A decision about the future of the Manatee Y Technological High School should be announced by the end of this week.

Last week, YMCA officials were told the district planned on closing the school for at risk teens.

On Monday, YMCA Board Chairman Joseph A. Brannon and Sean Allison, President and CEO of the Manatee County YMCA, met with Manatee County School District Superintendent Rick Mills and his team.

Brannon said the meeting and discussion was both open and thorough.

“We came to the table because we wanted to make sure that the interests of the nearly 200 students expected to attend Y Tech, and their parents, are faithfully represented,” he said.  “The Superintendent promised a decision by week’s end, and we intend to remain a part of the discussion leading to that decision.  Our mission is, and has always been, to serve the people of Manatee County.  These at-risk children deserve a chance.”

Recently, Manatee County released an audit that found the YMCA had defrauded the county out of at least $100,000 for after school and gang prevention programs.

YMCA officials blame paperwork issues and claims it was not done intentionally.

Staff have been fired and they’ve promised to pay the money back.

The high school is located at 922 24th Street East in Bradenton.

It has been open for two years and operates on a budget of a little more than $1 million a year.

If it closes, students will be forced to find a new school prior to school opening August 18.