Explanation
Mayor Ginther’s vision for Columbus, America’s Opportunity City, is that every Columbus child has access to a safe after-school environment to continue his/her education at the end of the school day.
According to the Harvard Family Research Project and its national database of evaluations, research confirms that “children and youth who participate in after-school programs can reap a host of positive benefits in a number of interrelated outcome areas-academic, social-emotional, prevention, and health and wellness. These are the skills that many suggest are necessary for youth to succeed in the 21st Century global economy and world.”
The Mayor’s Office of Education is working with United Way of Central Ohio, YMCA of Central Ohio, Columbus City Schools, and the Boys and Girls Club of Central Ohio to develop and implement an after school program for middle school youth for the 2025-2026 school year. Over 1,000 Columbus middle school students will be served at Columbus City Schools middle school buildings, Boys and Girls Club clubs, YMCA branches, and other community sites, beginning in September 2025. A similar program operated during the 2024-2025 school year.
The Office of Education requests the authority to partner with United Way of Central Ohio, Inc. to act as fiscal agent for the program, to assist in the planning and coordinating of services, and to distribute funds and program supports to after school providers.
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: Funding for this contract ($2,000,000.00) is available within the 2025 Mayor’s Office of Education General Fund budget. ($2,000,000.00)
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION:
Emergency designation is requested to provide startup funds to providers so that they may hire staff and purchase materials so that they ...
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