Title
A Resolution Of The City Commission Of The City Of Hollywood, Florida, Approving And Authorizing The Appropriate City Officials To Execute An Agreement With Broward Education Foundation, Inc. To Administer The City’s Excellence In Education Grant Program In A Total Amount Of $20,000.00 For Fiscal Year 2020.
Body
Staff Recommends: Approval of Attached Resolution.
Explanation:
The Broward Education Foundation, Inc. (the “Foundation”) has administered the City’s Excellence in Education Grant Program (the “Program”) continuously since 2014. The partnership between the City and the Foundation has resulted in the award of approximately $120,000.00 in City grants to educators at public schools in Hollywood, together with a similar amount of funding provided by the Foundation in support of the Program. Because the Foundation disburses funds to participants upfront instead of on a reimbursement basis, the Program has been more attractive to educators than under the previous framework.
The Foundation currently has in place a competitive grant program in support of teacher-initiated projects ranging from Art & Drama to projects in Science and Technology, with priority given to programs uniquely designed to do one or more of the following: Educate students in financial literacy, incorporate alternative learning strategies, promote interdisciplinary learning, involve parents, businesses, community organizations and/or social service agencies, bridge culture or ethnic barriers, involve a group of teachers collaborating to improve students learning at their school.
The Foundation has incorporated the City’s grant proposal criteria in the Foundation’s grant application process and also relies on input from the City’s Education Advisory Committee when evaluating grant proposals submitted by teachers at Hollywood schools.
The Foundation's grant program provides innovative teacher grants, teacher development programming, teacher leadership initiatives and teacher recognition opportunities. Under the proposed agreement, matching funds received through the State of Florida's School District Education Foundation Matching Grants Program, may be used to fulfill the terms of the agreement, at the discretion of the Foundation. The agreement contains a 4% administration/financial services fee beginning October 1, 2020. This amounts to $800.00 annually, based on the amount currently budgeted for the Program. The Foundation’s current level of grant funding to Hollywood schools, or those serving Hollywood students, will not be adversely impacted by this agreement.
The City’s Education Advisory Committee recommended approval of the proposed agreement in order to continue the implementation and facilitation of the City’s Excellence in Education Grant Program.
Funding for this agreement in the amount of $20,000.00 will be requested as part of the FY 2020 budget subject to approval and adoption of the subsequent fiscal year’s operating budget by the City Commission. This is a “best interest” item. Section 38.40(C)(8) of the Code of Ordinances provides that purchases of, and contracts for, supplies or contractual services, when the Commission declares by a five-sevenths affirmative vote that competitive bidding and competitive proposals are not in the best interest of the City, are exempt from the competitive bid and competitive proposal requirements of the Purchasing Ordinance.
Recommended for inclusion on the agenda by:
Clay Milan, Manager, Community Development Division
Shiv Newaldass, Director, Department of Development Services
Gus Zambrano, Assistant City Manager for Sustainable Development