Akron Education Board Under Fire for Bypassing Hiring Rules in Superintendent Decision
The Akron Board of Education is under fire for potentially violating its own longstanding policy when it appointed Mary Outley as the new superintendent on April 28, without conducting a formal search.
The Issue:
The board’s 1998 policy, still in effect and never amended, mandates a comprehensive search process including:
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A written job description
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Consideration of a broad candidate pool
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Formal interviews with all qualified candidates
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Community involvement
None of these steps were followed when board member Diana Autry motioned for Outley’s appointment, minutes after the board accepted the resignation of former Superintendent Michael Robinson, who left with a $200,000 payout.
The vote to appoint Outley passed 4–3, with Board President Carla Jackson and members Bruce Alexander and Summer Hall joining Autry in support. Board members Barbara Sykes, Rene Molenaur, and Gregory Harrison opposed the decision, urging more time and transparency.
“It was clear we were not following the policy,” Sykes said, stressing the importance of community involvement in selecting district leadership.
Notably, no new interviews were conducted for the role. While Outley was previously a finalist in 2023, she was not interviewed this time, and some board members said they hadn’t even discussed her interest in the role before voting.
Outley, a respected educator and 1985 Buchtel graduate, rose through the ranks from teacher to administrator. She was named interim superintendent just two weeks earlier, on April 15.
Board President Carla Jackson and Autry have not provided public responses regarding the apparent policy breach.
