School Board approves Kut Different mentorship program amid debate of costs

Rory Carter, Eddie Rocker and Jamie Gilmore, left to right, all of Kut Different, a youth mentoring program, pose for a photo as they welcome students as they arrive on the first day of school at Howard Middle School in Ocala on Monday, August 12, 2024. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2024.

The Marion County School Board voted 4-1 to approve a $220,000 contract with Kut Different, a mentorship program serving primarily 82 Black male students at five schools in the district at Horizon Academy at Marion Oaks, Howard Middle School, Lake Weir Middle School, Liberty Middle School and Oak Crest Elementary. The program aims to support at-risk students through academic assistance and character development. 

Under the contract, the participating schools would identify students at risk for the program as “a psychoeducational empowerment experience” which provides an opportunity “to spend quality educational time during the school day with men who serve as role models/mentors. The program stresses the development of the motivation and skills necessary for academic success, the development of positive and responsible social behavior, building a sense of connectedness, and the modeling of positive male images. This program seeks to reduce the number of students’ discipline infractions as well as improve students’ attendance, self-confidence, engagement in academics, and sense of connectedness.”

The cost is $3,000 per student and funded from state funds meant for schools with economically disadvantaged students at underperforming schools. 

According to the Department of Education website, the ear marked money can be used to “provide additional teachers, professional development, extra time for teaching, parent involvement activities, and other activities designed to raise student achievement.” 

Board Member Allison Campbell cast the lone dissenting vote, citing concerns about the level of detail in the contract’s scope of work and the hourly rate. Campbell offered that she would prefer the contract have more details to justify the investment per student, acknowledging that the agreement may not fully reflect Kut Different’s actual involvement in schools.

“If you are providing way more services than what is included in this agreement, include it,” Campbell said. “Tell us what all you are doing to make the dollars make sense.”

Campbell calculated the contract’s hourly rate ranged from $103 to $139 per student, significantly higher than other district specialists. 

Eddie Rocker of Kut Different, a youth mentoring program, right, welcomes Courtney Smith, 12, a 7th grade student, on the first day of school at Howard Middle School in Ocala on Monday, August 12, 2024. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2024.

Campbell felt that the district should work on establishing a standardized rate for mentorship services, similar to how the district handles other specialists, “it does appear that the team is working very diligently on creating a base rate, or like a flat rate to pay for mentorship services around the district, similar to what we have with speech language pathologists or other specialty services that we have where those are.”

She expressed frustration that similar questions arose during last year’s contract approval.

Board Member Eric Cummings questioned why the program faced repeated scrutiny.

“I don’t recall us getting involved with any other vendor and asking the vendor to modify their base rate of what they charge for services,” Cummings said. “I don’t think we ought to ask them to amend anything.”

“Finally, we said we want to be innovative in this district we want to do things that were groundbreaking. I think Kut Different has brought something to our district that has been innovative and groundbreaking,” Cummings said.

Campbell indicated that Marion County district personnel could find no comparable program in other districts to compare costs with.

Board Member Sarah James emphasized the program’s unique value, stating, “Kut Different is meeting the need of students in a gap that was not represented prior to Kut Different coming into our organization.”

Lori Conrad agreed. “I would agree with what board member James has shared, and I also just want to remind the board that there are levels of service and the level that Kut Different provides to our students surpasses any kind of mentorship that I have either been a part of or witnessed,” she said.

Principals from participating schools praised Kut Different’s effectiveness in reducing disciplinary issues and improving student confidence. Chris Sandy, principal of Oak Crest Elementary, shared success stories of two students who benefited from the program.

Jamie Gilmore of Kut Different, a youth mentoring program, right, talks with Dorian Washington, 12, a 7th grade student, on the first day of school at Howard Middle School in Ocala on Monday, August 12, 2024. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2024.

“I cannot do that service. I don’t speak ‘10-year-old boy’ and Kut Different does,” Chris Sandy said. “Kut Different speaks to them that he’s there every morning, during specials, at lunch, during their recess time, and they mentor and support them in ways that we as their administrators cannot do.”

Jamie Gilmore, representing Kut Different, expressed frustration at the recurring questions about the program’s contract. He highlighted recent incidents of violence at local schools and emphasized the program’s potential to address such issues.

“If we can get ahold of those young men, we can minimize the times that these things are happening in our community,” Gilmore said.

Board Chair Nancy Thrower acknowledged the program’s value while also emphasizing the board’s fiscal responsibility. She called for more comprehensive documentation of Kut Different’s services in future contracts to avoid similar debates.

“We want to make sure that whatever comes before us is accurate and passes legal muster,” Thrower said. “What I look forward to is getting to a place where this doesn’t have to be questioned every single time.”

The approved contract allows Kut Different to continue its services for the current school year. 

Despite acknowledging the need for programing, Campbell told Gilmore during the meeting, “I implore you so we don’t have to continue to have these questions and conversations every year, because until the scope of work gets to where it actually shows what you’re doing and how many hours you really are providing of service to these students, I’m going to continue to ask the questions because right now the dollars add up to an hourly rate we don’t pay any of our specialists.”

As the meeting concluded, board members and Kut Different representatives expressed hope for improved communication and documentation to streamline future contract approvals.

“We love the partnership with you all. That’s why we, when we made our first business plan, we knew we had to make a partnership with the Marion County Public Schools because we had to meet kids where they’re at. A kid may not never have the luxury to play on a football team, go to church or go to our rec centers, but most of them end up at our schools,” Gilmore told the district board, thanking them for the contract.