Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Office of Education and the Director of the Department of Development to each modify an existing Operations Agreement and License Agreement with Columbus Early Learning Centers (CELC) in order for them to serve as the operator of the Hilltop Early Learning Center and Licensee of the city’s building located at 45 Clarendon Avenue, Columbus, Ohio.
The City passed Ordinance 0441-2022, which authorized the Department of Finance and Management to enter into contracts and a license agreement with CELC to serve as the operator and licensee of the Hilltop Early Learning Center and established a Hilltop Early Learning Center special revenue fund.
Ordinance 1683-2024 modified that ordinance by authorizing the Department of Finance and Management to execute an appendix to the Operations Agreement on behalf of the Office of Education to allow short-term pilot program provision of early learning activities to infants and toddlers.
With recent changes to Columbus City Code and an upcoming expiration of the existing agreements, modification to the Operations Agreement and an amendment of the License Agreement are necessary to allow the work of CELC to continue. Currently each agreement is held by the Department of Finance and Management. As a result of these modifications the Operations Agreement will be held and managed by the Office of Education while the License Agreement will be held and managed by the Department of Development.
The term of the modified Operations Agreement shall be from September 1, 2025, through August 31, 2026, with an option to renew the contract for up to two (2) additional one-year terms running from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2027, and September 1, 2027, through August 31, 2028. The maximum amount to be paid under any purchase order associated with this contract shall not exceed $2,844,365.28 per school year unless additional funds are appropriated and authorize...
Click here for full text