Sylvester Small Retirement Announcement

As expected, today's press conference at the APS admin building announced Dr. Sylvester Small's retirement as Superintendent of Akron Public Schools. Dr. Small also sent out an email to APS employees this morning which ABJ has posted.

Dr. Small will work through July 31 to help the transition to a new administration. The Board of Ed. has begun the search process and is working on a fairly tight timeline with the goal of putting the new Super in place August 1.

Current President and outgoing board member Linda Kersker has tapped Linda Omobien to lead the search, with Rev. Curtis Walker as her assistant. The Board has agreed to contract with the Ohio School Boards Association to administer the search. Their timeline holds the board to finishing the recruitment brochure November 20, start advertising the search December 14, and closing the applications January 25. Interviews are scheduled for February and the Board is to decide on their first choice the week of February 25.

According to the press release, "The community will be asked to participate in the selection process." The timeline includes interviews with staff and community groups to be completed January 8.

After the press conference, Board President Kersker said that the search will be nationwide, but she anticipates most candidates will be from Ohio. She also says the Board hasn't discussed whether members are inclined toward an internal or external candidate.

The press conference included board member plaudits for Small. Kersker assured the audience that Dr. Small has a complete vote of confidence from the Board. Board members recounted his accomplishments -- moving from Academic Emergency, setting up the building program, improving community participation in the district, among others. Of course the trolls on Ohio dot com are happily piling on, without knowing what they are talking about and with barely concealed racist motivation.

Dr. Small apparently had promised board members that he would give them plenty of notice when he decided to retire. That's what is happening. It's now in the hands of the board, new members and all (both of whom are friends of mine, BTW.) This will be interesting to watch.