Broken Promise
School for students with learning disabilities in danger of not reopening as ministry yet to fulfil commitment to pay fees
Published:Wednesday | January 3, 2024 | 12:12 AMKimone Francis/Senior Staff Reporter
Parents whose children attend Promise Learning Centre say they were left stumped after the school, which caters to students with autism and learning disabilities, indicated that it would not reopen today for the new academic term.
In a letter dated December 30, 2023, acting Principal Maxine Bolton and Wesley Hylton, the acting director, accused the Ministry of Education and Youth of failing to honour its commitment for payments that would cover the tuition of dozens of students enrolled at the Hagley Park Road, St Andrew-based school.
“Failure to fulfil their contracted obligation has left our hardworking and dedicated teachers and staff without a salary, bonus nor incentives for the entire Christmas season,” the letter, bearing the names of the two administrators, stated.
It said no form of effective communication nor update had come from the ministry, leaving administrators “blind and in constant waiting”.
The letter stated that this has been a recurring issue that has left the school with overdue taxes and unpaid utility and maintenance bills.
This, it said, would directly affect the learning experience for students.
A total of 108 students are enrolled at the school.
“In addition to our unpaid bills, we are now tasked with hiring new members of staff to replace members who were no longer able to endure the conditions that the ministry has placed us in.
“Please understand the situation we are in and the sacrifices we are forced to make. We sincerely apologise for any inconveniences this may have caused you and/or your child. The administrative department will be updating you as to the reopening plans as soon as possible,” the letter stated.
Efforts to reach Bolton for comment were unsuccessful as calls to her cell phone yesterday went unanswered.
A parent who contacted The Gleaner but requested anonymity said parents were “shocked” to learn of the “extreme difficulties” the school faced.
The school asked parents not to communicate with the media.
“I know us as parents were having issues with the ministry in terms of shadows because a lot of the students aren’t allowed to go to school if they don’t have an assistant which we term as shadows,” said the parent.
A shadow is typically a trained ABA professional who accompanies a child with autism spectrum disorder in order to provide them the support they need to be successful in a traditional educational setting.
According to the parent, shadows assigned to children at the school receive a monthly salary of approximately $40,000 after tax. She said that, as a result, the turnover rate remained high.
During a post-Cabinet press conference in August, then acting Chief Education Officer Dr Kasan Troupe, who has since been promoted to permanent secretary, told The Gleaner that more than 500 shadows had been assigned to special needs students for the academic term.
‘Really disheartening’
“It’s disheartening that the ministry would allow this to happen. There are not many schools, especially in the Corporate Area, that cater to children who are on the spectrum… .
“The school has been operating from in the ‘90s. It is one of the first and this is the level of treatment it is getting from the Government. It is really disheartening. The children are somewhat at a disadvantage and you not making preparations for them to go back to school, that they are given top priority what does it say?” the parent questioned.
On Tuesday, The Gleaner contacted Minister of Education Fayval Williams who indicated that she was made aware of the development at the school and that the matter was being addressed.
In an emailed response to a Gleaner query, Troupe said the ministry committed to covering the tuition of 69 students.
She said that during the academic year, based on requests from parents, the number of students increased to 77 and then to 80.
“The ministry estimated the sponsorship for the 80 students at the full cost of $330,000 per student or a total of $26,400,000 for academic year 2023-2024,” Troupe said.
“As per agreement with the Promise Learning Centre, this sum of $26,400,000 would be paid in four tranches, consistent with the funding arrangements for the public schools,” she added.
She said the first tranche of 30 per cent, or $6.8 million, due in June 2023 was paid. This covered the cost for 69 students based on the initial enrolment figures.
The second payment of 15 per cent, or $3.4 million, that was due in September 2023 for the 69 students was also submitted, Troupe said.
However, the third payment of 20 per cent, or $5 million, that was due in December and the $1.1 million additional funding for the eight students enrolled in October have not been paid.
Troupe said the payments have been processed and should be reflected in the school’s account today.
The fourth payment of 35 per cent is due in April.
“We are committed to ensuring that each child gets the needed support,” Troupe said.
She said there has been and continues to be ongoing dialogue and an open line of communication with the school through the Special Education Unit at the education ministry which provides immediate supervision of the school.