AKRON, Ohio – The Akron Public Schools Board following an executive session on Tuesday voted to place Superintendent C. Michael Robinson on paid administrative leave, effective immediately.
The 4-1 decision with two board members abstaining follows the release of a four-month independent investigation into misconduct allegations against Robinson.
“The report indicated that there were multiple credible accounts of bullying, intimidation and retaliation by Superintendent Robinson against APS employees, including administrators and former APS employees,” Board of Education President Carla Jackson said in the meeting.
“The allegations of this behavior were substantiated by interviews with 16 former and current APS employees, and supported by information from witnesses. Much of Superintendent Robinson’s negative conduct is in clear violation of the APS code of conduct and is simply not acceptable conduct by a school official. Given the severity of the findings, we voted to place Superintendent Robinson on paid administrative leave, effective immediately.”
The board will take “swift action” regarding Robinson’s employment, with a final decision to be made by the next board meeting on April 28, according to Jackson. Longtime Akron Public Schools employee Mary Outley will serve as interim superintendent.
Robinson joined the district as superintendent on Aug. 1, 2023. At that time, the board approved a five-year, $240,000-per-year contract with Robinson.
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