Explanation
Mayor Ginther’s vision for Columbus, America’s Opportunity City, is to create access to high-quality pre-kindergarten education for every 4-year-old. Addressing early childhood learning means bringing awareness and resources to a critical learning stage in childhood development. Children who come to school ready to learn are more likely to succeed academically and in life.
Children who participate in high-quality pre-kindergarten experiences significantly improve their early literacy, language, and math skills. Ample evidence shows that children who enter school unprepared fall farther and farther behind. Students who get a poor start in their earliest years are likely to struggle in high school and subsequently, fail to graduate.
It is crucial that all families in all communities have access to high-quality early education programs. Unfortunately, some families lost access to high-quality early learning when an important early learning provider on Columbus’ South Side ceased their operations. Though a new provider assumed control of the main site on Reeb Avenue, a satellite site at 27 West Jenkins Street was closed.
The Office of Education requests the authority to enter into a contract with The Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) to serve children at the closed West Jenkins Avenue location.
This contract will be entered into in compliance with relevant procurement provisions of the Columbus City Codes Chapter 329.30. The Mayor’s Office of Education has neither the capacity nor the expertise to perform this role.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes a transfer from the Department of Development General Fund to the Mayor's Office of Education General Fund, and an expenditure of $100,000.00 from the 2025 Mayor’s Office of Education General Fund budget. ($100,000.00)
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION:
Emergency designation is requested to provide operational support to YWCA so that they may begin to serve children as soon as possible.
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