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Polk school officials tentatively award McLaughlin Pre-K site to YMCA; contract talks to follow
Summary
Polk County School District announced a tentative selection of the YMCA to operate the McLaughlin Pre-K site and said staff will begin contract negotiations; no board vote was taken and a final contract will return to the board for approval.
Polk County School District administrators announced on April 8 that they are tentatively awarding the McLaughlin Pre-K site to the YMCA and will begin contract negotiations, though the board will not vote on a final contract until it returns to the board for approval.
Superintendent Kevin Hyde told the board the district followed its selection process and “we are tentatively awarding that location and site opportunity to the YMCA.” Hyde said the district will begin contract development and negotiations and that “we will typically take an existing blank charter school agreement and modify it as needed.” He added the district requires shared-facility providers to use the Raptor security and the district’s video monitoring system and that “we will continue to take care of the facility.”
The superintendent and board members described the YMCA as the standout applicant because of existing partnerships, the organization’s ability to scale quickly and its reputation among families. Chantelle Riggs, introduced at the meeting as chief strategy officer for the YMCA of West Central Florida, thanked the board for the opportunity and said the YMCA is “committed to early childhood and the success of this program.”
Board members and staff emphasized that the selection is tentative. Hyde said there is no board vote this week and that the YMCA will next participate in contract negotiations. Any final shared-facilities use agreement must be negotiated and executed before the provider begins operating at the site.
The district said all three applicants were “exceptional” and that staff will return to the board with a completed contract for review and formal action. The board did not set a specific date for final approval during the discussion but noted the district must finalize the agreement and any statutorily-required terms prior to service delivery.
Board members asked for follow-up about operational details and who would be the lead contact for the YMCA during negotiations. Hyde said staff will coordinate with the YMCA to identify a lead and to finalize operational and safety details.
No formal motion or vote was recorded during the April 8 work session; the superintendent said the matter will return to the board once contract negotiations are complete.
