The Pasco County School Board has terminated its contract with AMIkids Pasco, effective Jan. 29, for services the organization is providing to 46 students, who come from across Pasco County.
While voting to end the contract, the board made it clear that it will consider reinstating it, if AMIkids Pasco can demonstrate substantial improvement in its performance by Jan. 12.
The board’s action came at the recommendation of school district Superintendent Kurt Browning, who informed the board there are “some pretty significant issues” that need to be addressed.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
“The Jan. 12 date is really kind of the deadline for AMIkids (Pasco) to demonstrate to us that they can turn the ship around and they can provide the quality of service to those students,” Browning said.
The program serves 25 therapeutic emotional/behavior disability students and 21 students in the Department of Juvenile Justice program.
The facility opened this year in a campus of portables on U.S. 41, north of State Road 52 at 18950 Michigan Lane in Spring Hill.
If the organization can demonstrate considerable progress, Browning said he will recommend that the board revoke the termination, allowing AMIkids Pasco to carry on.
If the district isn’t satisfied, nothing else would need to be done, and the district would assume responsibility for the site on Jan. 29, Browning said.
The district leader said discontinuing the district’s relationship with AMIkids Pasco is not the preferable option for him or for Pasco County Schools.
But, Browning added: “The bottom line is how the children that we’re responsible for educating are being served. That’s first and foremost my priority.”
While hoping the issues can be resolved, Browning said, “there’s a great deal of work to be done.”
He outlined his concerns in a Nov. 30 letter to AMIkids Pasco.
O.B. Standee, president of AMIkids, urged the board to reject Browning’s recommendation, instead giving the organization time to correct deficiencies.
Standee said AMIkids Pasco was given the opportunity because of its track record.
“We help kids that have struggled in school and in the community, and we help them find and develop their potential,” said Standee, whose organization has worked with Pasco County Schools since 1993.
“Because of our historic success, the school district talked to us about expanding our services to not only the alternative school kids, but kids with disabilities, requiring specialized behavioral and emotional services,” he added.
He acknowledged startup issues.
He said he was willing to forego a 60-day cancellation notice — and would put that in writing — if the board would give him an opportunity to correct the issues.
He voiced concerns about retaining staff, if the board approved Browning’s recommendation.
“We don’t want to just meet the needs of the district. We have a vision of making that a model program,” he added.
Board member Cynthia Armstrong said she knows that AMIkids Pasco has done some good work.
But, she added: “I was very disappointed when I was reading the issues that came up.”
Board member Steve Luikart said he has been impressed by AMIkids Pasco in the past.
“I’m a supporter, but I will tell you that it’s disappointing. I wish you the best of luck in turning that around.”
Board member Alison Crumbley said the current issues are troubling.
“I was dismayed, extremely upset. They’re serious insufficiencies,” Crumbley said.
She also said that Browning’s recommendation offers AMIkids Pasco a chance to work out the problems. “It does give you a second chance,” she said.
Board Chairwoman Joanne Hurley put it like this: “There’s a lot in that that you have to tackle in order to get the board to change any recommendation. But, I think you can do it, based upon your past history with the district. I think it’s within your power to fix both the educational and the financial issues, and get back on track.
“I feel it’s necessary as a board to take the action that we’re taking in the best interest of students, with the idea that it can always be undone if you demonstrate success,” Hurley said.
Armstrong rejected Standee’s idea of allowing to end the contract without notice.
“There’s no way we’re going to come in and lock the doors and say, ‘O.K., you’re out, we’re in.’ That would not be in the best interest of the students to have that type of transition,” Armstrong said.
Published December 9, 2015
