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Akron Board of Education hires outside law firm to oversee personnel investigation
Summary
The Akron Board of Education entered executive session under Ohio law to discuss employment matters and voted to retain the law firm named in the meeting transcript to oversee an ongoing investigation; investigators have begun interviews and document review and no deadline was set.
AKRON, Ohio — The Akron Board of Education voted Wednesday, Jan. 29, to retain the law firm identified in the meeting transcript as Bricker and Gradin to oversee an ongoing investigation into personnel matters after the board met in executive session under the Ohio Revised Code.
Board officials first moved to go into executive session under Ohio Revised Code 121.22(G)(1) to "consider the employment dismissal and discipline of a public employee and/or official," then recessed for that session. After the executive session the board presented and approved a motion to accept the selected law firm to oversee the review.
The selection motion was moved by Vice President Alexander and seconded by Miss Sykes; the motion passed by roll call vote, with six affirmative votes and no recorded no votes. The board then heard a statement that investigators have begun interviews and document review and that no deadline has been established for the review so investigators can take the time necessary to conduct a "thorough, impartial, and independent" review, according to the transcript. The board adjourned at 4:50 p.m.
The board voted earlier to enter executive session by a 5-0 roll call; the transcript records the five affirmative votes as Reverend Harrison, Miss Jackson, Doctor Molnar, Miss Sykes and Vice President Alexander, with the motion described as moved by Reverend Harrison. At the later vote to accept the law firm, the transcript records six affirmative votes and notes that Miss Saundry was not present for that roll call.
No committee report, investigative deadline, or further public details about the subject of the investigation were released during the meeting. The transcript contains multiple renderings of the law firm name (see clarifying details), and the board indicated the outside firm would oversee interviews and document review as part of an independent investigation.
The board declined to provide a timeline at the meeting. The board's action was limited to authorizing the use of external counsel to conduct and oversee the investigation; no disciplinary actions or other personnel decisions were announced at the public meeting.
The board convened this action during a special meeting called for Jan. 29. Additional public updates, if provided, would appear in subsequent board notices or meeting minutes.
