TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute agreements, and all necessary documents including any necessary subsequent amendments, with the Long Beach Unified School District for the operation of the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program at Burbank, Edison, Garfield, Grant, King, Lafayette, and Herrera Elementary, and Hudson K-8 school sites, in an amount not to exceed $1,875,128, for the period of July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023; execute any future documents, including amendments, necessary to accept, implement and administer the agreements; and
Increase appropriations in the General Grants Fund Group in the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department by $1,875,128 offset by grant revenue. (Districts 1,2,7,9)
DISCUSSION
City Council approved is requested to enter into agreements with Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) for the operation of Expanded Learning Opportunities Program. The Expanded Learning Opportunities (ELO) Program, funded by the California Department of Education, is a collaborative program with the intent of creating partnerships between school districts and local government agencies for the purpose of providing after school literacy, academic enrichment, and safe constructive alternatives for K-8 students. The ELO Program, operating in conjunction with the current After School Education and Safety (ASES) Program, consists of two program elements: an educational and literacy element that provides tutoring and/or homework assistance designed to help students meet State standards in core academic subjects; and an educational enrichment element designed to provide an array of programs that include visual and performing arts, music, and general recreation activities. The California Department of Education chooses the school sites that meet the criteria for funding. LBUSD allocates grant funding to the City of Long Beach (City) for the ELO program on an annual basis. It is important to note that LBUSD, as the ELO grantor, also allocates funding for additional school sites through other contracted service providers at the remaining eligible schools. The Parks, Recreation and Marine Department (PRM) has provided the ASES Program for the previous 19 years and now has an opportunity to provide the services through the ELO program.
As Stay at Home Orders impacted all congregate youth programs, the ELO Grant guidelines have been revised to include the needed flexibility for grantees to continue providing quality programming through various means such as virtual program options. Currently, PRM will operate in-person programming on the school campuses. The program may need to revert to a virtual capacity if Stay at Home Orders are mandated in the future.
LBUSD has allocated $1,875,128 of its grant funding to the City, which will be used for program staffing, supervision, supplies, and administrative assistance from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023. The distribution of funds for each of the eight school sites for this grant year has been identified (Attachment).
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Anita Lakhani on October 28, 2022 and by Budget Analysis Officer Greg Sorensen on November 3, 2022.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on December 6, 2022, to ensure agreements are in place expeditiously.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City will receive grant revenues in an amount not to exceed $1,875,128 to offset program expenditures of the same amount. An appropriation increase in the amount of $1,875,128 is requested in the General Grants Fund Group in the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department, offset by grant revenue. This recommendation has no staffing impact beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties and is consistent with existing City Council priorities. The recommendation will result in a positive impact on jobs. The Parks, Recreation and Marine Department has 74 part-time employees currently working to facilitate this program.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
BRENT DENNIS
DIRECTOR
PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE
APPROVED:
THOMAS B. MODICA
CITY MANAGER