Explanation
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.
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.
The purpose of Early Start Columbus is to expand high-quality prekindergarten services through partnerships with Columbus City Schools and community-based providers. The providers partnering in the Early Start Columbus Program have all demonstrated their ability to provide a high-quality prekindergarten education. All partnering providers are rated at least three stars in the State’s Step Up To Quality rating and improvement system.
State law makes allowable the braiding of Ohio Department of Education Early Childhood Expansion funds with those of the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Service Publicly Funded Childcare program. The 2019-2020 Early Start Columbus Program combines Education Department funds with these funding streams to further extend the number of children served while using City funds more efficiently. This approach uses City funds as “last dollar” funding.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes an expenditure of $3,760,508.00 from the 2019 Department of Education’s General Fund operating budget.
EMERGENCY DESIGNTION: Emergency designation is requested to ensure the contracts are enacted before school commences.
Title
To authorize and direct the Director of Education to enter into contracts with high-quality prekindergarten organizations to provide educational services; to waive the competitive bidding provisions of the Columbus City Codes; to authorize the expenditure of up to $3,760,508.00 from the General Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($3,760,508.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Director of Education desires to enter into contracts with various high-quality prekindergarten organizations to provide educational services and quality prekindergarten services to Columbus 4-year-olds to prepare them for kindergarten; and
WHEREAS, research shows that quality pre-kindergarten instruction provides meaningful value to children’s educational performance and preparation for school; and
WHEREAS, the goal is that by 2020 the City of Columbus will make sure that every 4-year-old in Columbus is kindergarten ready; and
WHEREAS, funding was budgeted in the general fund within the Department of Education’s operating budget for this purpose, and a transfer of funds is required within the general fund; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Education in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into contracts to allow services to commence before school begins, 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 the following quality pre-kindergarten organizations, under the terms and conditions and in the amounts deemed necessary to advance the Early Start Columbus initiative:
A. Sophie Rogers School for Early Learning at Weinland Park (SFC) - contract compliance # 31-6025986
All Saints Academy - contract compliance # 31-4416400
Child Development Council of Franklin County, Inc. - contract compliance # 311138997
Childhood League, Inc. - contract compliance # 31-6400177
Columbus City Schools - contract compliance # 316400416
Columbus Early Learning Centers - contract compliance # 314379619
Columbus Montessori Education Center - 979 South James Road, Columbus, Ohio 43227 - contract compliance TBD
Connected Pathways Early Learning Centers, 4242 Stelzer Rd. Columbus OH, 43230 - contract compliance TBD
Creative Child Care, Inc. - contract compliance # 31-0795403
Gladden Community House - contract compliance # 401269
Eye to I Learning Ctr LLC D.B.A. Heavenly Kids Center for Learning - contract compliance # 421713021
Future Scholars Learning Academy II - 6116 Mcnaughten Center Columbus, OH 43232 - contract compliance TBD
Hilltop Preschool - contract compliance # 460759007
Joyful Beginnings Children's Learning Academy - contract compliance # TBD
Kiddie Academy of Reynoldsburg - contract compliance # 451534885
Little Disciples Learning Center - contract compliance # 26-0270662
Little Gems Learning Place - 2030 Leonard Avenue Columbus, OH 43219 - contract compliance TBD
Little Miracles EDC 4445 Reinbeau Dr. Columbus, OH 43232 - contract compliance TBD
Maize Manor Preschool - contract compliance # 31-6014976
NCBC Human Service Corporation D.B.A. Kids Care Academy - contract compliance # 451534885
Our Kidz Enrichment & Child Care Center - contract compliance # 45-2875180
Prewitt's Playhouse Early Learning Center - 1860 Lockbourne Road Columbus, OH 43207 - contract compliance TBD
South Side Learning & Development Center - contract compliance #314379811
St. Mary Magdalene - contract compliance # TBD
St. Stephen's Community House - contract compliance # 31-4379568
Starting Point Learning Center - contract compliance # 20298639
Vineyard Early Childhood Center, 6000 Cooper Rd Westerville, OH 43081- contract compliance TBD
YMCA of Central Ohio - contract compliance # 314379594
SECTION 2. That the Council finds it is in the best interest of the City of Columbus to waive the competitive bidding provisions of the Columbus City Codes, Chapter 329, to enter into these contracts.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $3,760,508.00 be and is hereby authorized as follows (see attachment Ordinance 1940-2019 Legislation Template):
Dept/Div: 42-01 | Obj Class: 03 | Main Account: 63050 | Fund: 1000 | Sub-fund: 100010 | Program: ED001 | Amount: $3,760,508.00
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 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 10 days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.