Explanation
Mayor Ginther’s vision for Columbus, America’s Opportunity City, is that every Columbus child has access to a safe after-school environment to continue his/her education at the end of the school day.
According to the Harvard Family Research Project and its national database of evaluations, research confirms that “children and youth who participate in after-school programs can reap a host of positive benefits in a number of interrelated outcome areas-academic, social-emotional, prevention, and health and wellness. These are the skills that many suggest are necessary for youth to succeed in the 21st Century global economy and world.”
The Mayor’s Office of Education is working with United Way of Central Ohio, YMCA of Central Ohio, Columbus City Schools, and the Boys and Girls Club of Central Ohio to develop and implement an after school program for middle school youth for the 2024-2025 school year. Over 300 Columbus middle school students will be served at Columbus City Schools middle school buildings, Boys and Girls Club clubs, YMCA branches, and other community sites, beginning in September 2024. A similar program operated during the 2023-2024 school year.
The Office of Education requests the authority to partner with United Way of Central Ohio, Inc. to act as fiscal agent for the program and distribute funds and program supports to after school providers.
This contract will be entered into in compliance with relevant procurement provisions of the Columbus City Codes Chapter 329.30. The Mayor’s Office of Education has neither the capacity nor the expertise to perform this role.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding for this contract ($2,000,000.00) is available within the 2024 Mayor’s Office of Education General Fund budget. ($2,000,000.00)
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION:
Emergency designation is requested to provide startup funds to providers so that they may hire staff and purchase materials so that they may begin serving children at the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Education to enter into a contract with United Way of Central Ohio, Inc. for the purposes of acting as fiscal agent for the program and to distribute funds and program supports to after school providers; to authorize the expenditure of $2,000,000.00 from the general fund; and to declare an emergency. ($2,000,000.00).
Body
WHEREAS, Mayor Ginther's vision for Columbus, America’s Opportunity City, is that every Columbus child has access to a safe after-school environment to continue their education at the end of the school day; and
WHEREAS, research has proven that children who participate in after-school programs learn the skills that many suggest are necessary to succeed in the 21st Century global economy and world; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor’s Office of Education is working with United Way of Central Ohio, Columbus City Schools, Boys and Girls Club of Central Ohio, and the YMCA of Central Ohio on an after school program for middle school students, funded by the Office’s 2024 operating budget, and scheduled to commence in September 2024; and
WHEREAS, United Way of Central Ohio, Inc. will act as fiscal agent for the program and distribute funds and program supports to after school providers; and
WHEREAS, this contract is being awarded to the United Way of Central Ohio pursuant to Section 329.30, for which the City does not supply such services; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Office of Education in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into such contracts and expend such funds so that the program can commence in September 2024, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; and NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Education is authorized to enter into a contract with United Way of Central Ohio, Inc. for the purposes of acting as fiscal agent for the program and distributing funds and program supports to after school providers.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $2,000,000.00 be and is hereby authorized as follows:
Dept/Div: 40-06 | Obj Class: 03 | Main Account: 63050 | Fund: 1000 | Sub-fund: 100010 | Program: ED001 | Amount: $2,000,000.00
SECTION 3. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 4. 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 legislation.
SECTION 5. That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this Ordinance is herby 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.