City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JUNE 19, 2019
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of the Release of $200,000 from Contingent Reserves for the Department of Community and Human Services in order to Increase the Number of Virginia Preschool Initiative Students Served and to Support the Summer Learning of VPI Students.
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ISSUE: Consideration of the Release of $200,000 from contingent reserves for the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) to award one-time capacity building funding in order to increase the number of Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI) students served and to support the summer learning of VPI students.
RECOMMENDATIONS: That City Council:
1) Authorize DCHS the use of the approved $200,000 contingent reserve funding to serve an additional 57 children in the following manner:
a) $137,258 to extend the pre-school year for 62 four-year olds through August 2019 at four VPI program sites. This funding helps to lessen the negative impact of the summer learning loss on educational achievement and school readiness for 20 currently enrolled children and 42 additional children eligible for enrollment.
b) $41,000 to support the build out costs of adding 2.5 new VPI classrooms in the West End of the City in order to increase enrollment in the area of limited early childhood resources. The funding will allow Child and Family Network Centers Program to serve an additional 15 eligible 4-year olds in FY 2020.
c) $21,742 for DCHS to award one-time capacity building funding for two VPI partners.
This funding will sustain the ability of these programs to serve at risk 4-year olds in a
way the aligns more appropriately with their business models and also aligns more
efficiently with the DCHS strategy to leverage increased State funding in order to
increase the number of VPI students served.
BACKGROUND: DCHS has held a series of discussions, in consultation with the Bruhn Morris Foundation, with participating VPI partners to identify an improved early childhood funding administration plan and process. DCHS will use FY 2020 as a transition year and incrementally increase capacity building strategies over the next two years. The parameters for the discussions and strategies were that we would create a process that is:
a) Aligned with Department of Community & Human Services (DCHS) service priorities
b) Establishes a sustainable and transparent process for how funding is awarded; and
c) Invites VPI capacity building and partnership innovation.
DISCUSSION: DCHS asked all current VPI providers to identify ways they could support the goal of increasing capacity to serve additional children in FY 2020. Providers decided that their programs will serve an additional 42 children through summer programming. Additionally, Child and Family Network Centers (CFNC) identified a classroom expansion opportunity. CFNC has been in the process of locating space in the West End to serve a total of 27 children. Funding from DCHS will pay for 15 of those students. The space they have identified will help support the construction of 2.5 classrooms and a playground in the West End.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no request for additional funds for FY 2020 beyond the $200,000 contingent funding.
STAFF:
Debra R. Collins, Deputy City Manager
Kate Garvey, Department Director, Department of Community & Human Services (DCHS)
Morgan Routt, Director, Office of Management & Budget
Raphael Obenwa, Chief Fiscal Officer, DCHS
Stacey Hardy-Chandler, Director, Center for Children and Families, DCHS
Robin Crawley, Chief, Early Childhood Division, DCHS