Explanation
FutureReady Columbus is a public private partnership that leads the drive for educational success to build and increase the capacity for innovative educational opportunities. FutureReady Columbus's mission is to work collaboratively in the community to ensure all kids in the City of Columbus, regardless of where they live or where they go to school, acquire the skills necessary to succeed in the classroom and in life.
FutureReady Columbus will help to implement a kindergarten readiness success strategy that focuses on:
• Prekindergarten awareness
• Prekindergarten expansion
• Prekindergarten research
• A universal prekindergarten funding strategy
FutureReady Columbus serves as a central point of focus for a community wide support for educational success that integrates the capabilities of Learn4Life, KidsOhio.org and Learning Circle. The overall scope of work will include early childhood education; academic excellence; career pathways; community engagement; innovation; and public policy, advocacy and leadership.
In addition, these funds committed in this legislation to FutureReady Columbus efforts relate to the city's continued interest in education, workforce development, health and safety.
FISCAL IMPACT: The funding for this contract is seven hundred thousand dollars ($700,000.00) and is fully budgeted within the 2016 General Fund operating budget.
EMERGENGENCY JUSTIFICATION: Emergency designation is requested so that the funding strategy can be developed so that more children can recieve high-quality prekindergarten in the City of Columbus.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Education to enter into contract with FutureReady Columbus for activities related to the achievement of educational excellence related to the city's continued interest that all children have the opportunity to succeed in the city’s vibrant growing economy; to authorize the expenditure of seven hundred thousand dollars ($700,000.00) from the General Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($700,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, FutureReady Columbus is a bold new public-private partnership that will leverage Central Ohio’s resources to lead the drive for educational excellence within Columbus; and
WHEREAS, FutureReady Columbus will collaboratively work to employ an innovative strategy that will increase the academic success of our children; and
WHEREAS, these funds also represent commitment by FutureReady Columbus to the city’s ongoing interests and efforts related to education, workforce development, health and safety; and
WHEREAS, FutureReady Columbus, on behalf of the City, has agreed to aggressively pursue these interests in a mutually supportive manner;and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the daily operations; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Education is authorized to enter into a contract with FutureReady Columbus for the implementation of a kindergarten readiness success strategy that focuses on pre-kindergarten awareness, pre-kindergarten expansion, pre-kindergarten research and a universal pre-kindergarten funding strategy.
SECTION 2. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of seven hundred thousand dollars ( $700,000.00) or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby authorized in the General Fund 1000 in object class 03 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That this contract is awarded in accordance with the relevant provisions of City Code Chapter 329 relating to not-for-profit service contracts and shall be in place from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016.
SECTION 4. 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 5. 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 ten days after the passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.