PAHOKEE, Fla. — The City of Pahokee fought to get funding back for its after-school program on Thursday, but ultimately failed.
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WPTV Contact 5 reported back in December that a child was left in a van belonging to the city's after-school program on Oct. 23, according to a Department of Health report.
As a result, the Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County pulled around $60,000 worth of funding from Pahokee's after-school program.
At a due process hearing on Thursday, the ELC board upheld its decision to pull that funding.
City of Pahokee Parks and Rec director (seen in second picture) is appealing the Early Learning Coalition’s decision to pull funding from their after school care program, along with lawyer and city manager. @wptv #wptv pic.twitter.com/Vegcj87wsy
— Sam Smink (@samsminkWPTV) January 3, 2019
Program director said child was in van for 20 minutes. ELC investigator says child could have been in van for as long as 3 hours. ELC says differing accounts on time, physical condition of child and who broke the window of van in various interviews. #wptv @wptv https://t.co/BRZ18sYVyy
— Sam Smink (@samsminkWPTV) January 3, 2019
ELC says City of Pahokee did not call 911, DCF or ELC like they are contractually obligated to do. #wptv @WPTV https://t.co/BRZ18sYVyy
— Sam Smink (@samsminkWPTV) January 3, 2019
At Thursday's hearing, it was revealed that a Pahokee city worker told an ELC investigator that the child was limp, warm, and nonverbal when a football coach broke a window to get into the van.
The Director of Pahokee's after-school program said the child was in the van for 20 minutes. But an ELC investigator said the child could have been in van for as long as three hours.
Attorney for Pahokee says “we do not contest incident occurred.” Said ELC should have just kept program on probation until they heard more evidence from Pahokee. Said they’ve made changes to ensure this doesn’t happen again. @wptv #wptv pic.twitter.com/kQWp5XRpiM
— Sam Smink (@samsminkWPTV) January 3, 2019
An attorney for Pahokee said at Thursday's hearing they do not argue that the incident occurred. But he added that ELC should've just kept program on probation, and not pull funding, until they heard more evidence.
Pahokee City manager Chandler Williamson says staff has gone through re-training, part time staff and an Asst Director were removed. There are new transportation log guidelines to make sure no child is ever left behind again. #wptv @wptv pic.twitter.com/MCPCEFFTvs
— Sam Smink (@samsminkWPTV) January 3, 2019
Pahokee City Manager Chandler Williamson said staff members have gone through retraining, the van driver was fired, and the Director of the after-school program was removed from that position.
There are also new transportation guidelines to make sure no child is ever left behind again, according to the City Manager.
City manager said the child was most likely only on the van for 10 minutes because he was part of art program. ELC board member asked “do you know how hot a van can get on an 81 degree day like it was on October 24th?” No one had response. #wptv @WPTV https://t.co/lTiJhR4lAL
— Sam Smink (@samsminkWPTV) January 3, 2019
City manager says bus driver was fired. @wptv #wptv https://t.co/lTiJhR4lAL
— Sam Smink (@samsminkWPTV) January 3, 2019
The director of the after school program was removed from position and put into other area of city work.#wptv @WPTV https://t.co/x1Q7SGykWE
— Sam Smink (@samsminkWPTV) January 3, 2019
Board just unanimously decided to uphold their decision to pull funding. Termination will stand. @wptv #wptv https://t.co/J7bITX3iWI
— Sam Smink (@samsminkWPTV) January 3, 2019
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office is investigating the incident, as is the Department of Children and Families.
