5 new centers will shelter students who are suspended
- Story updated at 11:45 PM on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008
When Jacksonville went looking for help to keep young people off the streets after they’re suspended from public schools, only one agency answered the call.
It wasn’t a nonprofit. It wasn’t a business. The only suitable response to the city’s request for bidders to run the Jacksonville Journey’s $1.5 million out-of-school suspension centers was Duval County Public Schools.
The school district’s plan calls for five centers that will be placed around the city and will house a total of 150 students a day beginning Jan. 5.
Three of the centers will be housed at schools: the A. Philip Randolph Academies on the Northside, the Frank H. Peterson Academies on the Westside and Southside Middle School. The others are proposed for the Bridge of Northeast Florida in Springfield and the Beaches Boys & Girls Club in Jacksonville Beach.
Students will have to provide their own transportation. Duval County Public Schools spokeswoman Jill Johnson said attending the centers will be optional.
Suspended students are now sent home – where they not only miss school days and fall behind in classes, but they have time for mischief. The centers will provide a certified teacher, suspension counselor, truant officer and school resource officer at each site so the students can keep up with their schoolwork and stay out of trouble, said Debbie Verges, project director of the Jacksonville Journey.
Behavioral modification and conflict resolution programs are included. Parents are required to attend orientation and complete an exit survey or interview. There is no charge.
“It’s certainly what’s in the child’s best interest,” she said, “and certainly the community’s as well.”
It is also a rarity.
Michael Clapsaddle, the city’s procurement chief, said he hadn’t seen a public entity respond to a city request in his 10 years with the city until the Journey requests.
“Due to the magnitude of the Jacksonville Journey, I think it’s very responsible of the city,” Clapsaddle said. “If a public entity is interested and there are also private entities, I think the effectiveness and the efficiency of that public entity should be evaluated along with the private-sector ones that can provide the same services.”
Duval schools are not the only public agency seeking Journey money. The city’s Recreation and Community Services Department is competing with Youth Crisis Center, daniel Memorial Inc., Redeeming Light Community Service and Youth Advocate Programs Inc. for a $241,000 contract to run the Journey’s Juvenile Crime Prevention/Intervention program.
“When there’s a large sum of money,” Verges said, “competitive is always better.”
In the School Board’s case, there isn’t any. So board Chairman Tommy Hazouri wants to make sure taxpayers know how the money is spent and that it’s spent well. “Philosophically, I always want to be transparent,” he said.
He said the suspension centers fall within the district’s responsibility because the students are the district’s responsibility. He expects the city’s Competitive Sealed Proposal Evaluation Committee will green-light the proposal on Dec. 17.
“We’re more than capable,” he said, “and we certainly understand the needs of the students.”
topher.sanders@jacksonville.com
(904) 359-4169
