Parents press board to reverse teacher transfers at King CLC; superintendent defends annual "3-week shuffle"

Several parents told the Akron Public School Board on Sept. 23 that the district's "3-week shuffle" of staffing after the start of school disrupted students at King Community Learning Center and demanded a review of policies and practices.

"I call on this board to reinstate those classrooms," parent Nicholas Garofalo told the board, describing the administrative decision to eliminate four classrooms due to low enrollment as a failure to serve students. Clarissa Cornell, also a King parent and PTA member, asked the board to commission a review of the transfer process and invited district leaders to involve volunteer parents in developing less disruptive approaches.

Superintendent Dr. Robinson responded in detail about the district's balancing process. "We call it the 3 week shuffle," he said, explaining the procedure arises from the teacher contract deadline and from post-opening enrollment variability across schools. He described the district's targets for class sizes, said the contract constrains how many teachers may be moved, and acknowledged the need for improved pre-year communication so parents expect that balancing may occur.

Board members pressed for specifics, including whether substitutes currently cover classrooms and the timeline for returning teachers who were RIF'ed. Robinson said the district had recalled teachers who wanted to return and that some classrooms remain covered by long-term degreed substitutes while the district continues recruitment. He vowed to send clearer notices earlier in the year and to refine messaging at open houses.

No formal policy change was made at the meeting; the board directed staff to follow up with the concerned parents and to consider committee review of the transfer processes.