This November, Akron voters will have the opportunity to elect four members to the Akron Public Schools Board of Education. All eight candidates on the ballot were invited to take part in a debate hosted by Akron Decides, a partnership of the Akron Press Club, 蜜桃导航, the Akron Beacon Journal, 蜜桃导航 and Signal Akron.
The debate aired live Wednesday at noon. Watch it again below.
In November, residents in the Akron school district will elect four members to the Akron Public Schools Board of Education in what鈥檚 expected to be a hotly contested race among the eight candidates on the ballot.
Candidates provided their views on important issues facing the district during the debate hosted by Akron Decides, a partnership of the Akron Press Club, 蜜桃导航, Akron Beacon Journal and Signal Akron.
The debate took place Oct. 8 at Quaker Station, 135 S. Broadway St., Akron.
The district and board have weathered controversy in recent years. The district's embattled superintendent, Michael Robinson, was let go earlier this year. He was the third superintendent since 2021.
The board of ed immediately chose to forgo a search for a new superintendent, instead voting to offer the position to the district鈥檚 interim superintendent and longtime APS employee, Mary Outley. The board is also navigating challenging financial waters with layoffs in 2024 and 2025, and a sometimes tenuous relationship with the teachers union.
During the debate, the candidates fielded questions posed by local journalists from the Beacon Journal, Ideastream and Signal. Cheryl Powell, executive editor of the Beacon Journal, served as moderator.