This Ohio city educates kids better, cheaper than Akron. Why? | Letter

Sixty-five years ago, 1961 to be precise, I graduated from high school. We had a teacher for each class, a librarian, one music teacher and one for gym. There was a high school principal and a superintendent for all the grades along with a couple of clerks in the office. That was about it for administrators or extra support staff.

Times have certainly changed. A page-one article in the March 25, 2026 issue of the Beacon Journal reported that the city's school board is considering the elimination of some 25 positions in order to meet new budgeting guidelines. Here are some of the positions being considered for elimination or reduction: Six deans of students (assistant principals); six intervention specialist paraprofessionals; four learning resource center technicians ("learning resource center" is the new phrase for library); an art therapist, an online mentor; a special education coordinator; a career and technical support specialist; mentors for seniors; and learning resource center paraprofessionals.

The most recent cost for educating students in the Akron Public School system is $19,100 per student per year. In contrast, the cost to do the same in the Steubenville school system is $11,395.

Third-grade reading scores in Akron schools have improved to an average of 45-50%. Meanwhile, Steubenville has some of the best third-grade reading scores in the nation. Last year, 100% of Black students were proficient in third-grade reading.

At its dramatically lower cost to educate students, I wonder if Steubenville has fewer of the kind of support staff Akron schools have as listed above.

Steve France, Akron

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: This Ohio city educates kids better, cheaper than Akron. Why? | Letter