Explanation
BACKGROUND:
This ordinance creates a new City department to be named the Department of Education by making the needed additions to the City Code to establish that new department. It also repeals existing City Code provisions dealing with the Mayor's Education Advisory Commission and the Office of Education.
This new department will promote and encourage public engagement in education issues as well as recommend policies, procedures and legislation relative to public education. The creation of this department was developed over the last year in conjunction with a recommendation from the Columbus Education Commission which represented all facets of the education industry. Funding for this department was included in the 2014 budget submission.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funding for this Department was provided for within the established 2014 General Fund.
Title
To amend Title 2 of the Columbus City Codes by enacting new Chapter 231 to create the Department of Education; to repeal existing Chapter 159 and Section 211.04 of the Columbus City Codes to eliminate the Mayor's Education Advisory Commission and the Office of Education, respectively; and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, this ordinance creates the new Department of Education and makes the needed code changes to ensure the new department has all the necessary tools and resources it will need to begin operations; and
WHEREAS, this new department will promote and encourage public engagement in education issues; and
WHEREAS, this new department will recommend policies, procedures and legislation relative to public education; and
WHEREAS, the creation of this department was developed over the last year in conjunction with a recommendation from the Columbus Education Commission which represented all facets of the education industry; and now therefore,
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in in the usual daily operation of the Department of Education, in that it is immediately necessary to repeal existing Chapter 159 and Section 211.04 of the Columbus City Codes to eliminate the Mayor's Education Advisory Commission and the Office of Education, for the preservation of the public peace, health, safety and welfare; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That Title 2 of the Columbus City Codes is hereby amended by the enactment of new Chapter 231, entitled "Department of Education," and reading as follows:
Chapter 231 DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
231.01 Department of education established.
There is established a department of education. The department of education shall consist of a director and one department deputy director and other staff members as authorized by the mayor and city council. The department of education shall have as its primary duty the recommendation, development and implementation of ideas and programs to enhance the ability of the city to provide quality life-long learning opportunities for the citizens of Columbus.
The department of education shall perform all other lawful functions as directed by the mayor or ordinance of council.
231.02 Duties of director and deputy directors.
The director of the department shall be appointed by the mayor and shall serve at the pleasure of the mayor with a salary fixed by ordinance of council. The director shall have all powers and duties connected with, and incident to, the appointment, regulation and government of the department of education. The deputy director shall serve in the absence of the director.
Section 2. That existing Chapter 159 of the Columbus City Codes, entitled "Mayor's Education Advisory Commission," is hereby repealed in its entirety.
Section 3. That existing Section 211.04 of the Columbus City Codes is hereby repealed in its entirety.
Section 4. That for the reasons stated in the preamble thereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is 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 ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same. That this Ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.