The Akron school board has taken the first step to fire a facility services supervisor accused of taking paperwork from his boss’s desk after hours, disobeying his boss’s repeated orders and providing false statements during the district’s investigation.
With a 5-2 vote, the school board on Jan. 29 approved a resolution declaring its intent to terminate Darian Johnson’s administrative contract. Under state law, the board cannot proceed with formally terminating an employee’s contract until 10 days after the employee is notified about the intent to terminate. Within those 10 days, an employee has the right to appeal by requesting in writing a hearing before the school board or before a referee, the law states.
Johnson, who had been on paid administrative leave since Nov. 7, plans to appeal.
“APS has a long, systemic history when it comes to minority employees bringing issues to the forefront,” said Johnson, who previously served as a civil rights advocate for the Akron chapter of the NAACP. “As someone who’s been a longtime civil rights advocate in this town, I’m going to fight these charges vigorously. I ask that everyone reserve judgment until the facts of this case come out.”
Johnson, who joined Akron Public Schools in May 2024 and became facilities services supervisor in August 2024, previously called the allegations against him “profoundly distressing” and a continuation of the hostile work environment and age discrimination he has experienced over the past year.
Johnson said he believes other district employees are retaliating against him because he has called out what he sees as failings of the district, such as the district’s failure to immediately correct fire code violations and its failure to investigate a sexual assault claim by a female employee.
Darian Johnson alleges he has experienced unwelcome conduct since early 2024 that created a hostile work environment in violation of APS policies.
What are the allegations against Darian Johnson?
Johnson’s removal comes after an internal investigation by Tod Wammes, labor relations manager for Akron Public Schools, that began in early November and concluded on Jan. 13.
Wammes’ 20-page investigation report, which was obtained by Akron Beacon Journal, states two custodians said they saw Johnson on the fifth floor of the administration building around 10 p.m. on Nov. 4. They said he was standing in the dark in the executive director of business affairs’ office. One custodian said she saw Johnson holding some papers; the other said Johnson had been rummaging through papers on the desk, according to the report.
Security cameras show Johnson walking into the hallway where the executive director’s office is located and leaving roughly 15 minutes later. There are no cameras in the immediate area of the executive director’s office.
The next day, the executive director found that a paper report, which included her notes from meetings with Johnson and facilities services, was missing from the desk, the report said.
Beyond the unauthorized access, Wammes said Johnson’s late-night visit on Nov. 4 ignored his boss’s repeated directive to not be at the administrative building after the end of his workday, which is between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. weekdays.
Wammes also wrote that he believes Johnson was dishonest and evasive when Johnson said he did not have his district-issued badge with him to turn in. Wammes said Johnson has yet to return district property issued to him, such as the master keys to district buildings.
The school board’s resolution to start the termination process against Johnson includes a summary of Wammes’ findings and concludes that Johnson violated the district’s staff ethics policy and its professional staff conduct and responsibility administrative guideline, discredited the education profession with conduct unbecoming of an employee, acted insubordinate and knowingly made false statements to a district representative.
Johnson’s attorney says APS investigation is biased
Johnson previously wrote in a letter to board members that the reason for his late-night visit to district administrative offices on Nov. 4 was to search for his house keys. He said he lost them while working a 13-hour shift on Election Day as he was visiting multiple buildings, including the administrative building. Johnson has denied entering his boss’s office.
Johnson’s attorney, Cedric B. Colvin, sent a 10-page response to the school board on Jan. 29 that allges Wammes’ investigation report is “littered with bias” and designed to be retaliatory against Johnson.
“This recent disciplinary proceeding is nothing more than a continuation of the hostile and intimidating work environment that my client has been subject to and allowed to continue under Superintendent Outley …,” Colvin wrote in his response, which was obtained by the Beacon Journal.
Colvin questioned why it took district investigators more than a month to question Johnson about the events of Nov. 4. He said he suspects investigators were trying to make Johnson out to be a liar when he couldn’t recall intricate details that occurred the month before.
Colvin rebutted each allegation contained in the report, calling them unfounded, fabricated or contrived by witnesses whom he believes were coached to help get Johnson fired.
For example, Colvin said no witness said they saw Johnson remove documents from the desk.
He noted that Johnson previously had filed complaints against two of the people interviewed by district investigators. He also said that investigators withheld the written statements of two at least two witnesses, and initially neglected to interview Johnson’s two witnesses. He also said that the written statements he did review do not align with Wammes’ summary of their statements.
Colvin urged the school board to dismiss the charges against Johnson and remove the allegations from his personnel file. He also asked the board to enforce the district’s anti-harassment policy with appropriate discipline, conduct an independent investigation into the allegations as well as Johnson’s hostile work environment claims; and consider instituting recommendations that an outside investigator made in May when she found that Johnson has been subjected to a hostile work environment.
Akron school board members explain their votes
Board members Summer Hall and Gregory Harrison opposed the Jan. 29 resolution that declared the board’s intent to terminate Johnson.
“Accusations were made; however, no evidence was provided to me that substantiates the allegations,” Hall said.
Harrison said he wasn’t given enough time to view the evidence, such as video recordings and witness statements, that were used in the investigation report.
“Based on my background as a detective – and I’ve been consistent on this – I want to see it before I make a decision,” said Harrison, a retired Akron police detective. “I’ve done it in the past when the termination of employee comes up.”
He also said he did not have time to review the information that was sent by Johnson’s attorney hours before the vote.
Board President Barbara Sykes declined to comment on the board resolution, stating she wanted to remain neutral in case the board was asked to consider Johnson’s appeal.
Reach Akron Beacon Journal education writer Kelli Weir at 330-580-8339 or kweir@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron school board moves to fire facilities supervisor Darian Johnson
Reporting by Kelli Weir, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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