AKRON, Ohio — Just minutes after Akron Public Schools' Superintendent Michael Robinson’s resignation letter was read Monday, a new superintendent was voted in.

What You Need To Know

  • Robinson turned in a letter of resignation to the Akron school board

  • His resignation was accepted, as well as his request of a $200,000 buyout

  • Executive Director of elementary schools Mary Outley, who served as interim superintendent, was sworn in to the position permanently

Robinson turned in a letter of resignation to the Akron school board, effective Monday, April 28. The board made the announcement after spending three hours in executive session Monday night.

The decision to accept Robinson’s resignation was made after a 4 to 3 vote. An additional 4 to 3 vote was held to accept his request of a $200,000 buyout.

Board member Barbara Sykes voting against approving the buyout.

"I think that what we've just seen is just unfair to our community," said Sykes. 

Board President Carla Jackson saying a leaked document changed the trajectory of negotiations.

"The cost for this became significantly more than we originally would have settled on, this doc being released and published gave the entire playbook for the strategy that we would have used during negotiations which has put us in this compromising predicament,” said Jackson.

Just moments after the approval to accept Robinson’s resignation, board member Diana Autry made a motion to make Executive Director of elementary schools Mary Outley the permanent superintendent pending contract negotiations. The motion passed by a 4 to 3 vote.

"We’re in the midst of negotiations. I do not want that to slow down our momentum, just see how can resolve and establish new contracts, and keep the focus on our students,” said Outley.

Outley was serving as interim superintendent since Robinson was placed on leave, pending an investigation into allegations against him.

Several people accused Robinson of creating a hostile work environment, bullying and intimidation, insulting students and using derogatory terms to describe female reporters.

The president of the school board also accused Robinson of sending emails via Gmail’s confidential mode, which allows the sender to set a message expiration date before the email is automatically deleted. School leaders say that's not in line with requirements for public records.

Robinson’s contract was set to expire in 2028.

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