Government Shutdown Hinders Wage Theft Investigations for Fort Pierce Teachers from Closed Private School
The financial struggles of teachers from a now-defunct private school in Fort Pierce, just south of Vero Beach in St. Lucie County, have been compounded by the ongoing federal government shutdown. These educators, who dedicated their time and effort to Creative Learning Lab Academy, are facing significant unpaid wages and are finding their avenues for recourse severely hampered. This situation underscores broader issues affecting our local communities, particularly concerning worker protections and educational oversight in the region.
Teachers at the former Fort Pierce school report being unpaid for approximately a month’s worth of work, with individual amounts ranging from an estimated $1,000 to $5,000. This financial blow has left many in precarious positions, struggling to cover essential bills and basic living expenses.
“It just felt like I was just doing that [teaching] for no reason,” shared Tayla King, a former preschool teacher at the academy, highlighting the profound disappointment and financial strain experienced by the educators. “Like all that time that I put into working, like all of that was for nothing. Like I just wasted my time.”
King’s story is particularly poignant. She left a previous job, drawn by the vision of Creative Learning Lab Academy’s owners, Chris and Balanga Madison, to establish a Black-owned school dedicated to underprivileged children. Despite her passion for the students and colleagues, the school’s inability to meet payroll in August marked the beginning of her personal financial crisis. “I’m very in financial debt,” King stated, detailing how she has had to borrow money from friends and family to manage rent and other necessities. She believes the Madisons owe her more than just her unpaid wages, given the significant hardship she now faces.
The path to recovering these lost wages is proving to be an arduous one. With Florida having dissolved its Department of Labor in 2002, affected teachers must file complaints with the United States Department of Labor. However, the current government shutdown has rendered this federal avenue largely inaccessible. King, like many others, reports being unable to get a response or even connect with anyone on the phone, leading to immense frustration. The emotional and financial toll is further exacerbated by the fact that many teachers, including King, spent their own money to decorate and prepare their classrooms, an investment now feeling utterly wasted.
Beyond the wage dispute, the Creative Learning Lab Academy has also drawn scrutiny for other serious concerns. Reports indicate that the school received approximately $44,000 in taxpayer-funded scholarships from students attending its K-12 programs via Step Up for Students. Furthermore, multiple teachers alleged that they did not receive legally required background checks before commencing employment. While Tayla King did undergo a background check, these claims raise significant safety and regulatory questions for an educational institution.
State law mandates a Level Two background investigation for all school employees, which includes fingerprint submission to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). While FDLE confirmed having some prints on file for the school, the discrepancies reported by several employees who received no background checks, despite offer letters stating such a screening was required, are troubling. The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) has also been contacted regarding possible investigations or regulatory actions against the school’s owners, but information remains pending.
This evolving situation in Fort Pierce highlights the critical importance of oversight and accountability in educational institutions, as well as the need for robust mechanisms to protect workers’ rights, even when federal operations face disruptions. For residents of Vero Beach and the wider Indian River County area, it serves as a stark reminder of the interconnectedness of our communities and the impact such issues can have on the families and individuals who contribute to our local economy and educational landscape.
