Is it summer school or camp? They claim both in the article. In the end I call it free baby sitting at the taxpayers expense.

http://cbs4.com/local/migrant.school.ho ... 83234.html

Classes Back In Session At S. Dade Migrant School
Classroom Doors At Redland Center Had Been Padlocked
School District Resolves Leasing Dispute With Housing Authority Reporting
John MacLauchlan
HOMESTEAD (CBS4) -

Summer school is back in session for children of migrant workers in southern Miami-Dade County.

The doors to the Redland Center, located at 29355 South Dixie Highway in Homestead, were re-opened Monday morning.

"This is great, this is really wonderful, not only for us but for the community here," said counselor Martha Torres.

Just about two weeks ago, children arriving to class found them padlocked after a leasing contract dispute between the Homestead Housing Authority and the Miami-Dade School Board.

For more than 40 years, the school district has provided educational services to migrant children at three locations in the southern end of the county, according to CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald. But three years ago the housing authority, which runs the camps, informed the school district that they would not renew their lease for the Redland Center unless they joined the housing authority's 'network'. If the school refused, the housing authority said they would replace the district's educational programs with programs of their own.

Two weeks ago, students arrived at the center to find that the doors on the portable classrooms had been padlocked leaving the kids without a summer program. Parents and students protested the closure and the school district's attorney sent a letter to the housing authority demanding the use of the center's portables.

After some negotiations, both sides reached a deal.

"The lease that the school district has agreed too has an addendum on it that they will belong to the provider's network which is all I asked for from the beginning," said Ed Carrera with the Homestead Housing Authority.

The school district agreed to join the housing authority's 'network' if in return the School Board retained final say over the educational policy. A new lease was signed last week. While each side declared a victory, both agree that the children were the real winners.

"As for the center being open, I speak on behalf of all the parents that we are very happy that it is open and here for our children," said Marta Cruz who has two children in the program.

Supporters of the migrant program are concerned that the lease could be threatened again in two years when the current contract expires.


CBS4's Sharrie Williams contributed to this report