New Path Academy CEO envisions programs for all at Rubonia Community Center

MANATEE -- Dora Palacios loves teaching the children in the after-school program at New Path Academy Rubonia Center.

Palacios knows, for many of the children whose parents are still working when elementary school lets out, the alternative is being home alone.

"It's better for them to be in here than out there," said Palacios, after-school teacher at New Path Academy Rubonia Center, 712 Palmview Road, Palmetto.

New Path Academy, a nonprofit, is hoping to expand its services in the Rubonia community by acquiring and operating the Rubonia Community Center, which has been closed since 2013.

"It's meeting the needs of the community and the gaps of the community," New Path Academy CEO Jennifer Radebach said. "There are children on the streets that don't have a place to go after school or on the weekends."

New Path Academy, in partnership with Rubonia Community Association and the Panda Foundation, submitted the only proposal to Manatee County to ac

quire and operate the community center, 1309 72nd St. E. Last week, a Manatee County Valuation Committee chaired by Cheri Coryea, county neighborhood services director, deemed New Path Academy's proposal to acquire and operate the center as "responsive."

"It is so much more than a building," Radebach said. "It's bigger than a building for that community. They want somewhere to go."

Working together

New Path Academy initially didn't have any intention to respond to the invitation to negotiate, Radebach said. After meeting with the Rubonia Community Association, Radebach said the nonprofit received the full support of the community. The school wouldn't have proceeded without that support, she said.

"It's in line with who we are," Radebach said, adding that the Rubonia Community Association was "trying to have a voice but the way they were speaking was not effective."

"New Path just established the effective voice for them," she said.

The three entities have a "huge vision for the center," Radebach said.

"We envision it being a place for the community, in the community, to gather and use this iconic building for them in any way that they feel they need to use it," she said.

Rubonia residents have expressed concerns the center should remain with the community.

While New Path Academy will maintain the building, the center will stay with the community, Radebach said.

"There are people that they can trust," Radebach said of New Path Academy. "People that keep their word. We are a group that truly wants to bring to fruition what the community wants."

The Rubonia community will have complete input as well as access seven days a week, Radebach said.

"The building will stay within the community," she said. "They will have full access. It's a community center for Rubonia. A place for them to have socials and cookouts. It's all geared for the residents of Rubonia."

Mary Brown, chairwoman of the Rubonia Community Association, said earlier this month that the three groups have been working together and will continue to do so.

"I'm positive about the center being opened, and I think it will be open very soon," Brown said.

Radebach said the Rubonia Community Association has the same vision as New Path Academy.

"We just listened to each other," she said. "I think there is a mutual respect. They see it is bigger than a building."

Community Center programs

Radebach wants to see picnics, and children kicking around the soccer ball and playing football in the field adjacent to the community center. She also envisions large family outings after church on Sundays.

During the week, there will be senior services in the morning, programming for the middle generation during the day and after-school programs for the children.

"We really want to bring the community in that it's their facility," Radebach said. "That they have a place to go, utilize and socialize. ... They will get the senior services they want. The community will be able to use the building on weekends. There is going to a sport or activity for every kid."

The Rubonia neighborhood is off U.S. 41, between Palmetto and Interstate 275.

While New Path Academy currently operates a Rubonia Center with school readiness and after-school programs, Radebach wants to expand the programming offered to the community, adding sports and teen services.

"They are going to enhance each other," Radebach said. "We will utilize the buildings to the best of the capabilities of the buildings."

Next steps

While New Path Academy's proposal was found responsive, the Manatee County Evaluation Committee had several questions about the proposal. From last Friday, New Path Academy has 14 calendar days to respond before the evaluation committee will meet again and possibly make a recommendation to the county administrator to either negotiate with the nonprofit or not proceed. The Manatee County Commission will have final approval.

"I believe it was a very good submittal," said evaluation committee member Charlie Bishop, Manatee County Property Management Department director, at the Sept. 14 evaluation committee meeting.

The center, which needs more than $133,300 in repairs, was deeded to the county by the Manatee County School Board last October.

In the proposal, the nonprofit is requesting the county contribute $58,565 to cover a portion of repair costs, with New Path Academy paying the same amount toward repairs.

Radebach would like to see the center reopened as soon as possible.

"Every day that goes by, kids are on the street with no place to go and may be enticed by risky behaviors," she said.

Existing Rubonia Center

On Thursday afternoon, Paul Stone, principal of the new New Path Academy K-12 school, led the after-school program at the nonprofit's Rubonia Center.

The lesson involved using Apple Jacks cereal to teach the room full of third-, fourth- and fifth-graders about factors and prime numbers. Stone instructed the children, who live in Rubonia and the surrounding areas, to organize 20 pieces of cereal into 10 groups of two to illustrate factoring.

"Here I get to help the kids," Stone said.

About 40 children in preschool through fifth grade participate in either the school readiness or after-school program sat the Rubonia Center. The nonprofit also operates three other centers in Manatee County.

Joshua Gomez Gulape, 9, comes to the Rubonia Center after the school day ends at Palm View Elementary next to the center.

Gomez Gulape said he likes going to the center rather than going straight home after school.

"There's a lot of kids who I can play with," he said. "It's better than just going home and doing nothing."

For 8-year-old Kyle Delara, who attends Virgil Mills Elementary, he said he gets to play with toys.

"The best part is playing with friends and learning everyday," he said.

Claire Aronson, Manatee County reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7024. Follow her on Twitter @Claire_Aronson.

This story was originally published September 20, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "New Path Academy CEO envisions programs for all at Rubonia Community Center ."