Special Notice / Hearing: None
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Michael P. Callagy, County Executive
Subject: Use of District-Discretionary Measure K Funds - Supervisorial District 2
RECOMMENDATION:
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Measure K: Adopt a resolution authorizing a one-time grant of district-discretionary Measure K funds, not to exceed $35,000, to Homework Central for literacy support, homework and tutoring programs, and expanded hours of support, and authorizing the County Executive, or designee, to execute the grant agreement.
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BACKGROUND:
Measure K is the half-cent general sales tax initially approved by San Mateo County voters in November 2012 and extended in November 2016 for a total of thirty years.
The Board of Supervisors (Board) held study sessions on Measure K expenditures and approved funds for the fiscal year (FY) 2024-25 budget cycle, divided equally among the five supervisorial districts, for one-time district-discretionary needs and projects. District 2 has submitted a request to use their district-discretionary Measure K funds as shown below and described in the Project Summary section of this memorandum:
|
District/Project |
Amount |
|
District 2 (Supervisor Noelia Corzo) - Homework Central: literacy support, homework and tutoring programs, and expanded hours of support. |
$35,000 |
This item is consistent with the criteria for district-discretionary Measure K funds approved by the Board in December 2018. District 2 indicates that this organization is either a public agency operating within the County or a nonprofit organization registered and in good standing with the California Attorney General. District 2 indicates that the sponsoring Board member, member’s family, and member’s supervisorial staff do not serve as an officer, director, or play a policy role for the grantee organization.
PROJECT SUMMARY:
This is a request to authorize a grant to Homework Central, and resulting grant agreement, in an amount not to exceed $35,000, to provide for literacy support, homework and tutoring programs, and expanded hours of support. The County Executive’s Office will administer and manage the proposed agreement.
District 2 indicates that this organization has not previously received Measure K district-discretionary funding.
Homework Central is a free after-school program serving San Mateo students in grades K-5. Homework Central provides academic support, including tutoring and literacy programs, as well as enrichment activities in science, culture, and art.
This district-discretionary grant will be used to fund the following project or services:
• Grow programming and support more District 2 students
• Provide quality science, culture and arts programming
• Support families by extending hours at Sunnybrae and Laurel until 6 PM, 5 days a week, increasing hours of service from 8 hours per week to 17.
In addition to increasing student grades, Homework Central aims to help students complete homework in a timely manner, be more engaged, acquire skills, and grow socially and emotionally. By operating in small groups of five students per tutor, Homework Central ensures that students are provided with individualized attention and mentorship.
Homework Central has experienced significant growth, increasing its student support from 80 students supported in 2020 to 150 students supported in 2023-24, and further expanding to 180 students supported, with extended hours, in 2024-25. They also plan to add a new school in 2025. This grant will play a crucial role in building Homework Central’s capacity to serve more students.
This district-discretionary grant will enable Homework Central to meet the following currently unmet need or service gap within the County: after school academic support for elementary school students in the San Mateo-Foster City School District who are falling behind in class, and who face economic barriers to receiving additional support at home or through paid tutors.
To expand STEM programming, Homework Central contracts with CuriOdyssey to provide STEM education to students. To expand arts and crafts programming, Homework Central contracts with Peopleologie, which provides lessons to students on culturally informed arts and crafts from various parts of the world (e.g. weaving, mask making, baskets, objects etc). With this grant, Homework Central will additionally pursue contracts with Music at Kohl Mansion and Peninsula Lively Arts to bring artists and performers to students and pay artists a stipend for their visits.
District 2 has informed the grantee organization that this grant is one-time only, and that the grantee organization will need to find other sources of funding going forward. The grantee organization will use the Measure K grant as follows:
|
Item |
Amount |
|
Books for Literacy program and books for libraries in classrooms. |
$3,500 |
|
Literacy Program activities (weekly read-aloud related projects) |
$1,000 |
|
Instructional materials including external contractors (CuriOdyssey, Peopleologie, Music at Kohl Mansion, and Peninsula Lively Arts) for Art and Science activities |
$9,500 |
|
Classroom supplies (small whiteboards, markers, pencils, scissors, glue, construction paper, sports equipment like soccer balls and jump ropes, board games for 9 classrooms) |
$6,000 |
|
Parent/Family Engagement Activities |
$4,000 |
|
Volunteer Tutor vetting costs (LiveScan, volunteer database) |
$750 |
|
Volunteer Recruitment, Training for 80-100 volunteers |
$10,250 |
|
TOTAL |
$35,000 |
The project or services funded by this district-discretionary grant will be implemented or provided between January 2025 and June 2025 and is estimated to be completed June 30, 2025.
The following other community organizations are involved in or contributing funds to this project/these services, as follows:
• San Mateo-Foster City School District
• Community and government funding (local area churches, Rotary).
• Corporations (though matching grants and corporate foundation grants like Avalon Bay Community grant)
• Sandy Foundation
• McMicking Foundation
• Atkinson Foundation
Total Measure K Request: Not to Exceed $35,000
The release of funds will be contingent on the execution of an agreement providing for the County’s confirmation of the expenditure of funds for the purposes stated herein. The County will disburse the funds to the following organization for the purposes described above:
Homework Central
300 East Santa Inez Ave
San Mateo, CA 94401
Padma Gargeya
Executive Director
pgargeya@smhwc.org <mailto:pgargeya@smhwc.org>
(650) 343-3423
PERFORMANCE MEASURES:
|
Description |
Target |
|
A total of 192-200 students will be supported by Homework Central as part of the Literacy Center or Homework/Tutoring Center programming. |
Complete |
|
38-40 students second and third grade students at Laurel Elementary and Baywood Elementary will receive Literacy support. |
Complete |
|
152-160 third, fourth and fifth grade students at San Mateo Park, Sunnybrae, Baywood and Laurel will receive Tutoring and Homework Completion support and enrichment activity support. |
Complete |
|
At least three of the four schools (San Mateo Park, Sunnybrae, Laurel and Baywood) remain open until 6 PM five days a week during the Spring 2025 semester. |
Complete |
The County Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved the agreement and resolution as to form.
EQUITY IMPACT:
Homework Central’s programs empower elementary students from all socioeconomic backgrounds to succeed academically and socially. While some students have access to paid tutors or additional support if they are falling behind in school, some do not. Homework Central’s literacy support, tutoring, and homework programming fills this gap and increases achievement equity for students.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There are sufficient Measure K funds for this specific FY 2024-25 Measure K request. These funds are budgeted in the Non-Departmental Services FY 2024-25 Adopted Budget.