Akron Public Schools closed the Helen Arnold Community Learning Center on Tuesday, Oct. 27, because of a drop in electricity in the area around the school, the district announced in a news release reported by the Akron Beacon Journal.
The school, at 450 Vernon Odom Boulevard in Akron, was the only Akron building reported closed for the day. The district’s release, as reported by the Beacon Journal, said Ohio Edison is monitoring the brownout and will notify Akron Public Schools when power is restored to typical levels.
A brownout occurs when the voltage supplied through the electrical system drops below normal levels, the district explained in its release, according to the Beacon Journal. Unlike a full outage, a brownout can leave lights dimmed and equipment running below the power it needs, which can make a school building difficult to operate safely and comfortably for students and staff.
Families of Helen Arnold students were notified of the closure Tuesday. The Beacon Journal reported the closure Tuesday morning, and the district had not announced any additional Akron school closures tied to the power problem as of that report.
Ohio Edison, the FirstEnergy utility serving Akron, is responsible for restoring voltage to normal levels in the neighborhood. The district said in its release, as reported by the Beacon Journal, that it is waiting on Ohio Edison’s word on when power is back to typical levels before the building reopens.
No timeline for restoration was given in the district’s announcement. Parents should watch Akron Public Schools’ usual notification channels for word on whether Helen Arnold reopens on its normal schedule Wednesday.
The closure is a one-building disruption rather than a districtwide one: other Akron Public Schools buildings were operating as scheduled Tuesday, according to the Beacon Journal’s report, which listed Helen Arnold as the district’s closure for Oct. 27.