Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Supervisor Carole Groom
Subject: Use of District-Specific Measure K Funds - Supervisorial District Two
RECOMMENDATION:
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Measure K: Adopt a resolution authorizing a one-time grant of district-specific Measure K funds, not to exceed $30,000 to the St. James Community Foundation for the Math Scholars Program, for the term of October 31, 2017 through August 1, 2018, and authorizing the County Manager, or his designee, to prepare and 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”) and County staff have conducted study sessions and community outreach efforts to inform priorities for Measure K spending for FY2017-19.
On May 16, 2017, the Board approved the FY 2017-19 Measure K allocation plan in which the County anticipates Measure K receipts of approximately $81.6 million annually. The plan included $7 million in one-time loans or grants during FY 2017-19, divided equally among the five supervisorial districts, for district-specific needs and projects. District Two has submitted a request to use its district-specific Measure K funds as shown below and described in the Project Summary section of this memorandum:
|
District/Project |
Amount |
|
District 2 (Supervisor Groom) - St. James Community Foundation for the Math Scholars Program |
$30,000 |
This item is consistent with the criteria for district-specific Measure K funds, which were developed during the initial round of district-specific allocations and approved by the Board in April 2015.
PROJECT SUMMARY:
This is a request to authorize a grant to St. James Community Foundation (Foundation), and resulting grant agreement in an amount not to exceed $30,000 to support the operating costs associated with the Math Scholars Program during the 2017-2018 school year. The County Manager’s Office will administer and manage the proposed agreement.
San Mateo County strives to promote the education and welfare of all of our children and residents. Students in North Central San Mateo have disproportionately lower academic proficiency than other neighborhoods, and only 10% of low-income students demonstrated Algebra proficiency in 8th grade, the second lowest among all school districts in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties.
The St. James Community Foundation is dedicated to assisting primarily middle school students in North Central San Mateo prepare for placement in Algebra I in 9th grade, in order to maximize the likelihood that students will be fully qualified for entry into the four-year university of their choice upon graduation from high school.
In 2016, a District-specific grant was made to the St. James Community Foundation to support the Math Scholars Program. The funds helped to fill gaps in the students’ educational performance. The Foundation created Common Core pre- and post-tests and collaborated with the San Mateo-Foster City School District employees Heather Olsen and Susie Batter in order to obtain copies of textbooks for 6th-8th grade Geometry.
The program has demonstrated success at reaching students in need of these services and improving their math outcomes. The summer 2017 program resulted in significant improvement in students’ Grade Point Averages (GPA) (measured on a 4.0 scale):
6th grade - 35.2% increase
7th grade - 18% increase
8th grade - 17.8% increase
The Math Scholars Program served 30 middle school students in the 2016-2017 school year. 18 of the 30 middle school students remained on the honor roll at their schools for the entire year and 23 of the 30 students had no grades below a “C” in mathematics for the entire year.
The St. James Community Foundation is currently requesting $30,000 for the 2017-2018 school year in order to continue the Math Scholars Program. The increased level of funding for the 2017-2018 school year will allow the program to meet the increased demand. The program currently has 6-7 tutors helping 55-65 students. The additional funds will allow for 2-3 more tutors to be added to the program, thereby lowering the student-tutor ratio and providing more personal attention to students during the tutoring program. In addition, the funds are needed to provide nutritious snacks (that help the students focus on their academics during the program) in greater volume (due to the increased number of students attending the program this school year).
This is a $30,000 request for grant monies that will promote math proficiency skills for middle school students so they are on track to enter Algebra I in 9th grade and follow a positive trajectory toward the college of their choice. The County Manager’s Office will work with St. James Community Foundation staff on terms of the grant agreement for this contribution.
The St. James Community Foundation’s Math Scholars Program:
The Math Scholars Program currently provides tutoring to 50-65 students per week during the school year and 55-65 in its summer program each year. The program provides the tutors, the supplies, parent empowerment sessions, and a healthy dinner meal to participating students. The students and parents make a commitment to regular attendance and full participation in all program components. Attendance has been 98%.
This $30,000 grant would be allocated to support the operating costs associated with the program - food, stipends for tutors, and supplies (which include chrome books to assist the students with math reinforcement lessons) during the 2017-2018 school year. The St. James Community Foundation has received past funding of $33,000 from other sources, including the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, the City of San Mateo, and individual donors. By contributing funds toward the operating costs of the program, this grant will enable staff to devote its time and energy to program development and implementation.
Total Measure K Request: Not to Exceed $30,000
The release of funds will be contingent on the execution of an agreement providing for the County’s confirmation of the expenditure of funds during FY 2017-18 for the purposes stated herein. The County will disburse the funds to the following organization for the purposes described above:
St. James Community Foundation
P.O. Box 995
San Mateo, CA 94403
Pastor Marlyn Bussey
415-726-5159
marlynbussey@gmail.com
WJ (Bill) Stewart, St. James Community Foundation Board
650-218-4459
PERFORMANCE MEASURES:
|
Description |
Target |
|
Number and % of participating students who complete the Math Scholars Program during the Fall/Spring 2017-2018 school year |
55 students/100% |
|
Number and % of 8th grade students participating in the Fall/Spring 2017-2018 Math Scholars program who are on track to enter college prep Algebra I in the 9th grade |
55 students/100% |
|
Number and % of participating students who complete the Math Scholars Program during the Summer 2018 school year |
55 students/100% |
|
Number and % of 8th grade students participating in the Summer 2018 Math Scholars program who are on track to enter college prep Algebra I in the 9th grade |
55 students/100% |
County Counsel has reviewed and approved the resolution as to form.
Funding for the St. James Community Foundation Math Scholars Program contributes to the Shared Vision 2025 outcome of a Prosperous Community by creating educational opportunities for San Mateo County youth, which promotes academic achievement and fosters future innovation and economic growth.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There are sufficient Measure K funds for this specific FY 2017-2018 Measure K request. These funds are budgeted in the Non-Departmental Services FY 2017-18 Adopted Budget.