The School Board, Jacksonville Children's Commission and John Heymann's, candidate district 7, money laundering scheme

Does John Heymann (SB candidate 7) have a conflict of interest?

John Heymann local CEO of communities in schools has said over and over again that there would be no conflict of interest with him being on the school board despite the fact his organization (that pays him six figures) receives money from the school board. He has even said quite dismissively that CIS receives very little funding from the school board. He is right too. The CIS receives the vast amount of their money from the Jacksonville Children’s Commission from whom they received nearly 8 million dollars over the last 2 years.

That’s the set-up, here is the rub.

The 7/23 school board agenda includes:

Item: Agreement with the Jacksonville Children’s Commission for the Team Up program and submission of 21st Century Community Learning Center grant proposals

What it means: The board will decide whether to continue using the after-school learning program for kids needing extra help in their studies. The price tag is $2.21 million. The board will also decide whether to ask the state education department for grants totaling $1.91 million. The program is used at 27 elementary schools, 14 middle schools, two student centers and a charter school.

From the Communities in school web-site: Communities In Schools of Jacksonville is the leading dropout prevention organization helping kids successfully learn, stay in school and prepare for life. We reach more than 6,600 at-risk students in more than 40 Duval County Schools through mentoring, literacy tutoring, after-school enrichment, and case management.

Hmm, don’t they seem to be serving the same amount of schools?

Is the JCC laundering money from the school board for Heymann and CIS? Even if CIS doesn’t get the bulk of their financing directly from the school board they do get it indirectly and if Mr. Heymann doesn’t realize that, well that’s another issue altogether.

I am not saying CIS doesn’t do a good job. I am not saying their services are not important. I am however saying, why the subterfuge, why aren’t these things done above board?

Mr. Heymann has some explaining to do.