Akron leaders consider using remaining local funds to cover $13 million increase on Kenmore middle-school project

At a July 18 Joint Board of Review meeting, Akron Public Schools staff and City of Akron officials discussed a roughly $13 million increase to the Kenmore site project to consolidate Miller South and Piper and considered directing leftover Local Funds Initiative (LFI) dollars to cover the gap.

The discussion matters because the district now estimates a larger building and higher per-square-foot costs than originally budgeted; the joint body must recommend any agreement changes before both legislative bodies vote. Without new action, the added costs would have to be absorbed through other district or city funding decisions.

Ms. Volk, an Akron Public Schools staff member who presented the update, said the original building budget for the Kenmore project was $54,000,000 (after abatement, demolition and design costs were deducted from an initial $63,000,000 allocation) and was sized originally on 2023 estimates. She said the planned building footprint increased to 169,764 square feet and that C.T. Taylor, the district’s construction manager at risk, returned a construction estimate of $67,000,000. "That's where you get the $13,000,000 that you have heard about in additional cost," Ms. Volk said.

The district has identified funding sources that already are committed: roughly $40,000,000 financed through certificates of participation (COPs) sold in December, and $15,000,000 in…