Explanation
The State of Ohio’s Early Childhood Expansion (ECE) initiative provides part day prekindergarten programming. The Columbus Department of Education responded to community needs by identifying families and children who would benefit more from the ECE initiative by providing matching dollars for full day education. These matching funds will allow the Columbus Department of Education to expand access to education opportunities to low-income high-need families.
Expanding full day high quality prekindergarten services in Columbus children will not only improve readiness for kindergarten but will also accelerate learning and academic performance beyond kindergarten.
The work of the Department in developing and expanding these partnerships builds upon the recommendations of the Columbus Education Commission by; leveraging resources of the community, the alignment of early childhood standards, and making measurable progress to ensure every 4 year old is kindergarten-ready by 2020.
Columbus City Schools $880,000.00 - contract compliance #316400416
Hilltop Preschool $88,000.00 - contract compliance #460759007
Both providers are expanding the number of children they are serving through the ECE initiatve since partnering with the City of Columbus and have begun serving children this fall. ODE announced additional ECE dollars to both of these providers in late October.
BID INFORMATION: The City waives competitive bidding to allow for the award of a contract to organizations for quality prekindergarten services based upon their meeting the selection procedures for quality pre-kindergarten services with the State and the alignment of these services and under the terms and conditions deemed necessary to advance the Early Start Columbus. The participating program must remain in good standing in the State's program as well as meeting the terms and conditions necessary to advance the Early Start Columbus.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes an expenditure of $968,000.00 from the general fund. This legislation is contingent upon the passage of ordinance 2817-2015.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: Emergency designation is requested to ensure the funding and contracts are available in time for the start of the program. School is already been in session and families are in need of high quality prekindergarten providers for their children.
Title
To authorize the Director of Education to enter into contracts with Columbus City Schools and Hilltop Preschool, which are Ohio Department of Education’s Early Childhood Expansion initiative providers; to waive the competitive bidding provisions of Columbus City Code; and to authorize the expenditure of up to $968,000.00 from the general fund; and to declare an emergency ($968,000.00).
Body
WHEREAS, the Director of Education desires to enter into contracts with Hilltop Preschool and Columbus City Schools; and
WHEREAS, funding was budgeted in the general fund within the Department of Education's operating budget for this purpose; and
WHEREAS, Hilltop Preschool will provide prekindergarten services to 4 year olds residing within the Columbus City Schools; and
WHEREAS, the State of Ohio has awarded funding for half day quality prekindergarten services to Hilltop Preschool and Columbus City Schools and by aligning our funding we can leverage the state's money and provide the other half day of quality prekindergarten services to participating organizations who meet the terms and conditions deemed necessary to advance Early Start Columbus; and
WHEREAS, in 2013, the Columbus Education Commission recommended that the community support quality prekindergarten for every 4 year old in Columbus City Schools by the year 2020; and
WHEREAS, research shows that quality prekindergarten instruction provides meaningful value to children's educational performance and preparation for school; and
WHEREAS, a waiver of competitive bidding is requested for this service; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Education in that it is immediately necessary to expend said funds in time for the start of the program, all for the preservation of public health, peace, property and safety; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Education be and is hereby authorized to enter into contracts with Hilltop Preschool and Columbus City Schools, under the terms and conditions and in the amount deemed necessary to advance the Early Start Columbus initiative.
SECTION 2. That Council finds it is in the best interest of the City of Columbus to waive the competitive bidding provisions of the Columbus City Code, Chapter 329.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $968,000.00 be and is hereby authorized as follows:
Dept/Div: 42-01/Fund: 010/OCA Code:420010/Object Level 3336/Amount $968,000.00
SECTION 4. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 5. 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 10 days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.