Galonski, Sykes react to Akron Digital Academy closing

State Reps. Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) and Tavia Galonski (D-Akron) today reacted to the closing of Akron Digital Academy after the State of Ohio required the online school to repay $2.8 million of mismanaged funds after failing to properly keep track of enrollment.

“Hearing about the closure of Akron Digital Academy reaffirms my concern about online schools, and more importantly the education our youth is receiving,” said Sykes. “How many children are we going to let fall by the way side because of poor administration? The students are being affected the most.”

Akron Digital Academy was in the process of submitting a portion of $2.8 million for several months, but quietly closed its doors after serious financial strain.

“Charter school fraud extends far beyond ECOT. The repercussions of mismanagement directly impacts our community, as we’ve seen with the closing of Akron Digital Academy,” said Galonski. “We have sat idle for too long at the expense of millions of tax payer dollars. Our children deserve better, and our taxpayers deserve better.”