Teachers and parents press Akron board over understaffed early‑learning classrooms and proposed site changes

Dozens of early‑learning teachers and parents told the Akron Public Schools Board at its March 10 meeting that rapid expansion and reconfiguration of the district’s Early Learning Program (ELP) has produced unsafe conditions, persistent staffing shortages and confusing, last‑minute placement decisions.

The speakers — who included classroom teachers, early‑intervention specialists and parents from CASE, Essex, KCLC, Stewart and other sites — described classrooms running short of paraprofessionals and substitutes, children being changed on bathroom floors and long stretches without adequate adult supervision. Kelly Lutz, an early‑childhood teacher at Helen Arnold CLC, said, “we continue to see children spending far too long in soiled diapers,” and told the board educators were “exhausted.”

Why it matters: Akron’s ELP expansion and the district’s plan to reconfigure sites — commentators said closing or shifting classrooms at Case and Essex — affects preschool access for families and placements for students with special needs. Parents and teachers said the changes were announced to staff and families with little notice; board members asked central office for specifics about staffing, available classrooms and how many slots will remain.

Teachers and parents gave multiple examples. Brooke Gray, an early‑intervention specialist, said the program “could have been a step forward,” but that the administration “rushed these changes with little to no foresight” and ignored staff concerns. Jamie Sadowski said she learned of a classroom closure while watching the previous public meeting and that medically fragile students were being placed alongside children with severe behavioral needs without adequate staff. Carrie Hollingsworth said two of her typical peers urinated on themselves because there was no other adult to take them to the bathroom. Parent Holly Jordan described a child with autism who thrived in ELP but saw supports removed later; she told the board that proposed closures at Case and Essex would leave families “scrambling.”

At least one speaker offered district figures: Chief of Staff Dr. Robinson and an ELP administrator reported that the district had approximately 599 enrolled ELP scholars with about 748 seats available this year — a gap teachers and parents said did not line up with how services were being staffed or located. Megan Moreland, a parent and PTA leader, said district proposals could eliminate “about 140 slots districtwide” if classrooms are redistributed; the superintendent and ELP leadership said they would recalculate exact slot impacts and staff‑by‑school placements.

Board and staff response: Superintendent Dr. Robinson said some early concerns raised earlier in the year — for example a shortage of changing tables — had been addressed and that the district bought additional changing tables. He acknowledged remaining staffing shortages for paraprofessionals and special‑education supports and said the administration is actively recruiting, including working with outside vendors and local universities. Robinson said four ELP classrooms were currently covered by substitutes and that “if we had the staff, we could keep those 4 classrooms” in place.

Board President Carla Jackson and other members pledged immediate follow‑up. Jackson said she would bring written questions to central office and requested a detailed response; she said she planned to visit CASE and other sites. Treasurer Thompson asked for a school‑by‑school accounting of the problems and for a timeline of corrective actions. Several board members repeatedly emphasized a breakdown in communication between building staff and central office and urged administrators to document complaints and responses.

No board vote to reverse campus reconfigurations or closures was recorded. The board did vote to temporarily suspend its rules to allow an extended public‑comment period so all speakers on the ELP item could be heard; that suspension passed on a roll call vote of 7‑0. Members said they would use committee meetings and direct superintendent follow‑up to develop corrective steps and requested the superintendent meet with the ELP director and visit schools the next day.

Context and background: Multiple speakers said Akron’s preschool program had been highly rated previously and provided services including speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and school psychological supports. School psychologist Maria Krause noted the program’s long history and prior five‑star state rating and urged the board to “demand real solutions” rather than messaging that minimizes the problems. Several family and teacher speakers tied concerns about ELP to broader district staffing shortages that board members also said affect K‑12 classrooms and transportation.

What the board directed: During the meeting board members asked the superintendent and ELP leadership to (1) provide a school‑by‑school status report on staffing and student placements, (2) identify immediate safety fixes (for example, additional changing tables and temporary paraprofessional assignments), and (3) provide a timeline for when parents and staff will see corrective action. Board members also requested copies of emails and complaints already submitted so they could be tracked and audited. The administration committed to follow up and to provide the board a written response.

Next steps: The board said it will seek written follow‑up from central office, investigate the enrollment/capacity numbers and monitor recruiting efforts for paraprofessionals and special‑education staff. No formal policy change or reversal was adopted at the March 10 meeting; board members said a more detailed discussion and potential action would occur at upcoming committee meetings and after the superintendent’s school visits.

Ending: Teachers and parents who spoke asked the board for accountability and swift action. The board majority said those requests were heard and promised to return with detailed responses.