Explanation
This ordinance authorizes Columbus City Council to enter into a grant agreement with I Know I Can in support of efforts to promote virtual learning for resident students.
Columbus City Schools has convened over 85 community partners, along with corporate leaders, local government agencies, faith-based leaders, higher education institutions, and others, to strategize ways to keep students supported and engaged in learning despite school building closures. Together, this group has identified learning extension centers (LECs), or locations around the community where students, in grades K-12, can “drop in'' to access reliable internet, academic assistance, meals, and wraparound services that would have been available to them in a traditional school setting.
LECs and the programs/services provided to students will be managed and supported by a team consisting of a project manager, regional coordinators, and site coordinators stationed at each center. The project manager will be the liaison to Columbus City Schools leadership, faith-based organizations, and community nonprofits. This role will also work closely with and supervise the regional coordinators who will be assigned to one of six geographic regions across the school district. Regional coordinators will provide support to the LECs in their areas, connecting directly with the site coordinators, and helping to coordinate resources and services, as well as troubleshooting any issues that may arise. Site coordinators at each center will manage day to day operations and ensure smooth delivery of services between and among partners, staff, volunteers, and students.
I Know I Can will serve as the administrative agent. Its budget includes staffing, accounting, grant allocation/project management, printing and postage, program materials, and supplies. Contractual Services with community partners include staffing, PPE, training, equipment and supplies, background checks, student incentives, program equipment and materials, and transportation. On-site LEC costs include technology, PPE, cleaning services and supplies, student meals, staffing, liability insurance, COVID/social distancing renovations, and equipment.
Fiscal Impact: Funding is available within the CARES Act fund.
Emergency action is requested in order to provide the resources necessary to deploy learning resource centers without delay.
Title
To authorize Columbus City Council to enter into a grant agreement with I Know I Can in support of learning extension centers; to authorize a transfer of appropriations and an expenditure within the CARES Act fund; and to declare an emergency. ($400,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the need for students to engage in virtual learning; and
WHEREAS, I Know I Can has worked in collaboration with Columbus City Schools and other community partners to promote the creation of learning extension centers (LECs), which support virtual learning by providing a safe space with reliable internet, academic assistance, and other wraparound services; and
WHEREAS, current LECs include local churches, recreation centers, homeless shelters, YMCAs, settlement houses, places of worship, and other nonprofits with capacity to host LECs; and
WHEREAS, the expenditure of CARES Act funding to support LECs is necessary to ensure that students are receiving the help they need to achieve success in the virtual learning environment that is a product of the COVID-19 public health emergency; and
WHEREAS, I Know I Can will serve as the fiscal agent for the deployment of resources, which will cover costs associated with staffing, accounting, grant allocation/project management, printing and postage, program materials, and supplies; and
WHEREAS, such expenditure of funds has not been previously accounted for in the 2020 budget; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City that it is immediately necessary to authorize City Council to enter into a grant agreement with I Know I Can to provide the resources necessary to deploy learning resource centers without delay; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That Columbus City Council is hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement with I Know I Can in support of learning extension centers.
SECTION 2: That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to transfer appropriations within in the CARES Act fund, fund 2207, subfund 220702, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That for the purpose as stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $400,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary is hereby authorized in the CARES Act fund, fund 2207, subfund 220702, in Object Class 03 (Services) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. Funds are hereby deemed appropriated and expenditures and transfers authorized to carry out the purposes of this ordinance and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 5. 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 6. 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 approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.