Explanation
This ordinance authorizes a grant agreement between Columbus City Council and the Columbus Chess Academy for the continued administration of a chess instruction program for first graders.
Chess is a low-cost, highly-strategic game that provides an equal opportunity for all students to play while helping to foster a safe, fun, and effective learning environment. Play encourages strategic thinking, reasoning, problem solving, and decision-making. A first grade teacher at Hamilton STEM Academy indicated that the chess instruction helped students learn about sportsmanship and being on a team while expanding their capacity to focus for longer periods of time, which was anecdotally connected to improved test scores.
Studies have shown the positive effects of chess instruction on test scores in math and reading. Columbus City Schools (CCS) test data show improved scores on the Measuring Academic Progress (MAP) standardized tests the past two academic years for first grade students at Hamilton STEM Academy, which coincides with the introduction of the chess instruction program.
For the past two years volunteers have provided time and funding to provide chess lessons to students. The funding allocated through this ordinance will support the continuation of these lessons in 2020.
Emergency action is requested in order to avoid any disruption of instructional services for students.
Fiscal Impact: Funding is available within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund.
Title
To authorize Columbus City Council to enter into a grant agreement with the Columbus Chess Academy for the continued administration of a chess instruction program for first graders; to authorize an appropriation and expenditure within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; and to declare an emergency. ($5,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, chess lessons have been provided to students at Hamilton STEM Academy for the past two years through volunteer time and funding; and
WHEREAS, it is in the interest of the City of Columbus to foster safe, fun, and effective recreation and learning environments for its youth by providing structured programming opportunities; and
WHEREAS, chess instruction is linked to improved test scores and academic performance by students who participate, both through academic research and the anecdotal observations of teachers at Hamilton STEM Academy; and
WHEREAS, the Prince Hall Masonic Samaritan Lodge will provide books and free chess materials through the United States Chess Federation in support of these classes; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily business of the city in that it is immediately necessary to authorize City Council to enter into a grant agreement with the Columbus Chess Academy in order to avoid any disruption of instructional services for students, for the preservation of the public health, safety and welfare; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That Columbus City Council is hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement with the Columbus Chess Academy for the continued administration of a chess instruction program for first graders.
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $5,000.00 in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100018, to Columbus City Council per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $5,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed pursuant to the actions authorized in SECTION 1, is hereby authorized in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100018 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. 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.