Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Michael P. Callagy, County Manager
Subject: Use of District-Discretionary Measure K Funds - Supervisorial District 4
RECOMMENDATION:
title
Measure K: Adopt a resolution authorizing a one-time grant of district-discretionary Measure K funds, not to exceed $80,000, to StreetCode Academy for student scholarships to attend the StreetCodeX: Expanding Tech Education program, and authorizing the County Manager, or his 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.
On February 12, 2019, the Board of Supervisors (Board) held a study session on Measure K expenditures and anticipated revenue for fiscal years (FY) 2019-21. The Board-appointed Measure K sub-committee, consisting of Supervisor Pine and Supervisor Canepa, convened the study session to, among other things, work with staff to facilitate the Board’s development of Measure K priorities and continuing initiatives for FY 2019-21. The Board approved $3.75 million in one-time loans or grants each fiscal year for FY 2019-21, divided equally among the five supervisorial districts, for district-discretionary needs and projects. District 4 has submitted a request to use its district-discretionary Measure K funds as shown below and described in the Project Summary section of this memorandum:
|
District/Project |
Amount |
|
District 4 (Supervisor Warren Slocum) - StreetCode Academy: for student scholarships to attend the StreetCodeX: Expanding Tech Education program |
$80,000 |
This item is consistent with the criteria for district-discretionary Measure K funds approved by the Board in December 2018.
PROJECT SUMMARY:
This is a request to authorize a grant to StreetCode Academy and resulting grant agreement in an amount not to exceed $80,000 for student scholarships to attend the StreetCodeX: Expanding Tech Education program. The County Manager’s Office will administer and manage the proposed agreement.
District-discretionary Measure K funding was previously provided to this organization as approved by the Board of Supervisors on March 20, 2017, in the amount of $75,000 to lease space for the Street Code Academy program in East Palo Alto. Of this grant, $50,000 was used before donated space became available.
A lack of access to high-tech training for youth and young adults in communities of color leads to a diversity deficit in the technology industry. StreetCode Academy was founded in 2014 with a mission to equip a generation of under-represented leaders with the skills to “hack, hustle, and design” the future.
To address this diversity deficit, StreetCode Academy offers free year-round courses in coding, entrepreneurship and design. Classes are taught by students and professionals from leading universities and tech companies. StreetCode Academy is on track to serve 1,000 students at their Menlo Park/Belle Haven headquarters for the year January 2019 to January 2020.
Additionally, another 500 students will be served through the StreetCodeX program at six new sites in the underserved communities of East Palo Alto, Menlo Park and Belle Haven, and Redwood City and North Fair Oaks. The StreetCodeX program will be in partnership with a number of community-based organizations, including Aim High, Generations United, TIDE Academy, and Eastside College Preparatory School.
Specifically, this $80,000 Measure K district-discretionary grant will be used to grant student scholarships for youth in underserved communities to attend StreetCode Academy’s StreetCodeX: Expanding Tech Education program. StreetCodeX began as a summer school program but with its success, it will be expanded to year-round. An example of their offerings includes an “Intro to Coding” class, where 20 6th-8th grade students spend 4 hours a week for the 5-week class. Another example includes the exposure to coding course that is 6-weeks long and 9 hours total for 80 students. Classes are free to all students.
Total Measure K Request: Not to Exceed $80,000
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:
Olatunde Sobomehin
CEO
StreetCode Academy
PO Box 51867
East Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 485-1413
tunde@streetcode.us
PERFORMANCE MEASURES:
|
Description |
Target |
|
Student scholarships for the StreetCodeX Expanding Tech Education coding program for students in underserved communities of East Palo Alto, Menlo Park and Belle Haven, and Redwood City and North Fair Oaks. |
500 new students served |
County Counsel has reviewed and approved the agreement and resolution as to form.
Funding for StreetCode Academy contributes to the Shared Vision 2025 outcome of a Prosperous Community by providing scholarships for coding classes to students in underserved communities.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There are sufficient Measure K funds for this request. These funds are budgeted in the Non-Departmental Services FY 2019-20 Adopted Budget and FY 2020-21 Preliminary Recommended Budget.