Explanation
The purpose of this ordinance is to authorize the Director of the Office of Education to enter into Early Start Columbus contracts with high-quality pre-kindergarten organizations, selected via a competitive application process, to provide educational services as part of the 2026-2027 Early Start Columbus Program, and to assign all of the individual contracts to Franklin County in accordance with Ord 1884-2026 which authorizes an Intergovernmental Agreement between the City and Franklin County.
The Early Start Columbus program, the City’s high-quality early education program, will transition from the City of Columbus to Franklin County, to be operated and managed by Franklin County for the 2026-2027 School Year. .
The assignment of contracts from the City of Columbus to Franklin County is necessary so there is no interruption in services to either children or providers.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no funding associated with this ordinance.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: Emergency designation is requested so that all contracts may entered into by the Office of Education, and assigned to Franklin County before the start of the 2026-2027 School Year.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Education to enter into Early Start Columbus contracts with high-quality pre-kindergarten organizations, selected via a competitive application process, to provide educational services as part of the 2026-2027 Early Start Columbus Program; to assign all of the individual contracts to Franklin County; to waive competitive bidding provisions of the Columbus City Codes; and to declare an emergency. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Education desires to enter into contracts with various high-quality pre-kindergarten organizations as part of the Early Start Columbus program; and
WHEREAS, providers were chosen via a competitive application process available to all providers in Franklin County; and
WHEREAS, as it is necessary to waive competitive bidding, a bid waiver is being authorized; and
WHEREAS, the Early Start Columbus program, the City’s high-quality early education program, will transition from the City of Columbus to Franklin County, to be operated and managed by Franklin County for the 2026-2027 School Year; and
WHEREAS, as part of the transition of the Early Start Columbus program from the City of Columbus to Franklin County, it is necessary to assign all of the individual contracts to Franklin County so there is no interruption in services to either children or providers.; 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 to enter into contracts to with Early Start Columbus providers, and to assign all of the individual contracts to Franklin County so there is no interruption in services to either children or providers for the 2026-2027 School Year, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That City Council finds that funding pre-kindergarten organizations is a proper public purpose and furthers the City’s goal to provide high-quality education to qualified organizations throughout the City. The Director of the Office of Education is authorized to enter into Early Start Columbus contracts with the attached high-quality pre-kindergarten organizations, under the terms and conditions and in the amounts deemed necessary to advance the Early Start Columbus initiative. Contracts are being awarded to the attached providers, that were selected via a competitive application process, to provide educational services as part of the 2026-2027 Early Start Columbus Program.
SECTION 2. That the Director of the Office of Education is further authorized to assign all of the individual contracts to Franklin County in accordance with the Intergovernmental Agreement authorized by Ord. No. 1884-2026.
SECTION 3. That the Council finds it is in the best interest of the City of Columbus to waive competitive bidding provisions of the Columbus City Codes, Chapter 329, to award these contracts, and does hereby waive the same.
SECTION 4. 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.