Mayor Peyton Closing Don Brewer Center

[rpschutt]

From today's T-U. (Notice that Council President Davis had not even heard of Peyton's decision until contacted for comment by the T-U)

A model of learning closing to save money
Peyton wants to spread funds for Brewer Center to other programs Parents, some reduced to tears, must find new learning sites after June

By Mary Kelli Palka, The Times-Union

Just three years after opening its doors, a city-run child-care center catering to some of Jacksonville's poorest families will close this summer.

Some parents were shocked - others left livid - by the surprise announcement Wednesday.

Many heard the news for the first time as they picked up their children at the Don Brewer Center for Early Learning, Research & Development. Some of the parents of the center's 100 children were devastated to hear the news.

The center will close its doors to students June 27. The last day for staff and teachers is July 3.

Mayor John Peyton said the $900,000 of city money that goes into the Brewer Center could be better used by spreading it out to early learning programs throughout the city.

"This is a luxury we probably cannot afford," Peyton said of the city-run center.

He said he wouldn't rule out seeking a private group to run it, but his staff said that research hasn't started yet.

Parent Cheryl Taylor, whose daughter Jordan, 4, attends the center, said it's quality centers like the Brewer Center that help start children on a good path so they can stay out of trouble later in life.

Peyton has focused a lot on early learning as a way to prevent violence as part of his anti-crime initiative, Jacksonville Journey.

"Where does his journey begin?" Taylor asked. "Does it begin here or does it begin when they get out of prison?"

Brewer Center Director Frances Gupton gave parents a letter notifying them that the center was closing when they picked up their children. It was similar to a news release sent to the media earlier in the day.

It said the Brewer Center was part of the city's literacy initiative and changes have been made to the initiative over the years to increase literacy and meet budget constraints.

"It has been determined that the operation of a separate city-owned early learning facility to test 'best practices' is no longer feasible with today's budget constraints," according to the letter.

Gupton said she and her staff will help the parents find new child-care facilities. Some parents let out audible gasps when they read the letter, if they didn't first hear the news from a staff member.

Gupton said she was told by the city not to talk to the media about why the facility was closing. But tears filled her eyes as many parents started to cry as they learned the news.

Heartbreaking news

"This is our family," Fatima Wright cried as she arrived at the center to pick up her 35-month-old daughter. "This is Franzchesca's world."

Gupton, who's been with the center from the beginning, said it's a second family for the students, parents and staff.

"To know I now have to put them out on the street is breaking my heart," Gupton said.

Matthew Birt said his 6-year-old daughter, Karis, attended the center for three years before going into kindergarten this year. He said Karis had a speech problem when she started at the center, but the staff matched her up with a speech therapist and now she's reading at a second-grade level.

Birt will now have to find a child-care center for his 2-year-old son, Talen, who attends the Brewer Center.

At a time when Peyton is pushing for more quality child-care centers in Jacksonville, the Brewer Center was supposed to serve as a model for other facilities. It's been used as a research center for other child-care providers to observe proper teaching methods.

It's also located in a low-income center, with 75 percent of its students from the surrounding neighborhoods.

A call for other options

City Council President Daniel Davis hadn't heard the news until contacted by the Times-Union.

Davis said the city needs to do everything it can to provide "lighthouses" in community that need the help the most. He said the city should look at other options, such as a private-public partnership, before shutting down the center.

In addition to city money, the Brewer Center also gets federal subsidy money for some of the children and tuition from parents, though the city wasn't able Wednesday to say how much parents pay. Plus, the center received about $50,000 a year through a $1 million endowment from the Don Brewer Foundation Center.

The endowment money came from Toni and Andy Crawford, but they wanted to do something else with that money, said Peyton's spokeswoman, Susie Wiles.

Toni Crawford said the Brewer Center was being shut down because of city budget issues. But she said she would now make sure the endowment money is spread out to help children in other early learning programs.

The city didn't know yet what would happen to the Brewer Center building, which was built in 2005.

The Brewer Center is run by an autonomous board, but it is staffed with 17 full-time city employees who report to board, Wiles said.

Peyton said his staff will try to find city jobs for the employees and help parents find new child-care centers for their children.

Tramell Nelson, 3, didn't talk at his old child-care center, only at home. Then last year his mother, Terisita Allen, put him in the Brewer Center. She said he's talking at school and excited to tell her about his day.

"He just opened right up and now everybody in the center knows him," Allen said.

She said she doesn't know where she'll enroll him next.

"I don't know. I just don't know," Allen said.

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/041708/met_269110790.shtml

[CS Foltz]

Can the Mayor do anything else to harm our City? You have something that serves the Public good and in an area that really needs service of this sort and the Mayor wants to save a buck......I think the Administration has lost sight of their major function...as in serving the public good! The Administration needs to reconsider where public money is spent and how we can obtain the most for our tax dollars!

[Charles Hunter]

Did the cost of bookbags with Peyton's mug on them go up?

[spidey]

Although I agree that the Don Brewer Center serves/served a good purpose in caring for the poor, the City should have never built it and run it in the first place. This should have been a private endeavor or at most, a public-private partnership, with the private side of the partnersip carry the majority of the weight.

The City does NOT need to be involved in training preschool teachers how to teach.

[Charles Hunter]

Agreed, this is more a DCSB function, but it is a bit heartless to set up a program with great fanfare, get parents to invest their time and children, then pull the rug.

And the City hasn't started researching options? What, they didn't think about that concept until the media asked?
"This is a luxury we probably cannot afford," Peyton said of the city-run center.

He said he wouldn't rule out seeking a private group to run it, but his staff said that research hasn't started yet.

...

The Brewer Center is run by an autonomous board, but it is staffed with 17 full-time city employees who report to board, Wiles said.

Peyton said his staff will try to find city jobs for the employees and help parents find new child-care centers for their children.


With the City cutting the general budget, which usually means staff (or positions), where are these 17 people going to go? Also, how transferable will day-care skills be to other areas of City government (although, with experience dealing with small, self-centered, childish people, maybe they could work the 4th floor of City Hall).

[rpschutt]

I guess what I found surprising (which I shouldn't have) was that these moves were taken without any consultation with the City Council whatsoever. When the Council President is surprised, it makes you wonder just how limitless the Mayor assumes his power must be.

Side note...Don Brewer was the former Chairman of the Duval County Republican Party and this center was built as a tribute to him by some very powerful and well-connected donor. I don't think Peyton's decision will endear himself to them. He may have Toni Crawford knocking on his door shortly.

[Diane Melendez]

We have long been bringing up questions about this center and the way millions are flushed through the Childrens Commission. Tons of directors, experimental programs, kids TV programs that air at 2:00, toy lending library that parents have to make an appointment for and drive too. Duplicating what the School system and state does. Spending money to train people who after training are not even recognized by the state at any level. etc. etc. etc.

Looks like they may have gotten part of the picture.


From: Rowe, Lisa
Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2008 11:32 AM
To: Bishop, Bill; Clark, Richard; Corrigan, Michael; Davis, Daniel; E. Denise Lee; Fussell, Ronnie; Gaffney, Johnny; Graham, Art; Holt, Ray; Hyde, Kevin; Jabour, Jay; Johnson, Glorious; Jones, Mia; Jones, Warren; Joost, Stephen; Redman, Don; Shad, Art; Webb, Jack; Yarborough, Clay
Cc: Sherman, Kirk; Billy, Janice; Hewett, Shannon; Hall, Sherry; Lanier, Linda
Subject: JCC- Don Brewer Early Learning Center to Close - June 27, 2008

Good morning Council Members,

The following press release will be distributed today regarding the closing of the Don Brewer Early Learning, Research and Development Center. The parents of its 98 students will receive a letter today announcing that the center will close at the end of this school year on Friday, June 27. Staff will assist parents in finding quality daycare centers for their children. Please contact me at 509-3260 for additional information.

Thanks!

Lisa Rowe RinamanPolicy DirectorOffice of Mayor John Peyton904-630-1653904-509-3260lisar@coj.net





FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Susie Wiles, (904) 630-7245
Kristen Beach, (904) 630-2709

JACKSONVILLE CHILDREN’S COMMISSION-BASED CHILDCARE CENTER TO CLOSE

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. April 16 2008— The Jacksonville Children's Commission (JCC) today announced that due to budget constraints, the childcare functions of the Don Brewer Early Learning, Research and Development Center will cease at the end of this school year. Future use of the facility at has yet to be determined.

The last day for students will be Friday, June 27 and Thursday, July 3 is the last day for teachers and staff. Brewer Center staff will work closely with families to find another childcare facility that meets their needs and facilitates a smooth transition for the children.

“The Brewer Early Learning Center has been an integral part of the Mayor’s literacy initiative and changes have been continually made to that initiative over the past years to help achieve the desired results and meet budgetary constraints,” said Howard Korman, chairman of the Jacksonville Early Literacy Partnership. “Unfortunately, the operation of a separate city-owned early learning facility to test ‘best practices’ is no longer feasible under today’s budget constraints.”

Since 2005, the Don Brewer Early Learning, Research and Development Center has served children ages 0-5 with a special emphasis on literacy through collaborative partnerships among private, public and governmental agencies. The center has also placed a focus on bringing researchers and practitioners together to serve as a community-based demonstration center by developing and implementing research and evidence-based strategies especially for urban-neighborhood children at-risk of entering school under-prepared.

The center is an autonomous arm of the Jacksonville Children's Commission and is governed by a board of five members; three selected from Jacksonville Children's Commission's Board and two selected by the Don Brewer Foundation Governing Board.

Close friends of the late Don Brewer, Toni and Andy Crawford presented an endowment of $1 million through the Don Brewer Foundation Center to help defray the operational costs of the agency. After the closing of the Brewer Center this endowment by the Crawford’s will continue to support other early learning initiatives in Jacksonville.

Brewer, former Jacksonville City Councilmember, former president of the Northeast Florida Easter Seal Society, former president of the Association for Hearing Handicapped Children, and recipient of the FACE Outstanding Community Leader Award, was a staunch believer in, and product of the Duval County Public Schools.

Brewer's civic involvement began when his son was born hearing-impaired. He saw a need for early education for special needs children, and worked with the Duval County School's Exceptional Student Education Department to implement a public school program for 3-year-old hearing-impaired children. The program became a model for the state and was one of the first programs dedicated to early education for Duval County special needs children.

[CS Foltz]

I see the issue now and my viewpoint was incorrect!....I was under the impression that Brewer was part of the DCSS (Duval County School System) I did not know it was seperate......from the looks of it appears to fill a need in an area that could use the help....maybe there are state funds available but somehow I fail to grasp the need for City Employee's to man the facility!

[johnmeeks1974]

Kids don't vote and they damn sure don't raise money by the buckets for political campaigns. [feigns surprise at the closing of the center]

[jbm32206]

The school system has a pre-k program, which fills up pretty fast. The ESE programs will take kids as soon as they turn 3, but that's only for those with special needs.

[Charles Hunter]

Mayor Peyton was just shown on FirstCoastNews saying that the City should never have been in the child care business. (no link - can't find it on the FCN website)

Wasn't it his idea to start the Brewer Center?

[jbm32206]

Here it is...
The planned closing of the Don Brewer Early Learning Center has parents of children who attend the center on the offensive.

Last week, the city suddenly announced it was suspending its $900,000 contribution to the center. The center which provides early learning programs for around 100 children is set to close the end of June.

Parents of children who attend the center are being encouraged to flood city hall with phone calls voicing their concerns. A flyer being distributed lists the city hall phone numbers of the mayor, the district councilman and at-large council members.

Mayor John Peyton told First Coast News that he doesn't believe the city should be in this business (child care) to begin with. "It is unfortunate these are the tough decisions you have to make," said Peyton. "We were spending an inordinate amount of money being in the child care business, which I think fundamentally the city should not be in the business particularly at the rates we are paying."

Parents plan to meet this Wednesday at noon to discuss their frustration. The meeting is scheduled to be held at the Brewer Early Learning Center.http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/news-article.aspx?storyid=107493

[Charles Hunter]

Thanks, jbm ... now, didn't the idea for the Brewer Center come from his administration? If I am remembering correctly, we have another example of Mr. FlipFlop, who is having a problem with truth.

And if it wasn't his idea, did he speak against it when it was working its way thru Council?

[spidey]

Here's a site, and a cite, from the coj webpage:


City of Jacksonville Obtains $75,000 Donation for Brewer Early Learning Research and Development Center


Wednesday, March 02, 2005 Jacksonville, Fla. Contact:
Allison Gieger
(904) 630-4945
Jacksonville Children's Commission

Kem Siddons
(904) 630-0830
Information Technology Division, City of Jacksonville

Jacksonville, Fla. (March 2, 2005) – In support of Mayor John Peyton's early literacy initiative, the City of Jacksonville's Information Technology Division has made arrangements with IBM and another major technology provider to donate equipment valued at $75,000 to outfit the Brewer Early Learning Research and Development Center. The donation includes six IBM Little Tike Young Explorer computers, one for each classroom, and 49 personal computers that will be temporarily issued to parents of children who attend the Brewer Center.

"The generous donation from these two technology vendors has enabled the Brewer Center to truly begin to bridge the technology gap. The classroom and personal computers will facilitate parent-teacher interaction and encourage the entire family to learn new technology together," said Frances Gupton, Executive Director of the Brewer Center.

The IBM Little Tykes will be used in the classroom as a "technology center." Classroom teachers will use the computers to support and reinforce concepts covered in the daily lessons. Parents will use the personal computers to communicate with the school and to connect with other agencies that can provide support and resources. Teachers will also use the classroom computers to email families about daily activities and provide tips for parents to continue teaching their child what they began learning in the classroom.

A supporter of the Brewer Center's technology program, City Council President Elaine Brown said, "Technology and education go hand in hand in the future development of our children. The earlier children are exposed to technology, the easier it will be for them to succeed in the world of tomorrow."

Set to open in the heart of the Eastside in spring 2005, The Brewer Center is a learning and professional development center that will use research-based best practices for young children. The center, working in collaboration with the Jacksonville Children's Commission, will serve as a model for public/private partnerships working together to meet the needs of Jacksonville's children.

The center will house an early education program for children from high needs families focusing on early literacy, language development and family involvement. The Brewer Center will serve children ages six weeks to five years, with a strong focus on infant and toddler curriculum. Of the center's students, 75 percent will be neighborhood children, 20 percent will come from a lottery system and five percent will be the children of center employees.

The Brewer Center is part of RALLY Jacksonville! and will serve as the first of several literacy demonstration projects, all located in or near current Intensive Care Neighborhoods. The Brewer Center is the first of these projects, which aim to identify barriers to early learning along with neighborhood assets that can be brought to bear to overcome the barriers.

Founded in 1994, the Jacksonville Children's Commission strives to create positive opportunities for all children by: 1) helping them to be well prepared for life through quality early learning, early literacy, health, nutrition, summer and after school programs; 2) by promoting supportive and nurturing parenting through family strengthening and parent education programs; and 3) by providing help when kids need it through special needs, behavioral and mental health, mentoring and drop-out prevention programs. To find out more about us, please visit www.jaxkids.org (http://www.jaxkids.org). For more information about the Brewer Center, contact Frances Gupton at (904) 630-1268.




http://www.coj.com/NR/exeres/0FD5D537-2A54-43AB-ADEA-67CED26B44F3.htm?NRMODE=Unpublished

[spidey]

Check out that first paragraph.......Wonder where those 49 computers they temporarily issued to the parents of the Brewer Center children are?

[rpschutt]

Check out that first paragraph.......Wonder where those 49 computers they temporarily issued to the parents of the Brewer Center children are?

Now, Spidey...come on. You know the City can't manage to keep an inventory on the computers and servers it has in its own IT Department. Do you honestly think they'd have a clue what happened to those PC's? ;)

[CS Foltz]

Those Bozo's could lose their butts ina phonebooth!

[Diane Melendez]

This is what I said a long time ago. It is what Glorious tried to have done during the budget talks. When it came up for a vote at City Council, they closed the meeting until the next day. Then the "Childrens Commission and Peytonites" came out in force to stop the effort to curb this funding. It was and is child care. Do the math 900,000.00 for 100 children. That's 9,000 per child. Many of those are babies in cribs. We were babysitting, thats pretty much it. What about the thousands and thousands of working parents that don't have a babysitter or paid childcare? Why only 100 kids reaping the benefit of everyones tax dollars? The point is we have the School System with Pre K. We have Head Start, we have innumerable day care centers which the majority of parents have to pay for their own children to attend. Why the chosen few?

I am shocked that now Peyton has come out and said we should never have been in the Child care business! I swear, we are living in the twilight zone. AAAARRRRRRGGGGGG Some of us have been saying so all along. Here is the important fact that no one should miss. The Children's Commission is still getting about $27,000,000.00 plus another $30 plus million from the state. In reality, this is no big cut at all.

We are watching the shell game....again.... The same foolishness they were pulling, training people for child care that is not recognized by the state and sending workers to private institutions is just one of the things they want to resurrect under the Jacksonville Journey. It is the tip of the spending iceberg.

Nothing is ever what it seems. I guess now the parents of the Brewer kids understand that Peyton does not care about the kids, he cares about his politics. That's where it is at for him. Period

Stay tunned, much more to come on this.

[jbm32206]

I had mentioned before, that we have an after school program at our school this year, (and it's a 5 year grant) that's funded by the Childrens Commission. I don't have a problem so much with the program, but there's sure a lot of money being spent. This summer, they'll have a day program and they'll be taking the kids (about 40-50) to day trips...like Disney or one of those places, plus they'll be going to the movies, bowling and skating every week. The bus alone for the Disney trip's costing 1000.00 and that's just one trip, and it doesn't include the cost of the theme park. The money that's being spent is amazing, to say the least!

[Diane Melendez]

The entire thing is unfair in it's premise. I am sure every child in Jacksonville would love to go to Disney. It would be great if they could all go, but they can't. I think we should make sure our children are safe in their homes and neighborhoods first. That they are fed, get health care and the like.

[jbm32206]

I agree with you and think this is a big expenditure that doesn't need to be. All it boils down to is free babysitting for the parents...and most of them don't work!

[Diane Melendez]

Don't forget all of the Directors and child care staff that got paid.

[CS Foltz]

The more I think about the Better Jacksonville Plan and the "Journey" and all the silly labels they hang on waste,ill conceived plans and programs that are half baked the more I am about to tell them to blow it all out of the rectal vents.......I am really tired of amateurs trying to ACT professional......citizens deserve better than we are getting!

[pearlstone]

rectal vents????? ha ha ha ha ha ha ah :ROF: CS you crack me up....oops, parden the pun, it just sort of slipped out. ha ha ha ha

[Diane Melendez]

The following is a letter sent to Mike Clark of the Times Union from Howard Korman of the Childrens Commission. Clearly the letter was written to justify why the Brewer Center was opened and spent the millions it did. In my view, the correspondence is more damning. If you read, you will clearly see that this was an experiment that the city should have never spent tax dollars on. Alot of people got paid through the Children"s Commission to be part of this. There is nothing to show the taxpayer for this expenditure on glorified babysitting. No proof that any of these bright ideas did anything. The only thing we can verify is that the families of 100 kids got free daycare while the rest of the parents in Jacksonville paid and the taxpayers are out a few million dollars. All thanks once again to John Peyton and his buddies with big ideas:



Howard I. Korman



April 22, 2008



Mr. Mike Clark
Editorial Page Editor
The Florida Times Union
1 Riverside Avenue
Jacksonville, FL 32205


Dear Mike:


As Chairman of the Jacksonville Early Learning Partnership, I am proud to be the leader of the effort Mayor John Peyton started over three years ago to increase literacy and improve early learning skills for Jacksonville’s youngest citizens. With our other partners in the community, we have worked hard every day to help transform what have been primarily custodial day care centers into early learning centers so Jacksonville’s most at-risk children have a good chance to enter school ready to read and learn.

At the time the Don Brewer Early Learning and Professional Development Center was being organized, I was also Chairman of the Jacksonville Children’s Commission and was involved in the planning and establishment of the Brewer Center with Toni Crawford. I want to take this opportunity to expand on the intended purpose of the Brewer Center and to expand on the reasons for its closure.

The Brewer Center was established as a part of the overall literacy effort to help develop, field test and promote the use of research based strategies, materials and tools demonstrated effective in improving the readiness outcome of all our young children, with special emphasis placed on those children at risk of entering school under prepared. The Brewer Center was developed to be a community based model demonstration center, for the purpose of developing and implementing strategies, tools and materials that other Jacksonville school readiness practitioners could use in their classrooms to improve school readiness outcomes. The Center was also established to develop professional development strategies and models to assist Jacksonville’s front line school readiness practitioners acquire and use the knowledge and skills needed to improve the readiness outcome of the children with whom they work. All of this was to be done as a part of a strong partnership between the Mayor’s

Mr. Clark
April 22, 2008
Page Two


office and local higher education institutions, governmental agencies and other community stakeholders.

In order to accomplish these objectives, the Brewer Center operated as a child care center. One should understand that the purpose of establishing the Center was to achieve the goals stated above, with the continuing obligation of people like myself to analyze the progress being made and to determine whether this model was not only successful in achieving these goals, but also proved to be fiscally appropriate and responsible. The maintenance of this model required a very significant subsidy from the Jacksonville Children’s Commission (recommended by the Mayor and approved by the City Council) and also benefited from the generosity of Toni and Andy Crawford.

Over the past year, there has been much discussion as to whether the model of a Brewer Center, being a public/private partnership, was the best model to achieve the goals for which it was formed. Considering the operational problems that were occurring and the availability of other avenues to accomplish the same research and development agenda, it was determined that the use of a community based model center operated by the City was not the best avenue to implement and access promising practices. It is for these reasons that the decision was made to close the Brewer Center. I myself on many occasions publicly confirmed to the City Council in regard to all aspects of the literacy effort that all expenditures would be continually reviewed and modified to make sure that the best avenue to achieve a specific result was pursued. After months of analysis and discussion, the decision was made to close the Brewer Center. This was purposely planned to occur at the end of this school year so that those parents who started with the Brewer Center three years ago would have the opportunity for their children to graduate from the Brewer Center. Modifications have already been made and discussed to implement alternative methods to continue those research and development programs done at the Brewer Center.

Is this disappointing to the parents? Yes, and I know Mayor Peyton and all parties involved regret that any child must be displaced. The good news is that there are now better childcare choices in Jacksonville than ever before because of our efforts. The implementation of the Guiding Stars program by the Early Learning Coalition is a means by which a parent can determine which center might closely resemble the Brewer Center and its programs.

Mayor Peyton, along with our partners in this effort in Jacksonville, is committed to working with these parents to find centers that are quality
Mr. Clark
April 22, 2008
Page Three


centers and to help get those children enrolled. Mayor Peyton has also said that he remains completely committed to using this facility to benefit the children of the neighborhood surrounding the Jacksonville Children’s Commission campus.

Irrespective of the difficult financial times that we are in, the decision to pursue an avenue different from the Brewer Center to achieve our goals is appropriate. It is not financially feasible or correct for the City to be in the business of providing “day care”. The City was only in the business of providing “day care” at the Brewer Center only for the purpose of meeting the goals previously stated. While I understand that the parents who were able to utilize the Brewer Center for a few years are disappointed, I would hope that those parents are thankful that they were able to be part of the Brewer Center for those years and that the Brewer Center has contributed to the enhancement of other “day care” facilities that are available to their children throughout the City of Jacksonville.

In closing, I am proud to be working with a Mayor who has a steadfast commitment to Jacksonville’s children – no matter how difficult the decisions may be.

Very truly yours,




Howard I. Korman, Chair
Jacksonville Early Learning Partnership

[jbm32206]

This was a money making deal for everyone but the taxpayer! What gets me is most of the kids were under 3 years old...so just where is it that they can show proof that this center helped these children to be better prepared for school?
The Center was also established to develop professional development strategies and models to assist Jacksonville’s front line school readiness practitioners acquire and use the knowledge and skills needed to improve the readiness outcome of the children with whom they work.In other words the city provided free training at the expense of the taxpayer for those working in private industry.

[Diane Melendez]

Exactly Joan. None of what they did or the supposed training that they gave is recognized by the State Board of Education. None!:tantrum"

[jbm32206]

And anyone can get the training at FCCJ, and it's not expensive....the city never, ever should've been involved in any of this...a total waste of our money!

[spidey]

Oh....and don't forget the free computers assigned to the parents....

where are they? :huh:

[jbm32206]

Jacksonville's only city-run child-care center will stay open a little while longer, city officials decided Wednesday after a meeting with about 100 parents and grandparents of the center's children.

The Don Brewer Center for Early Learning, Research & Development will stay open until the end of the summer break for public schools, which is Aug. 14, said Susie Wiles, spokeswoman for Mayor John Peyton. Last week, the city announced that the center would close to students June 27.

Parents who requested the meeting Wednesday with city officials were critical of the decision to close the center, of the city's handling of the news, that first went out to the media, and for what they said was short notice. They requested more time to find new options for their children and they asked the city to reconsider its decision.

The city's tight budget played a role in Peyton's decision to close the center, but Chief Community Officer Roslyn Phillips told the families there were other factors. Phillips said the Brewer Center was always intended as a model for other child-care centers to learn better techniques for teaching children, but that hasn't happened as much as the city had hoped. She said the city can spread the $850,000 it spends at the Brewer Center to centers citywide to improve early learning and better prepare more children for school.

The center opened three years ago in the city's Eastside. The city said it will help the parents look for new quality child-care centers and look for other city jobs for the 17 full-time staff members. The center has about 98 children between 6 weeks and 5 years old.

City Councilman Johnny Gaffney told the parents that he didn't know about the administration's decision to close the center until Monday, when he returned from a trip out of the country. He said he would help the parents to work with the administration to find quality child-care placements for the children. A smaller group of parents will meet with city and child-care officials in the near future to discuss the center's closing.

Tonya Watts, a Springfield resident whose 2-year-old daughter, Skyler, attends the center, said the city gave reasons for the closure, but the reasons made no sense."I think it's more rhetoric to placate us," Watts said.

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/042408/met_271453137.shtml

[CS Foltz]

Yep! More lip and lots less zip.....I think I'm goona label that the "Mayor Johnny two step"! this is for want of a better idea!

[mama_wolf]

Missing computers?? ITD can't even keep track of their employees!

[rpschutt]

Here is their budget:

JACKSONVILLE CHILDREN'S COMMISSIONDon Brewer Early Learning CenterFY 2007 - 2008 Index
JCBC191 ESTIMATED REVENUE:331690State Grants - Childcare Reimbursements $ 108,000 331691State Grants - State Food Program Reimbursement $ 54,452 33495Agency for Workforce Innovation (VPK) $ 37,000 34926Fees for Services - Parent Fees $ 180,000 34926Fees for Services $ - 36105Earnings Other Miscellaneous36120Interest Earnings (JXSF191JC)36602Contributions from Private Sources36603Duval County School Board36907Miscellaneous Sales $ 3,112 36972Fees from Classes38901Transfer from Fund Balance38192Transfer from Youth Travel TF (JCYT64M)TOTAL ESTIMATED REVENUE $ 382,564

JACKSONVILLE CHILDREN'S COMMISSIONDon Brewer Early Learning CenterFY 2007 - 2008 Index
JCBC191 ESTIMATED EXPENDITURES:REGULAR SALARIES AND WAGES:01201Permanent and Probationary Salaries $ 713,787 01306Salaries Part Time $ 38,200 01501Special Pay $ - BENEFITS:02101Payroll Taxes (FICA) $ 23,766 02102Medicare Tax $ 10,660 02201Pension Contribution $ 35,488 02202Deferred Compensation Plan $ 5,380 02301Group Dental $ 840 02303Group Life $ 3,047 02304Group Hospitalization $ 103,255 02401Worker's Compensation $ 10,694 02501Unemployment Insurance $ - PROFESSIONAL SERVICES:03109Professional Services $ - OTHER CONTRACTUAL SERVICES:03406Alarm Service $ 1,299 03410Contractual Services $ 80,000 03424Training Workshops $ - 03430Parent Conferences $ - 03432Parent Outreach/Resource $ - TRAVEL AND PER DIEM:04001Auto Allowance $ - 04002Travel Expenses for Staff (All travel cut) $ - 04021Local Mileage $ - COMMUNICATIONS AND FREIGHT SERVICES:04101Postage $ 100 04102Telephone $ 5,100 04181Telephone - Internal Svc. Chg. $ - INTERNAL SERVICE ALLOCATIONS:04204ITD NTG Support - IS Allocation $ 5,705 04207Copier Consolidation - IS Allocation $ 5,073 04210Telecommunication - IS Allocation (see JCC) $ 122 04211Copy Center - IS Allocation $ - UTILITY CHARGES:04308Other Utilities $ - RENTAL AND LEASES:04401Rentals04402Equipment rentals $ - 04499Other Rent - IS (Bond Payment - based on 10,912 sq. ft.) $ 133,449 INSURANCE:04502General Liability Insurance - Internal Svc. Chg. $ 3,386 04504Miscellaneous Insurance - Internal Svc. Chg. $ 160 REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE SERVICE:04603Repairs and Maintenance $ 500 PRINTING AND BINDING/PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES:04721Printing and Binding $ 50 04801Advertising and Promotion $ - 04806AwardsOTHER CURRENT CHARGES AND OBLIGATIONS:04902Plant Renewal $ 3,590 04905Civil Defense-Guard Service $ 30,056 04938Miscellaneous Services $ 2,000 OFFICE AND OPERATING SUPPLIES:05101Office Supplies $ 1,000 05110Stationery and Preprinted Forms $ - 05206Food05208Equipment under $750 $ - 05216Other Operating Supplies/Teacher Supply Depot $ 5,000 05520Parent Training Supplies05229Software Licenses (SAMIS), Equip under $750 $ - 05401Employee Training $ 500 05402Dues, Subscriptions $ - MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT:06330Repairs and Renovation Programs06402Improvements Other than Buildings06403Office Equipment $ - 06424Office Furniture and Equipment $ - 06427Computer Equipment $ - Aid to Organizations:08201Subsidies/Contributions $ - TOTAL $ 1,222,207

[CS Foltz]

Well RP...nice job as usual.....ya know this layout allmost looks like a money laundering scheme......concept is a really good idea in an area that could use it....but this is ludicrous! This appears to be just a front.....I have to agree with Ms Joan......DCSB is wasting our tax dollars and they do not need to be involved in this program!

[rpschutt]

Interesting.

I'm emailing you in hopes to get some political attention, and research assistance into the city's (Jacksonville's) untruthful tactics in unveiling information regarding the closing of the Don Brewer Early Learning Center, located on A. Phillip Randolph Blvd. The Brewer Center Parent Steering Committee has come across information that shows the Jacksonville Children's Commission had a plan in place for closing the center, back in September 2007.

We also had a meeting on Wednesday, May 14th with the Mayor's office. Ros Phillips-Chief Community Officer, Susie Wiles - Chief of Communications and Strategic Initiatives and Lisa Rinaman, Policy Director were in attendance. We asked them, if there was an Request for Proposal going out for the building. Their response was, "No, we would have to ask the community what they want to do with the building, before we could do that".

Although, the community spoke out at the first, April 23rd, Parent/Community meeting - saying they wanted the building to remain, an early learning center.

We also have learned that at the JELP meeting this week, it was announced that the City will have an RFP - for an After School Program and Family Resource Center put out this summer, for the building.

Additionally, we also have learned that Tony Bocelli was seen touring the grounds of JCC/DBELC and Fresh Ministries area, yesterday with Linda Lanier, CEO of the Jacksonville Children's Commission.


Below, I have attached an email from Tuesday, May 13th between our Parent Steering Committee members. It is talking about our information that we have come across, and have in our possession. This discussion was before the meeting with Phillips, Wiles and Rinaman. We find it interesting.

These are the same people we met with before at the Center. Only the Mayor has the authority to reverse his decision closing the center and it may be better to cancel the meeting set for tomorrow and seek an appointment with him to present our position.

After looking at the memo of Sept. 7, 2007 form Ms Lanier to Mr. Deibenow, several things are clearer:

1) As of September 7, 2007 a decision had been made to close the Center and closing had been in discussion since at least January of 2007. Unfortunately, the parents didn't learn of it 'til April 2008.

2) Funding or the lack thereof has nothing to do with the centers closing. From what we are told the City proposes to disburse the fund among several centers , giving them all some money, but not enough to " improve the quality of literacy and other developmental services in early care in Jacksonville and the readiness outcomes of its children." city ord. 51.202. The funding as I understand it will be the same but divided among several early learning centers. Additional the memo has an attachment that specifically ask "Is it possible to position this [ Brewer Center closing] as a budget reduction issue." It appears to me that not only was someone looking for a reason to close the center but a reason to justify it also.

Also on the issue of money, everyone overlooks the fact that the purpose of Don Brewer Early Learning and Professional Development Center was very clearly stated by the City Council in Ord. sec 51.204(b), ". . . to serve as part of a Citywide, research-based and results - driven school readiness support infrastructure that brings together researchers and practitioners to tackle pressing problems of practice by:

1) Establishing a model early care and learning center located in the low - income community; and
2) Developing, field - testing and promoting the use of research - based strategies, materials, and tools demonstrated effective in improving the readiness outcomes of all young children, but especially those placed at-risk of entering school under prepared.

This research and development component represent the major reason for the Center and as a result the costs are naturally higher than creating or operating an regular child care center, which this was never intended by City Council to be. The center was designed to benefit the entire city by developing and testing materials and new tools to be used in early learning throughout Jacksonville. The memo starts with the erroneous statement that 'the center was conceived as a model that would deliver high quality early learning services to poor and disadvantage pre- school children" in east Jacksonville. The ordinance make its clear that the Center was designed to be much more.

As I read the memo, I wonder if there Is a struggle between the Brewer Foundation, the Brewer Center and the Jacksonville Children Center with our children caught in the middle. At the very least, its starting to look as if the Jacksonville Children Center is or some staff member is attempting to oust the Brewer Foundation from any involvement with the Brewer Center and again with our children 'smack-dab' in the middle. Whatever the reason we should insist on a meeting with the mayor to let him know our position.

The parents and community will be holding a meeting on Tuesday, May 20th at 12:00 noon, Don Brewer Early Learning Center. We invite you to attend, hear the findings of our meeting with the Mayor's office, as well as the findings that the Jacksonville Children's Commission had in place since September 7, 2007.

Feel free to contact me at your earliest convenience.

Thank you for your time.

Ronique Gibson
roniq71@yahoo.com
904.735.5371

[@FoxHillFarms]

so just where is it that they can show proof that this center helped these children to be better prepared for school?
So the government assumed they could do a better job at raising children then parents. Maybe they are right, unfortunately, in some instances, but regardless, I'd like to know when our government started considering such programs the tax payers' responsibility to support.

These charity "programs" are bleeding the rest of us dry. Several months ago I watched Daniel Davis defend some of these programs ("You just don't understand how much good is being done") during a televised council meeting in complete shock. You see Daniel, the point is not to do the most good; as councilman, that's not your job. If you want that job, I'm sure Trinity has plenty of places for you, or you can join a charity organization. Your job is to run an effective and efficient government, and you have failed.

And as a taxpaying citizen, my job is to NOT vote for you next time.

[jbm32206]

And he's a possibility for running for mayor....

You're absolutely right fox, it's not the governments duty to do this...aside from what the public schools already provide.

[CS Foltz]

I will not vote for Daniel Davis.....self centered buffoon of first water!

[YellowBluffRoad]

I have not researched enough of this issue to have an opinion on what should be done today, but from reading this forum and watching tonight's City Council meeting, I can state my opinion that this is an absolute mess all across the board. Sorry, I know I'm stating the obvious!

I just watched tonight's City Council meeting public comments and this issue came up from a few speakers, and City Council members asked questions of the parents who spoke, as well as Ms. Rowe from the Mayor's office. There was heated conversation, especially when one parent (parent steering committee member) reported that they had so far been unsuccessful in their public records requests to the Center's Board and Jax Children's Commission for information on those entities' meetings and votes on the issue at hand.

It also sounds like their idea to pursue a private/public partnership is running into roadblocks...Ms. Rowe indicated that while the parents have suggested private/public partnerships, her office indicates this could be problematic due to the fact that doing so would trip bonding covenants on the building (and put the city in violation of their debt obligation). I'm glad the city council asked for details of the bond to be provided, and I am curious what the outcome of that information will be.

It also sounds like commitments made from multiple sources were not being met and thus the facility was not being managed as the original founding ordinances had required/expected. This reeks of accountability issues across the board. I'd expect some interesting articles in the newspaper in the next few weeks.

This also raised another question in my mind. When the city kicks off "pilot programs" like this, do they ever enact sunset rules? I've seen our state legislature create pilot programs that have sunset provisions in certain laws, so that they auto-expire unless specifically renewed by the legislature beforehand. Would sunset rules for pilot programs increase accountability and ensure the pilot programs actually do meet their commitments and demonstrate the intended value to ensure continuance? Or in our city would it just define how long a pilot can be mismanaged?

[MindingEye]

One of the speakers said words to this affect,
“we are watching you and we are going to get you!"

This to the council, WOW! A real true Clint Eastwood moment!
Hell and they can if they can find a venue!

The attorneys have bent over backwards so long
they do not know what to do legally if they tried!

[Diane Melendez]

Just tell me this..... did Lisa cry? It amazes me that they put her out there to argue in such an intense situation. She is far to thin skinned for that. Although she does follow the administrations directions to the "T". Perhaps that is why.

[YellowBluffRoad]

So following the administration's directions to the "T" makes her cry? ;)

I didn't see any tears but she did look pretty stressed.

Of course, Council President Davis looked pretty stressed also, as multiple council members couldn't follow his repeated instructions to ensure they were asking questions, not making statements. I expected Alex Trebek to come out and tell them to "state that in the form of a question, please"...

[YellowBluffRoad]

Well at least they'll be talking now:

May 30, 2008

NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that Council Members, Dr. Johnny A. Gaffney and Denise Lee, will meet with Mayor John Peyton and members of the Brewer Center Parent Steering Committee on Monday, June 2, 2008 at 10:30 a.m., in City Council Conference Room A, located at 117 West Duval St., Suite 425, for the purpose of discussing issues pertaining to bill numbers 2004-1181, 2004-702, 2006-177, 2007-544, 2008-89, and the closing of the Brewer Center located in District 7.

All interested parties are welcome to attend.

[jbm32206]

Sorry....but as far as I'm concerned, just close the damn place down, it never should've been opened in the first place.

[rpschutt]

Well at least they'll be talking now:

May 30, 2008

NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that Council Members, Dr. Johnny A. Gaffney and Denise Lee, will meet with Mayor John Peyton and members of the Brewer Center Parent Steering Committee on Monday, June 2, 2008 at 10:30 a.m., in City Council Conference Room A, located at 117 West Duval St., Suite 425, for the purpose of discussing issues pertaining to bill numbers 2004-1181, 2004-702, 2006-177, 2007-544, 2008-89, and the closing of the Brewer Center located in District 7.

All interested parties are welcome to attend.

There's an error in the posting though...it should read..."Dr" Johnny A. Gaffney...

Huge pet peeve. "Dr" is reserved for physicians with medical degrees. Ph.D's, Ed.D's, etc... go after the name.

[rpschutt]

Very interesting!


Audit of city-funded learning center questions spending on lunches, flowers (http://news.jacksonville.com/justin/2008/06/02/audit-of-city-funded-learning-center-questions-spending-on-lunches-flowers/)

Posted: Monday, June 2nd, 2008 at 1:42 pm
By DAVID HUNT
The Times-Union

An audit is raising questions about $138,000 that staff at a city-funded learning center apparently used for large lunches, flowers and charitable donations.

The City Council auditor’s report on the Don Brewer Early Learning and Professional Development Center said the money was “inappropriately deposited into the Brewer Foundation account” making it difficult to determine whether the embattled children’s facility was spending city funds appropriately.

Mayor John Peyton decided to close the Brewer Center in August, a decision that would save the city $840,000 during a tough budget year. The move came with the backing of Toni Crawford, the Brewer Center’s main benefactor.

But the move upset parents of the roughly 80 students attending the center.
After a 2 1/2-hour meeting this morning with parents and City Council members Johnny Gaffney and Denise Lee, the mayor decided to rethink closing the center.

Peyton spokeswoman Susie Wiles said the mayor agreed to decide within the next 48 hours whether to keep the center open for one more year or stay the course with his initial decision chopping it from the city’s budget.

The center began in 2005 with a mission of boosting student learning potential.

Keeping it open an additional year would help determine if the research paid off. During previous interviews, both Gaffney and Lee said they thought the center was a widely unknown gem that could put Jacksonville on the map for advancing education.


http://news.jacksonville.com/justin/2008/06/02/audit-of-city-funded-learning-center-questions-spending-on-lunches-flowers/

[jbm32206]

I'm still not clear as to what research had taken place...and just what way do they hope to see how it 'paid off' or not. All I know is that this was a cash cow for the people running it and for parents to have babysitting.

The place never should've been opened and funded with our tax dollars, in the first place and it needs to be shut down.

[Diane Melendez]

Good job David and TU. He picked up on one of the real problems haunting this program and much of what transpires in the Children's Commission. That department has provided an out of control piggy bank for all sorts of waste and provided salaries for people whose job requirements are to "make it up as you go along". A forensic audit of the Children's Commission is long overdue and much needed. Keep digging David. You have but scraped the surface of some serious misuse of tax dollars. What happened to all the computers given out to the parents. About 100 of them.

[jbm32206]

Damn, I wish they would've given me a new computer!

[Diane Melendez]

I know, are you believing this? What is even more stupid is that they families they gave them to were those who are in the lowest income brackets and can't afford childcare. What in the world made them think they could afford to go online? It's not cheap and a computer is nothing more than a paper weight if the ones who own them either don't know how to use them or cannot get access to the net. More foolish pie in the sky from the Peyton camp of "big thinkers"!

[jbm32206]

What was the reasoning behind giving them the computers? And I assume that they just plain gave them and don't expect them returned, right?

They could have dial up, but does anyone really use that these days...

[jbm32206]

Three benefactors are interested in stepping forward to keep a taxpayer-funded early learning center in Jacksonville from closing.

Mayor John Peyton decided to cut funding to the Don Brewer Early Learning and Professional Development Center in April, effectively closing it. He said it is a move to save $840,000 in a tough budget year while getting the city out of the day-care business.

Three potential donors met with Peyton aide Susie Wiles on Wednesday to talk about cutting down the city subsidy and keeping the center open. Wiles declined to identify the donors, saying no deal had been reached.

Parents were upset to learn of the center's prospective closing, set for August. A group went to City Hall on Monday to fight it. Peyton had promised a decision in 48 hours as to whether he'd keep the center open.

Wiles said that decision still may be another week away as more details are discussed. "The limbo is unfortunate. While the meeting with the parents may have been difficult, I think we understand what we both want and we're not that far apart," she said.

The Brewer Center opened in 2005 as an experiment aimed at boosting learning potential for disadvantaged youths. An auditor's report on the center released Monday suggested financial mismanagement. It further noted that roughly 60 percent of the students did not qualify for state assistance, leaving in question whether the center was serving who it was created to serve.

By DAVID HUNT, The Times-Unionhttp://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/060508/met_286400081.shtml

[JaxOutLoud]

By TIA MITCHELL
The Times-Union
Management at the Don Brewer Early Learning Center would be taken over this fall by Florida Community College at Jacksonville in a partnership with Chappell Child Development Centers.
This agreement, announced Friday by Mayor John Peyton, must be approved by the Jacksonville City Council and FCCJ’s District Board of Trustees. Once approved, FCCJ would contract with Chappell Schools, which will provide the child development services. The college would be in charge of operating the center, and the city would continue to provide building maintenance.
Peyton announced in April that he was cutting funding for the Brewer Center because of an upcoming tough budget year. He also said the center wasn’t serving its mission of being a model facility targeted at inner-city youth and instead had essentially become a city-operated day care.
At the time the closure was announced, many parents and community members expressed anger at the mayor’s decision.



Read More at the TU... (http://news.jacksonville.com/justin/2008/07/18/fccj-partnership-might-keep-brewer-center-open/)

[rpschutt]

Perhaps Tia could ask where those missing laptops are.

[CS Foltz]

Center is a good idea for that part of the world ....only problem is the City is running it and not the School Board! City should not have gotten involved to begin with....let a private entity/company operate it!