Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a contract with Columbus State Community College for the purpose of supporting the Cougar Bridge Program. The purpose of the Cougar Bridge program is to help these students gain the literacy and numeracy skills they need to prepare them for success in their education and their careers. Through this program, they will have the opportunity to achieve the skills they need through targeted remediation and counseling as well as college and career readiness programming. Referring students to other agencies for remediation has proved to be insufficient, as there is an acknowledged gap between high school and college readiness that is not addressed by other local programs.
To be eligible, an individual must: (a) have a high school diploma or GED, (b) complete the College application process, and (c) have a COMPASS placement score of less than 52 in Reading and less than 26 in Math. These scores indicate a grade level of below sixth grade in Reading and below seventh grade in Math.
Students will have coursework and receive intrusive advising and college navigation support to prepare them for entry into certificate programs with high employment opportunities.
Emergency action is requested so important program services can be available to the community as soon as possible.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding for this contract is available from the Neighborhood Initiatives Fund.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a contract with Columbus State Community College to support of the Cougar Bridge college and career readiness program; to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of $192,884.00 from the Neighborhood Initiatives Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($192,884.00)
Body
WHEREAS, this legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a contract with the Columbus State Community College for the purpose of supporting the Cougar Bridge Program; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of the Cougar Bridge program is to help these students gain the literacy and numeracy skills they need to prepare them for success in their education and their careers; and
WHEREAS, through this program, they will have the opportunity to achieve the skills they need through targeted remediation and counseling as well as college and career readiness programming; and
WHEREAS, students will have coursework and receive intrusive advising and college navigation support to prepare them for entry into certificate programs with high employment opportunities; and
WHEREAS, funding for this contract is available from the Neighborhood Initiatives Fund; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to enter into a contract with Columbus State Community College so important program services can be available to the community as soon as possible, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, safety and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized to enter into a contract with Columbus State Community College to support the Cougar Bridge college and career readiness program.
SECTION 2. That from the unappropriated monies in the Neighborhood Initiatives Fund, Fund 018, and from all monies estimated to come into said Fund from any and all sources for the period ending December 31, 2014, the sum of $192,884.00 is hereby appropriated to the Department of Development, Division 44-01, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3337, OCA Code 440118.
SECTION 3. That for the purpose as stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $192,884.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby authorized to be expended from the Neighborhood Initiatives Fund, Department of Development, Department 44-01, Fund 018, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3337, OCA Code 440118.
SECTION 4. That this contract is awarded pursuant to Section 329.15 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, as amended.
SECTION 5. 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 6. That 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 passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.