Explanation
To address community concerns regarding public education, on December 13, 2012, the Mayor and City Council President Andrew Ginther convened the Columbus Education Commission. The Commission was charged with examining the challenges facing all students living within the Columbus City Schools boundaries and resulted in 55 recommendations grouped into six priority categories. One of the main priorities of the report was the development of a public-private partnership in education.
The purpose of the partnership is to “lead the drive for educational excellence within Columbus, leveraging all available public and private support and participation.” This new organization, FutureReady Columbus, has been recently established and has been charged, among other things, to fulfill the Mayor’s goal of universal access to a high-quality pre-kindergarten education for all four-year olds within the Columbus City Schools District. This funding is to be used specifically for that goal at the direction of the Columbus Early Childhood Education Council, an advisory council to the new organization.
The Mayor and the Commission believed that an investment in early childhood education will prevent achievement gaps, reduce the need for special education, increase the likelihood of healthier lifestyles, lower the crime rate, and reduces overall social costs. By expanding pre-kindergarten services, Columbus children will not only improve readiness for kindergarten but will be able to accelerate learning and academic performance beyond kindergarten.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes an expenditure of $100,000.00 from the Department of Education's 2015 General Fund budget.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: Emergency designation is requested to ensure the funding is provided to FutureReady Columbus in time for the new organization to meet their obligations.
Title
To authorize and direct the Director of Education to enter into an agreement with FutureReady Columbus in an amount of $100,000.00 as part of the City’s commitment to the organization and to help the organization succeed in its mission; to authorize the expenditure of $100,000.00 from the General Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($100,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the development of FutureReady Columbus was a recommendation of the Columbus Education Commission; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor’s goal is that every four-year old residing within the boundaries of Columbus City Schools have access to a high-quality-pre-kindergarten education; and
WHEREAS, one of the goals of FutureReady Columbus is to ensure that every four-year old residing with the boundaries of Columbus City Schools have access to a high-quality-pre-kindergarten education; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus is committed to the success of FutureReady Columbus and its mission; and
WHEREAS, as a public private partnership, the City will enter into an agreement with FutureReady Columbus to enable it to begin operations; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operations of the City in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of Education to enter into an agreement with FutureReady Columbus so it can begin and continue operations immediately, now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Education be and is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement with FutureReady Columbus in an amount of $100,000.00.
SECTION 2. That in regards to the action authorized in SECTION 1, the expenditure of $100,000.00 be and is hereby authorized as follows:
Dept/Div: 42-01| Fund: 010 | OCA Code: 420010| Object Level 3336 | Amount $100,000.00
SECTION 3. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or 10 days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.