AKRON, OH [January 29, 2026] – This winter has brought unprecedented extreme temperatures to our region, presenting challenges for all of us. At Akron Public Schools, our primary concern is always the safety and well-being of our students and staff. After five consecutive days of school closures, we want to share an update on what this means for the remainder of the school year.
While we recognize the disruption school closures cause, Akron Public Schools faces a unique challenge: 75% of our 20,000 students are walkers; ineligible for district transportation. With record-breaking cold compounded by uncleared roads, bus stops, and sidewalks, asking 15,000 children to navigate these hazardous conditions was a risk we were simply not willing to take.
We want to thank our families for your patience and resilience during this past week as we prioritized the physical safety of our students…