Superintendent David James will deliver his final State of the Akron Public Schools virtually via YouTube Feb. 11 at noon before the Akron Press Club. There will be the opportunity for questions following his address.
To view this free event, register through the Akron Press Club at https://conta.cc/2LB2y9z. A link to the meeting will be emailed upon registration.
Dr. James will retire this summer after 13 years as superintendent and 29 years with the school district.
James will discuss myriad issues facing educators and school districts today, including budget and funding in Ohio, and the COVID pandemic, which has proved to be an enormous challenge for school districts. Students at APS have been learning remotely since the middle of last March.
Akron Public Schools has roughly 21,000 students and 3,000 employees. The district includes 47 schools and community learning centers.
This year, APS started plans to expand its new College & Career Academies of Akron into all middle schools. Last year, this transformational program was built into every APS high school. Eventually, according to James, the program will be in grade levels. It already has positive, measurable results from its pilot program that was started first at North High School four years ago.
The Akron Press Club has not been able to hold traditional lunch programming during the current pandemic. Funds from these lunches go toward scholarships for journalism and public relations students. Between the Press Club and the John S. Knight Memorial Scholarship Fund, scholarships of $5,000 were awarded to nine students in 2020.
As we navigate COVID-19, please consider a donation to the Akron Press Club to fund scholarships. They make a difference to the students who receive them. You can donate by going to www.akronpressclub.org.
Speaker: Dr. David James, State of the Akron Schools.
Date: Noon, February 11, 2021
To view this free virtual event: Go to https://conta.cc/2LB2y9z
To donate to Press Club scholarships: Go to https://bit.ly/370g0eZ
The Akron Press Club was founded in 1971 to promote a free press and serve local journalists and public relations professionals. The group has a rich heritage of offering newsmakers a forum to discuss issues of the day at Press Club luncheons and speaking events that are open to the public. The club also funds scholarships for journalists and public relations students. Visit www.akronpressclub.org for membership information.