Explanation
Background For 33 years, I Know I Can (IKIC) has been the anchor organization for college access in Columbus, with recent expansion into additional Franklin County districts. IKIC achieves its mission, “to inspire, enable, and support Columbus students to pursue and complete a college education,” by focusing service efforts around three critical junctures for students: early awareness of college and career opportunities, postsecondary access, as well as summer melt prevention and postsecondary persistence.
Based on current predictions, COVID-19 has caused significant disruptions to graduation rate gains among historically disadvantaged students who made strides in high school graduation rates across the country pre-pandemic.
Funding is requested to provide high school students with multiple opportunities over the summer to engage in productive educational activities, along with college and career readiness, in safe environments with a focus on their futures.
The Department of Education requests the authority to enter into grant agreements with the Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio (WDBCO). WDBCO will contract with I Know I Can CCS, a not for profit organization, to administer these various summer programs.
Fiscal Impact: This ordinance authorizes an expenditure of up to $5,855,232.00 from funding provided to the City of Columbus from the American Rescue Plan that was passed by Congress on March 10, 2021 and signed into law on March 11, 2021.
Emergency Designation: Emergency designation is requested to ensure that the funding can be provided to the Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio and I Know I Can CCS as soon as possible.
Title
To authorize and direct the Director of Education to enter into grant agreements with the Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio for various summer programs that provide credit recovery, post-secondary education preparation, career readiness, and youth employment programs for high school students; to authorize the expenditure of up to $5,855,232.00 from the Recovery Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($5,855,232.00)
Body
WHEREAS, The Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio (WDBCO) is a non-profit with a focus on partners with area businesses and organizations on workforce needs so that people are fully employed at their ability and potential in the thriving Central Ohio economy; and
WHEREAS, I Know I Can (IKIC) has been the anchor organization for college access in Columbus, with recent expansion into additional Franklin County districts; and
WHEREAS, funding is requested to provide high school students with multiple opportunities over the summer to engage in productive educational activities, along with college and career readiness, in safe environments with a focus on their futures; and
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant disruptions to graduation rate gains among historically disadvantaged students who made strides in high school graduation rates across the country pre-pandemic; and
WHEREAS, the expenditure of American Rescue Plan funding for The Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio and I Know I Can CCS, not for profit entities, is crucial for our economic recovery, necessary due to the COVID-19 public health emergency; 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 grant agreements with the Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio in support of various summer programs, all for the preservation of public health, peace, property, and safety; and
WHEREAS, such expenditure of funds has not been previously accounted for in the 2021 Budget; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Education is hereby authorized to enter into grant agreements with the Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio in support of various summer programs that provide credit recovery, post-secondary education preparation, career readiness, and youth employment programs for high school students.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of up to $5,855,232.00 be and is hereby authorized as follows (see attachment 1390-2021):
Dept/Div: 42 | Obj Class:03 | Main Account: 63920 | Fund: 2209 | Sub-fund: 220902 | Program: CW401 | Amount: $5,855,232.00
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 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 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.