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 $45,000, to United through Education/Familias Unidas to provide virtual parenting classes that guide and support families through the transition to effective distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing an exception to the criteria for district-discretionary Measure K funds to allow repeat funding within the current budget cycle, and authorizing the County Manager, or the County Manager’s 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) - United through Education/Familias Unidas: to provide virtual parenting classes that guide and support families through the transition to effective distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic |
$45,000 |
This item is consistent with the criteria for district-discretionary Measure K funds approved by the Board in December 2018, with the following exception: the proposed grant, if approved, would be the second grant of district-discretionary funding to the same organization with the current FY 2019-21 budget cycle. The exception from the criteria is necessary in this instance because of the impacts to the families served by this organization as a result of COVID-19 and the need to quickly ramp up and educate these families on the online platform. The Board may approve this exception to the criteria by adopting the resolution.
PROJECT SUMMARY:
This is a request to authorize a grant to United through Education/Familias Unidas (United through Education) and resulting grant agreement in an amount not to exceed $45,000 to provide virtual parenting workshops to provide virtual classes that guide and support families through the transition to effective distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The County Manager’s Office will administer and manage the proposed agreement.
District-discretionary Measure K funding for this organization has previously been provided on June 25, 2019. At that time, the Board of a grant in the amount of $30,000 for two 9-week in-person classroom parenting workshops for up to 20 families each.
United through Education’s mission is to create a better community one family at a time. Through their culturally-responsive virtual 8-week course, they will continue to teach parents from underserved communities how to support and help their children achieve success, focusing on the academic, social, emotional and physical aspects of a healthy life. This is particularly important during the COVID-19 pandemic where students are learning online and at home. The focus of the online curriculum will allow parents to learn how to help their children succeed at distance learning by incorporating technology to engage online classes, maintain effective communication with their children’s teacher and school staff and know how to access community resources that provide economic and health support. United through Education anticipates that they will have to help families learn the Zoom platform on an individual basis and connect them with needed devices to participate in the workshops. They will also share the critical COVID-19 updates from the County, State and Center for Disease Control and the County’s guidelines with the participating families. United through Education anticipates serving 75 families in the 8-week course.
United through Education partners with school districts, principals, teachers, and family centers to provide this comprehensive course. Partners include Redwood City School District, Sequoia Dignity Health, and the Redwood City Library. Instructors reach out to each participating family weekly, giving them a connection to the school and providing a resource for questions regarding community programs. All members residing in the child’s household are encouraged to attend classes. Over 2,300 families in the Bay Area have graduated from United through Education courses since 2006.
The proposed Measure K grant will be used to provide virtual parenting workshops and one-on-one family support through an online platform.
Total Measure K Request: Not to Exceed $45,000
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:
Secundino Zuno
President
United through Education
555 Bryant Street, #923
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 665-0122
secundinozuno@unitedthrougheducation.org <mailto:secundinozuno@unitedthrougheducation.org>
PERFORMANCE MEASURES:
|
Description |
Target |
|
Provide virtual parenting classes that guide and support families through the transition to effective distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic |
75 families |
County Counsel has reviewed and approved the agreement and resolution as to form.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There are sufficient Measure K funds for this specific FY 2020-21 Measure K request. These funds are budgeted in the Non-Departmental Services FY 2020-21 Recommended Budget.