APOPKA, Fla. — Thousands of tax dollars will pay for a city program to improve Apopka schools, but Channel 9 learned the mayor previously served on the board of the group picked for the job.
The new program, which aims to improve the grades of Apopka schools, could cost up to $10,000 a school.
“School grades are one of those things that every homebuyer asks their realtor for,” said Apopka Mayor Joe Kilsheimer.
He said the group City of Life Foundation, a non-profit with one employee, will oversee the city program called Apopka Begins and Ends with A.
The goal is to boost letter grade of schools, but some are questioning the deal.
Documents show the mayor previously served as the group’s board president from 2011 to 2013, and a director on the board from 2006 to 2008.
The mayor said City Council never voted on the measure.
“The mayor, under the charter of the city of Apopka, has the authority to come up with initiatives and execute plans like this,” Kilsheimer said.
The foundation will try to identify obstacles at Lovell Elementary, and Rock Springs Elementary, which are both C schools.
The program could be expanded in the future, but not everyone is sold on the mayor’s plan.
“It seems like they got the pull and the opening without anybody else voting on it. He just brought them in and it seems questionable,” said resident Carrie Wiercioch.
The non-profit’s current president said he doesn’t think the mayor’s past played a role in the decision.
Channel 9 asked the mayor if the deal is appropriate, given his previous ties.
“Compensating a group for their professional time that they’re going to spend just seems fair to me,” said Kilsheimer.
The money for the program was left over from the last city budget. The school district wouldn’t pay a dime.
The mayor said the city has already signed a deal and the group is expected to begin meetings on Nov. 9.
WFTV
