BUILD KENMORE SCHOOLS

In July of 2023, the Akron Public Schools (APS) Board of Education voted to rebuild Miller South School for the Visual and Performing Arts and Pfeiffer Elementary School on the former Kenmore High School campus. On May 13, after the Akron Beacon Journal reported the project may be $13 million over budget, the APS Finance Committee was presented  with three options:

  • Rebuild both schools as promised on the Kenmore High School site
  • Permanently close Pfeiffer and build only Miller South on the KHS site
  • Close Pfeiffer and integrate Miller South into Litchfield CLC

In 2003, under the leadership of Kenmore native and then-Mayor Don Plusquellic, voters approved a 0.25% income tax increase to rebuild all of Akron’s schools, converting them to Community Learning Centers (CLCs) for the community’s benefit. Despite voting 62% for that increase, Kenmore received the least benefit of any cluster, yet $18 million of those Local Funding Initiative (LFI) funds remain unused in an account at the City of Akron.

After much advocacy and organizing, we’re happy to report that the Akron Public Schools Board has once again voted “yes” to move forward with the project. Thank you to the many residents, alumni and community organizations who attended meetings and wrote emails.

Where we stand

At the June 6 Joint Board of Review meeting, City of Akron Mayor Shammas Malik announced the City may allocate nearly $18 million in excess bond proceeds toward the project—subject to federal arbitrage rules. Currently, APS facilities personnel are working to reduce project costs while the City’s finance department calculates how much of the $18 million in LFI funding for CLCs is available. Even with the City’s help, about $1–2 million still needs to be figured out. APS administration is working on ideas to bring down costs without losing what matters most. Options like building a smaller cafeteria, reducing hallway space, or trimming special features like the black-box theater or sensory room are being considered.

While we support responsible cost-cutting to make the project viable, we are opposed to shrinking the originally planned 1,000-seat auditorium. Here’s why:

  • Miller South currently has a 900-plus-seat auditorium and regularly sells out performances. It’s a performing arts school and deserves the full seating capacity.
  • The CLC’s auditorium would be available for community use.
  • A new 1,000-seat venue would fill a critical gap in Akron’s performance spaces and could attract national acts to Kenmore, driving economic activity throughout our neighborhood and further establishing Kenmore Boulevard as Akron’s Music Row.
  • If the City approves up to $18 million in LFI funding for this project, it deserves a strong return on its investment. This auditorium is just that.

What’s next

The Joint Board of Review, which includes both City and school board officials, expects to receive revised cost estimates and LFI funding calculations in late August. They will then meet to review—and hopefully approve—an updated agreement between the district and the City, which will ultimately go to City council and the school board for final approval. In the meantime, we will continue working with the mayor, his administration and City Council to build support.

You can help

Please join us in emailing the JBOR members, asking them to ensure we get our 1,000-seat auditorium and a CLC that proudly includes “Kenmore” in its name.