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Guest column

Outside force led cuts to needy

By MARC J. YACHT
Published July 1, 2005

The Pasco-Hernando Early Learning Coalition's merger took place recently. The merger made sense to me then and still does. Although some members of the Pasco Coalition raised concerns about the union, concerns that later proved valid, overall the marriage of the two counties made sense for a lot of reasons.

One of the most contentious issues to come before the board was the decision to deny coalition money to the long-standing Pasco schools' early learning and prekindergarten program.

The rift on the board over this vote continues. I would suggest that much of the resentment resulting from this split vote could have been avoided had management taken more time to respect and encourage a free flow of information on this issue.

Several of us who raised concerns were quickly interviewed by the Agency for Work Force Innovation Inspector General's office for possible ethics and Sunshine Law violations.

A nonvoting board member was discouraged from clarifying the services provided by the schools. That information was critical to the vote. She chose to address her concerns to the board but under the cloud of potential ethics and Sunshine Law violations.

I have called the vote against funding the school program an engineered vote and think that outside influences played into the ultimate decision to refuse money for these unique services. The vote came before the board three times. The first time the dollars were approved, but that vote was invalidated. The second time, the vote failed. And the third effort to rescind the denial fell short. If all that is confusing, it gets worse.

The school program was unique. It contained quality dollars that represented 20 percent of a federal match (of more than $400,000). The school put in its own match in cash and in-kind services for more than $200,000.

Based on school documents, the community received a million-dollar program costing the coalition $228,000. The school program had certified teachers and classroom aids for 302 identified needy children in 17 classrooms across the county.

Aside from educational instruction, this quality program provided nurses, social workers, a disability resource teacher, psychologists and others within the infrastructure of Pasco schools.

The 4-year-olds were provided with dental, speech and vision screenings, crisis assistance, transportation, meals, family support services and other benefits. Two children were identified as homeless.

The Office of Early Learning in Tallahassee has suggested changes in the rules and a desire to reach out to other providers justify the denial of these dollars to Pasco schools. Some members of the board, when asked as to why they voted against the dollars, suggested the school program did not align with the mission of the Pasco-Hernando Early Learning Coalition.

What other mission do they have? The school program went well beyond the requirements due to their partnerships, match and infrastructure. These are the effective collaborations communities want. Such initiatives stretch dollars and reach out to more of the needy. If there are rule issues, I would suggest the rules be changed to accommodate such a successful endeavor.

For $228,000, you could never serve 300 youth or reach the level of services provided in the school's program.

I understand Pasco schools will dismantle the program without coalition dollars. Therefore, we have added to the number of needy children requiring services. A senior school administrator commented that the Pasco school district simply does not have any more money to give for this program and can utilize the classroom space for our growing school population. I would suggest that if this school program dies, it is doubtful it will be resurrected.

It is suggested that the school program offered too much. My response is that the Pasco schools model be the goal for other providers to reach so as to best prepare our children for kindergarten. The Pasco school's program gave a powerful leg up for these needy children.

I'm just one vote on the coalition. Had the funding matter been aired appropriately to the board without the perception of behind the scenes efforts to undermine the school program, I would say: fine, amen and so be it.

What did occur was what I would suggest as intimidation and the shutting out of those board members who raised issues with this direction to satisfy the pressures from at least two outside agencies.

I sympathize with the director of the coalition. He has been put in the position of serving two or more masters. However, the responsibility lies locally for doing the best we can for Pasco-Hernando children. We have not served them well with this denial to Pasco schools.

--Dr. Marc J. Yacht, director of the Pasco County Health Department, is a member of the Pasco-Hernando Early Learning Coalition.

[Last modified July 1, 2005, 01:24:21]