JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Officials at the Jericho School for Children with Autism said they are temporarily ceasing operations due to the federal funding delay from the government shutdown.
Angelo Martinez, the school’s executive director, said the school is not filing for bankruptcy. The school is a non-profit and is run by a board of Directors.
“We have been starting to provide more educational and therapeutic programs for military families in this community in the past couple of years,” Martinez said in a statement. “Because of the government shutdown, the funds for these services suddenly halted and we were told that payments would not be processed until the end of the shutdown.”
Martinez said that, because of this, the board decided to temporarily cease operations to determine the best path forward.
“You should also know that we do have very dedicated individuals who understand the tremendous importance of the individualized educational and clinical programs that we provide to so many children and families that require such specialized services for children on the autism spectrum,” Martinez said.
He said the parents have already reached out in support.
“The logistics of this are complex at this time; however, we have motivated staff that are dedicated to this effort and with the help of the community, we can maintain the school and programs and continue to make a difference in the lives of children with autism.”
Declan Foose is one of the few students who attends Jericho but since Friday, he hasn’t been able to step back inside his classroom.
“I usually go up that stairs, staircase and go all the way to my class and get that tree over there. That’s where my teacher is,” Foose said.
It’s a shutdown that parents or staff didn’t see coming. Sabrena, Declan’s mom, said her son was struggling to understand what was going on.
“He went from wondering what he did wrong to wondering what happened above him...he’s going through the motions of grief where it’s like denial and acceptance and sadness and then anger and round and round and round,” Sabrena said.
Filled with emotions, Sabrena and other parents are now trying to homeschool their children while unsure of how long this will last.
“It means everything to us. He was nonverbal. He was stuck in his own world,” Sabrena said.
Declan said he really misses being in class.
“I really missed learning in the class,” Declan said. “It has to be open next week I swear.”
Brian Lee, the board’s chairperson, sent a letter that reads in part, “Please know that The School is actively monitoring the situation and consulting with financial and legal experts to determine the most responsible steps moving forward.”
Click here for more information about the Jericho School for Children with Autism.