student progress.

McWilliams-Woods says state testing will change again for this school year...with Ohio moving away from the controversial "PARCC" test.

She says APS will put in its own assessment system that won't change for years.

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On the Web: Ohio Department of Education School Report Cards (2014-15): http://reportcard.education.ohio.gov/Pages/default.aspx

In the last year, Akron Public Schools, like many districts, encountered its share of negatives, but the positives have been quite impressive.

David James, the superintendent of Akron Public Schools, joined the Ray Horner Morning Show to review his State of the Schools Address from Tuesday. James touched on the amount of growth and progress he has seen from the students across the board. Compared to other urban area school districts, APS has seen their test scores rise.

James took tours of the schools, and believes the improvements in the classrooms are “a testament to the teachers.”

A negative that was mentioned during the speech was the downtrend in the graduation percentage, but James also said he is impressed with the amount of scholarships.

Firestone High School had a short lockdown Friday morning, after tips led to the discovery of marijuana at the school.

Two Firestone girls were found possessing a small amount of marijuana.

APS spokesman Mark Williamson tells WAKR.net that a third student, a boy, was found with drug paraphenalia in his locker. They say that discovery was not related to the other drugs found.

School resource officers took about 25 minutes to search for the drugs, and all three students were suspended.

Williamson says classes were not affected during what the district calls a "safe school watch".

The North High School Vikings have a brand new football coach, and he is looking to instill toughness, discipline, and a sense of tying the program into the community.

Sonil Haslam joined the Sam Bourquin Show Monday afternoon to talk about how he's going to put his imprint on the program.

He said that he's ready for the challenge of being a head coach.

"I'm pretty excited," says Haslam. "We have to reach out and embrace what we have, and there's tons to do, trying to get things right for the kids."

 

The City Series is a grind, and with the schools, Haslam says the same group of kids walk the halls at North and the other schools within Akron, so it's all about garnering support and instilling pride in the school and in the community in regards to the football program.

"It's all about peaking interest and getting guys involved," he says.

 Coach Haslam also states that  support from the school, the North Hill community, and the district is important for building the program as well.  Haslam, graduate of East HS, has coached at St. Vincent-St. Mary, Firestone HS, and Archibishop Hoban HS as an assistant.

Treasurer of Akron Public Schools, Ryan Pendleton, joins Ray to talk about the plan to consolidate schools. Pendleton tells Ray about how much money the district will save and discusses other ways the district will benefit from the consolidation.

 

WAKR's Ray Horner talks to the Superintendent of Akron Public Schools, David James. James explains what plans have been made for the district. He tells Ray what how the consolidation will help save money and help the district in the long run.

Athletic infractions and $10,000 in fines have been handed down to the Akron Public Schools, as a result of the Ohio High School Athletic Association's investigation into problems with eligibility at APS.

Tim Stied with the OHSAA says that 16 ineligible athletes were found at five of seven APS high schools.

"We had seven kids that didn't meet the academic requirements to be eligible," Stried tells WAKR's Sam Bourquin, "and there were seven kids that had transfered in that ended being eligible retroactively, but these schools had never requested an eligibility ruling for them in the first place."

The five high schools, according to an OHSAA document, are Buchtel, East, Firestone, Garfield and Kenmore.

Stried says they started looking into APS after realizing the district didn't run standard eligibility questions by them.

The Akron schools have instituted a new eligibility checking plan under new athletic director Joe Vassalotti, which will help knock down the OHSAA fine from $12,500 to $10,000.

Stried says he's confident that the Akron schools understand what needs to be done, and should be OK moving forward.

The Akron Public Schools are looking at implementing a new plan to ensure 100% compliance with the OHSAA regulations.

 

This proactive approach stems from a ruling during the 2014-15 school year when the OHSAA had determined the APS committed infractions as it relates to eligibility.

APS Athletic Director Joe Vassalotti joined the Sam Bourquin Show Monday to talk about the plan and how to better educate parents, student-athletes, and others about the eligibility rules.

"We want to be transparent and do things right here and follow the bylaws of the OHSAA as exactly they should be."

Vassalotti says that among other items, building athletic directors will be checking eligibility earlier, as well as making sure student-athletes grade point average is where it should be.

He says by being 100% compliant, student athletes get the concept of doing things the right way.

"We need to follow through to make sure all paperwork is turned in in a timely manner, and ultimately we want them out there competing with their teammates."