School board backs Kenmore site project, adds language to designate new building a community learning center

The Akron Public School Board on June 23 voted to proceed with building a new facility on the former Kenmore High School site and unanimously adopted an amendment to identify the planned building as a community learning center.

The board’s action follows a presentation from Deborah Fulk, identified by the superintendent as the project lead, and a finance update on cost increases for the Miller South–Piper consolidation project. The board voted to adopt option 1 — continue the project with design adjustments and seek additional funding — and passed a separate amendment inserting “as a community learning center” into the resolution.

The district presented updated cost and size figures at the meeting. Treasurer Dr. Thompson told the board the current schematic design had grown from an original 156,000 square feet to about 169,764 square feet and that the construction budget had risen from the earlier $54 million building budget to about $67 million. Dr. Thompson said the district and superintendent had begun value-engineering work to reduce size and cost and that the construction manager-at-risk would help adjust the plan.

“Value engineering is intended to get us closer to the original $54 million construction budget,” Dr. Thompson said during the presentation, explaining staff were working with architects Prime AE and Triad, owner’s representative Palmer Conser[vation], and construction manager CT Taylor.

During public comment before the board action, Eleni Manosayanakis of Better Kenmore CDC thanked the board and staff for work to keep the combined Miller South and Piper project on the Kenmore site. Tina Boyce, representing neighborhood interests, urged the board to preserve a 1,000-seat auditorium option where possible because of its potential to host regional acts and generate revenue, and offered to advocate with city council and funders.

Board members pressed staff for funding clarity. Officials described several funding sources discussed during prior Joint Board of Review meetings: local fund initiative (LFI) allocations, a previous City commitment to split certain funds, $40 million in Certificates of Participation (COPs) and $15 million in ESSER previously counted toward the project. The treasurer said an amendment to the cooperative agreement and the conclusion of an “arbitrage” calculation could free additional local funds for the project.

Member Sykes, who chairs the finance committee, said the committee supported option 1 after reviewing the value-engineering work and asked for regular committee updates. “We want to make sure we are learning from the process and communicating regularly,” she said.

The board also approved language amending the resolution to make explicit that the project would be a community learning center if LFI funds are used. The amendment adding “as a CLC” passed unanimously, 7–0.

Board members and staff said the revised schedule shifts the expected opening from the earlier target date; the district now anticipates an opening in August 2028 under the updated schematic design and construction timeline.

The district said further design reductions will be considered to fit available funding and that staff will continue to negotiate with the City of Akron over LFI allocations. The board asked administration to provide regular financial updates at committee meetings as the project moves through final design and funding decisions.

Why it matters: The decision keeps a major school-construction plan on track after schematic-design cost increases and explicitly ties local funding conversations to a community learning center model that can shape program and funding eligibility.

What’s next: Staff will continue value-engineering with architects and the construction manager at risk, pursue LFI and other funding discussions with the city and report back to the finance committee and the full board on progress and any changes to budget or schedule.