BUILD KENMORE SCHOOLS

In July of 2023, the Akron Public Schools Board of Education voted to rebuild Miller South School for the Visual and Performing In July of 2023, the Akron Public Schools 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

Only one of these options is acceptable.

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 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 LFI funds remain unused in an account at the city of Akron.

Together, we must advocate to the city of Akron and Akron Public Schools to keep their promise to our students and our community and BUILD OUR SCHOOLS on the Kenmore High School site.

  • There’s good news on funding. 
    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. (These are the Local Funding Initiative – or LFI – funds voters approved in 2003 to build Community Learning Centers.)
  • A small shortfall remains.
    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.
  • Leaders say Kenmore is the priority.
    Akron Public Schools and city leaders have both made it clear: Closing Pfeiffer or putting Miller South in a location other than the former Kenmore High School site is not a good plan.
  • Next steps are coming soon.
    Architects are revising plans to find savings, City officials are looking at ways they can help reduce the project’s cost, and the Joint Board of Review will meet again in July.
  • Until then: They are listening.
    At the most recent APS board meeting, both Miller South and Pfeiffer advocates spoke up for their schools—and their voices are making a difference.
  • The bottom line:
    The future of Pfeiffer and Miller South in Kenmore is still on track. Everyone’s working together to make it happen—and your voice continues to matter. Please contact both APS Board of Education and City of Akron representatives to encourage them to continue crunching the numbers and working together to make this project a reality.