Explanation
To authorize and direct the Director of Education to enter into contracts with various quality pre-k organizations to provide annual pre-kindergarten services. The services will serve 4 year olds residing within the Columbus City Schools district and will provide all day, year round pre-kindergarten services with curriculum aligned with Columbus City Schools in order to prepare children for kindergarten. This initiative is called Early Start Columbus.
BID INFORMATION: On April 11, 2014 a request for proposal (SA005378) for pre-k services was issued by the City of Columbus, Department of Education, in accordance with Columbus City Code, Chapter 329. Proposals were received from seven (7) preschool provides and subsequently reviewed by a committee and evaluated in accordance with the committee's criteria. The City made a recommendation that we contract with (6) providers for these services.
The City waives competitive bidding to allow for the award of contracts to multiple providers and, upon review of applications, site visits and consultations, understanding of applicant center capacity, as well as the offer of classrooms by Columbus City Schools to quality providers to allow the provision of quality pre-kindergarten services, the City increased the number of children selected providers could contract for under the terms and conditions deemed necessary to advance the Early Start Columbus Initiative.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE:
Action for Children-contract compliance #310820393, expires 03/13/15
Starting Point Learning Center -contract compliance #20298639, expires 04/15/16
Young Men's Christian Association of America-contract compliance #314379594, expires 12/09/15
Heavenly Kids Center for Learning-contract compliance #421713021, expires 05/14/16
Millbrook Nursery School & Kindergarten -contract compliance #310929581, expires 04/24/16
Child Development Council of Franklin-contract compliance # 311138997, expires 04/24/16
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding has been allocated in the 2014 Department of Education's operating budget in the amount of $5,000,000 for all day, year round pre-kindergarten services.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: Emergency designation is requested to ensure the funding and contracts are established in time for the start of the program.
Title
To authorize and direct the Director of Education to enter into contracts with various quality pre-kindergarten organizations to provide annual pre-kindergarten services; to waive competitive bidding provisions of the Columbus City Codes, 1959; to authorize the expenditure of up to $3,400,000.00 from the General Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($3,400,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Director of Education desires to enter into contracts with various quality pre-kindergarten organizations; and
WHEREAS, funding was budgeted in the general fund within the Department of Education's operating budget for this purpose; and
WHEREAS, quality pre-kindergarten organizations will provide pre-kindergarten services to 4 year olds residing within the Columbus City Schools district; and
WHEREAS, Columbus City Schools has offered its facilities to partner with the City and quality providers to permit more children to be served under Early Start Columbus; and
WHEREAS, in 2013, The Columbus Education Commission recommended that the community support quality pre-kindergarten for every 4 year old in Columbus City Schools (CCS) by the year 2020; and
WHEREAS, research shows that quality pre-kindergarten instruction provides meaningful value to children's educational performance and preparation for school; and
WHEREAS, a waiver of competitive bidding is requested for this service; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Education in that it is immediately necessary to expend said funds in time for the start of the program, all for the preservation of public health, peace, property and safety; 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 contracts with the following quality pre-kindergarten organizations, under the terms and conditions and in the amounts deemed necessary to advance the Early Start Columbus initiative.
Action for Children
Starting Point Learning Center
Young Mens Christian Association of America
Heavenly Kids Center for Learning
Millbrook Nursery School & Kindergarten
Child Development Council of Franklin
SECTION 2. That Council finds it is in the best interest of the City of Columbus to waive the competitive bidding provisions of the Columbus City Codes, Chapter 329.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $3,400,000 be and is hereby authorized as follows:
Dept/Div: 42-01| Fund: 010 | OCA Code: 420010| Object Level 3336 | Amount $3,400,000
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 ordinance.
SECTION 5. 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.