Wait, so Akron almost started the school year without police in the hallways? Yeah, it was that close. If you’ve been following the local headlines, you know the Akron school resource officer contract rejection wasn't just some boring budget dispute. It was actually a high-stakes standoff about who really runs the building.
Basically, the Akron Board of Education and the City of Akron spent months staring each other down. On one side, you had the city and the police union protecting their officers' rights. On the other, you had a school board demanding the power to kick an officer out of a school if things went south.
It was a mess. Honestly, it took an 11th-hour miracle to get SROs back into the schools for the 2025-26 year. But to understand why the board initially said "no way," you have to look at one specific, ugly incident at Firestone Community Learning Center.
The Punch That Changed Everything
In October 2023, a video went viral that nobody in Akron is going to forget anytime soon. A school resource officer at Firestone CLC, Zachary McCormick, was trying to stop a student from bypassing a metal detector. The kid wanted to keep his phone; the officer wanted him to follow the rules. It escalated fast.
McCormick ended up punching the student three times in the head.
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The community was furious. The school board was even more frustrated because, under the old rules, they couldn't just tell the police chief, "Hey, this guy is done at our school." They had to ask. They had to wait. The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge #7 actually filed a grievance claiming the officer's due process was violated when the district tried to move him.
That specific moment is the "why" behind the Akron school resource officer contract rejection. The board felt like they were paying $2.6 million but had zero say in who was walking their halls with a badge and a gun.
Why the Board Dug Their Heels In
By the spring of 2025, the old contract had expired. The officers were still there, but they were working without an official deal. When the city finally brought a new proposal to the table, the board looked at it and basically said, "This isn't enough."
They weren't just being difficult. They wanted "veto power."
Board President Carla Jackson and members like Rene Molenaur were very vocal about this. Molenaur actually called the city's proposal "yet another instance of the board's direction not being heard." For them, voting "yes" on a contract that didn't let them remove an officer was a betrayal of the students.
Only one person, Diana Autry, voted yes during that initial rejection. She didn't like the language either, but she was terrified of what would happen if the buildings had no security at all.
The Tense Summer of 2025
By August 2025, things were getting down to the wire. Mayor Shammas Malik even showed up at a board meeting—which is pretty rare—to beg them to sign the deal. He told them flat out: no contract, no cops.
The board still said no. They went into an executive session that lasted hours, and when they came out at 11:00 PM, they still hadn't moved.
Teachers were getting nervous. The Akron Education Association (the teachers' union) started sounding the alarm. They argued that "minor language differences" shouldn't get in the way of keeping kids safe. But to the board, being able to remove an officer who uses force on a child isn't a "minor" detail. It’s the whole point.
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How They Finally Fixed It
So, how did we get from a total rejection to a unanimous "yes" just three days before school started?
They compromised. Sorta.
The new agreement, which now runs through July 2027, includes two very specific tiers for getting rid of an SRO:
- Temporary & Immediate Removal: If there is "good cause," the board can demand an officer be moved to a non-student location immediately. The city has to move them with "all deliberate speed."
- Permanent Removal: This is the trickier part. The board asks for removal, and the Police Chief makes a call. If the board still disagrees with the Chief, they can submit a formal written request. If they follow all the steps, the city must remove the officer.
It gives the board the "out" they wanted without completely bypassing the police union's rights.
The Real Cost of Safety
Let's talk money, because $2.6 million is a lot of cash for a district that is already staring down some "bleak financial outlooks," as some candidates put it during the 2025 elections.
The reimbursement rates are actually going up every year. Right now, it's about $55 an hour per officer. By the start of 2026, that jumps to $62. By 2027? You’re looking at $67 an hour. The school district covers about 67% of the total pay for the 14 officers stationed across the CLCs and high schools.
Is it worth it? Most parents say yes. But the Akron school resource officer contract rejection proved that the community wants more than just a presence—they want accountability.
What’s Next for Akron Schools?
Even with the contract signed, the tension hasn't totally evaporated. The city is still dealing with lawsuits within the police department over racial bias and promotion issues, and the school board is under pressure to prove that the new "removal" language actually works.
If you are a parent or a staff member in the district, here is what you should keep an eye on:
- The 10-Day Rule: The board has to give 10 days' notice for permanent removal. If an incident happens, watch how fast the "temporary relocation" kicks in.
- The Budget: With rates hitting $67/hour in 2027, will the district have to cut programs to keep the SROs?
- Safety Alternatives: During the standoff, the board mentioned looking at the Summit County Sheriff or private security. Those options aren't off the table forever if the police partnership hits another snag.
The whole saga shows that "safety" means different things to different people. To the city, it's about following the law and protecting employees. To the school board, it’s about making sure the people in charge of kids actually fit the culture of the school.
For now, the officers are in the buildings. But the power dynamic has definitely shifted. If you want to stay involved, the best move is to attend the Legal, Contracts & Board Policy Committee meetings. That’s where the real fine print gets hashed out before it ever hits a public vote.
Keep a close eye on the quarterly safety reports the district releases—that's where you'll see if the "good cause" removal clause actually gets used or if it was just a lot of talk to get a deal done.