Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Supervisor Warren Slocum
Subject: Use of District-Specific Measure K Funds - Supervisorial District 4
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 Redwood City School District to provide staffing for the District’s Family Centers, 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 4 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:
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District/Project |
Amount |
|
District 4 (Supervisor Slocum) - Redwood City School District: Funding to provide staffing for the District’s Family Centers. |
$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 Redwood City School District, and resulting grant agreement in an amount not to exceed $30,000 to provide staffing for the District’s Family Centers throughout the year. The County Manager’s Office will administer and manage the proposed agreement.
For over 100 years, the Redwood City School District (RCSD) has educated pre-kindergarten through eighth grades students. Through its Community Schools program, the District’s Family Centers were created to help vulnerable families with everything from legal help and counseling to safety net services and food on a year-round basis. The critical need for these services do not end with each school year.
During the school year and throughout the summer months, the Family Centers (through the community schools) provide direct support services for families dealing with such concerns as housing and food insecurity, trauma and emotional distress, and access to health care. According to the most recent Gardner Center analysis, approximately 84% of RWSD school students took part in at least one type of service. Examples of the ways that the Family Centers helped families during this last year include:
● 4,300 individuals were connected to agencies for housing, shelter and legal advice - including all the support they might need while going through a crisis;
● Family Centers and food distribution sites allow students to receive a hot meal all summer and ensure families know how to access benefits such as CalFresh;
● 1,200 individuals received counseling services and educational classes on mental health;
● Families were linked to free or low-cost healthcare coverage, dental clinics, and eye care support such as glasses.
● Through SparkPoint,125 individual participated in program offerings, and of that number, 87 became clients, receiving 1-1 support on personal and financial goals.
Due to the high cost of living and concerns over immigration status, the Redwood City School District has seen a 15% decline in their student enrollment since 2013. This decline has put unexpected and unanticipated budget constraints on the District which puts the Family Centers’ operations in jeopardy for the coming year. However, with the decline in enrollment, there has not been a similar decrease in the need for services. There continues to be waitlists for counseling services, and the need for support services such as food, housing and emergency assistance remains high. The requested District-Specific Measure K funding will provide one-time funding that will allow the Family Centers to remain open for the upcoming year.
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 2018-19 for the purposes stated herein. The County will disburse the funds to the following organization for the purposes described above:
Superintendent John R. Baker, Ed.D.
Redwood City School District
750 Bradford Street
Redwood City, CA 94063
PERFORMANCE MEASURES:
|
Description |
Benchmarks from School Year 2017-2018 |
Target for 2018-2019 School Year |
|
Increase in financial goals for community school families participating in SparkPoint program |
80% of clients showed at least 5% progress in their financial goals |
83% of clients show at least 5% progress in their financial goals |
|
Decrease for chronic absenteeism for youth in community schools (per community schools' average). |
9.98% |
Additional 1.5% decrease |
|
Increase in family's perception of school climate at RCSD schools (per community schools' average on Panorama Survey). |
71% feel positively |
73% |
County Counsel has reviewed and approved the resolution as to form.
Funding for the Redwood City School District contributes to the Shared Vision 2025 outcome of a healthy community by ensuring that students and parents in the Redwood City School District have access to the programming and safety net services provided at the District’s Family Centers.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There are sufficient Measure K funds for this specific FY 2018-19 Measure K request. These funds are budgeted in the Non-Departmental Services FY 2018-19 Adopted Budget.