Explanation
Ordinances 2752-2015 and 1393-2015 granted the Department of Education the authority to enter into contracts with organizations to provide early education programs as part of Early Start Columbus.
The purpose of Early Start Columbus is to expand high-quality prekindergarten services for 4-year-olds living in the City of Columbus. Children who participate in high-quality prekindergarten 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.
Mayor Ginther’s vision for Columbus, America’s Opportunity City, is to create access to a high-quality prekindergarten 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.
For the 2015-2016 school year, Early Start Columbus program providers were appropriated funds based on the number children that they expected to serve. In some cases, providers were not able to enroll enough students to reach their expected capacity. Because of this, the providers have funds that are unspent, but still encumbered by the original ordinance.
This new ordinance, 1586-2016, gives the Director of the Department of Education the authority to extend the contracts of these providers for up to one year. This extension will allow existing providers to continue
providing prekindergarten services under Early Start Columbus until they have spent down their encumbered funds.
FISCAL IMPACT: No additional funds are needed to modify these agreements.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: Emergency designation is requested to ensure the contracts are extended before they expire.
Title
To authorize the Director of Education to modify contracts with the 2015-2016 Early Start Columbus providers to allow them to continue providing prekindergarten services during the 2016-2017 school year; and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, the Director of the Department of Education desires to modify 2015-2016 Early Start Columbus contracts; and
WHEREAS, this modification will allow Early Start Columbus providers to continue to provide prekindergarten services; and
WHEREAS, no additional funds are needed to modify this agreement;
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Education in that it is immediately necessary to extend said contracts before the contracts expire, 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 the Department of Education is hereby authorized to modify contracts previously authorized under ordinances 2752-2015 and 1393-2015 will allow the following Early Start Columbus providers to continue to provide prekindergarten services:
Columbus City Schools - contract compliane # 316400416
Child Development Council of Franklin County - contract compliance # 311138997
Columbus Early Learning Centers - contract compliance # 314379619
Gladden Community House Preschool - contract compliance # 401269
Haynes School Inc D.B.A Kiddie Academy of Reynoldsburg - contract compliance # 451534885
Heavenly Kids Center for Learning - contract compliance # 421713021
Hilltop Preschool - contract complinace # 460759007
NCBC Human Services Corporation - Kids Care Academy - contract compliance # 451534885
South Side Learning & Development Center - contract compliance # 314379811
Starting Point Learning Center - contract complinace # 20298639
The Ohio State University- Schoenbaum Family Center - contract compliance # 31-6025986
Young Men’s Christian Association - contract compliance # 314379594
SECTION 2. That this modification is made pursuant to Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Code.
SECTION 3. 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 4. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.
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.