The sudden closing of the Current River Area Sheltered Workshop last week purportedly happened because “a disgruntled staff member made allegations against the manager over what may be an insignificant recordkeeping discrepancy.”
This is according to Mike Fleetwood, president of the Productive Living Board of Ripley County, which annually provides $220,000 in funding to the Current River Sheltered Workshop.
Fleetwood said he was not present when the Current River Sheltered Workshop’s 11-member board informed the manager, Jessica Wilkerson, on Thursday night that she was suspended without pay “pending an investigation” into allegations that came from another staff member, nor was he part of the decision to temporarily halt operations.
The Productive Living Board of Ripley County is a state-designated board with fiduciary responsibility over property tax levies to be used in providing services to people with disabilities in Ripley County.
The Current River Sheltered Workshop Board is the governing body for the sheltered workshop, which is a public non-profit corporation.
He stated, “I was as surprised as anyone to get the news that CRSW had been shut down. No prior notice was given to the Productive Living Board. My personal reaction is that the decision to shut down was a serious error in judgment and could have been handled in a much less disruptive way.”
Fleetwood said he was also informed through various sources that, following Wilkerson’s suspension, other staff members also expressed reservations about returning to work due to the treatment of the manager.
Fleetwood also said, “The bottom line is that all the certified differently-abled employees and their families, as well as the workshop staff have received an unnecessary shock. They are worried about their jobs. But the Productive Living Board will do everything in its power to restore normal operations as soon as possible.”
Fleetwood explained, “In 1988 when my dad, Paul Fleetwood, retired and returned to Ripley County, he realized there was no place for people like my sister Tandy to work. My sister has special mental and emotional issues that prevent her from holding a normal job. Most people like her are faced with a lifetime of solitude at home with no meaningful work or interaction with others. That also creates a huge burden on their families and guardians.
In order to provide her a safe place to work and have friendships, he spearheaded the Productive Living Board in Ripley County and launched the workshop as a separate nonprofit organization.
“Historically, the Productive Living Board has channeled its funds through the Current River (Sheltered) Workshop, but it is not required by law to do so. So, whether the workshop is in operation or not, the Productive Living Board will find ways to use its funds to serve the differently-abled population in Ripley County. My sincere hope, however, is that the workshop will be back on its feet in short order,” said Fleetwood.