The DOE has posted information on the procurement contracts to be considered at the next Panel for Educational Policy meeting. Here is the link to the descriptions and the shorter agenda of contract items. The preview for July contracts is here.
Reading through the contracts, the most salient item is a proposal (Item 13, page 25) to create a new non-profit entity, "NYC School Support Services, Inc." that will provide custodial services to public schools. Its board will be comprised of the chancellor, the head of the Office of Management and Budget and three appointees of the chancellor. The proposal calls for funding of $1.8 billion over the next three years.
Update 6/17: The DOE provided additional 48 pages of documentation of past issues with Community Based Organizations (CBOs) providing services to renewal schools. Document can be found here.
If you have comments or concerns, you can post them below or email us at NYCschoolcontractwatch@gmail.com.
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The next round of DOE contracts will be voted on June 22; see below.
http://schools.nyc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/5283CA8C-ED15-4277-B1CE-DC063C65A3BF/198570/DOEDYCD_RAPackageUpdated.pdf
June 22, 2016 Updated Information on Previously Approved Contracts
The updated info on previously approved contracts refers to the NYPost article here;
http://nypost.com/2016/06/01/scandal-plagued-agencies-okd-to-get-millions-in-doe-funds/
The reporter found hat many of the earlier approved contracts for the Community Schools program had not been properly vetted and much negative information had been omitted from the RAs though the docs said background checks “revealed no significant adverse information on all awarded vendors,”
Now there are 51 pages of negative info of varying degrees of seriousness outlined on these vendors, previously approved by the PEP to provide services for the Community Schools at a total of $78 million.
Among the issues for one of the vendors: "A March 2016 federal lawsuit alleged that an individual under the care of a foster home, through a NYC Administration of Children’s Services (“ACS”) contract provider Abbott House (“AH”), was repeatedly molested by her foster mother. The individual alleged in the civil suit that Abbott House, ACS, and a psychotherapy center provided improper supervision over her while she was in the care of a foster home, and failed to protect her from her foster mother, the assailant, even after she lodged several complaints. The DOE has confirmed with ACS and Abbott House that the matter is currently pending, and that further information could not be provided. In light of the fact that this matter is pending, the DOE does not believe this precludes a determination that the vendor is responsible."
there are many many pages of findings against one particular vendor,
Sports and Arts in Schools Foundation (SASF) including the following:
SASF disclosed two (2) substantiated cases of client abuse/neglect occurring within the last twelve months. One of the cases pertains to an incident which occurred on July 1, 2014.
A six year old male participant child was left behind during a Summer Camp outing for forty five minutes with no adult supervision. As a result of the incident, SASF's SACC license was suspended by the New York State of Children and Family Services (OCFS). SASF submitted a copy of their Stipulation of Settlement for the monetary penalty associated with this incident and their Corrective Action Plan. The suspension has been lifted.
Sports and Arts in Schools Foundation (SASF) disclosed another substantiated case of client abuse/neglect occurring within the last twelve months. The case pertains to an incident which occurred on October 13, 2014. A student/participant child was left behind on the NYC subway system during the conclusion of an outing with no adult supervision. As a result of the incident, SASF's SACC license was suspended by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) due to inadequate supervision of a child. SASF submitted a copy of their Stipulation of Settlement for the monetary penalty associated with this incident and their Corrective Action Plan. The suspension has been lifted. These two substantiated cases of client abuse or neglect also comes up as a self-reported caution (CN - 002- 070815000020-1) dated 10/30/2014, in VENDEX.
THANKS
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