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HomeMy WebLinkAboutC32970 - After School Pgrm - PDCMS CITY OF PALM DESERT SPECIAL PROGRAMS DEPARTMENT STAFF REPORT REQUEST: REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN DESERT SANDS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, PALM DESERT CHARTER MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND THE CITY OF PALM DESERT AS IT RELATES TO PARTICIPATION IN THE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM AT PALM DESERT CHARTER MIDDLE SCHOOL SUBMITTED BY: Frankie Riddle, Director of Special Programs DATE: June 27, 2013 CONTENTS: Memorandum of Understanding Recommendation By Minute Motion, authorize the Mayor to execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Desert Sands Unified School District, Palm Desert Charter Middle School, and the City of Palm Desert relative to the After School Program at Palm Desert Charter Middle School (Contract No. C 329�0 ). Executive Summary The City of Palm Desert continues to be an active participant in the after school programs located at Palm Desert Charter Middle School (PDCMS) and Lincoln Elementary School. City Council reviewed funding for the programs as part of the FY 2013/14 Budget process, and as a result, funding was included within the budget. Discussion PDCMS' After School Program continues to serve approximately 150 students. The City awarded $75,000 as part of the FY 2012/2013 Budget, which allowed many children to participate in a structured after school program with adult supervision. PDCMS' After School Program keeps youth engaged and prevents children, in many cases with working parents, from being left home alone. The MOU will allow continued collaboration between the parties to implement the Program and authorize staff from the school to administer the program. Contract No. C32970 STAFF REPORT PALM DESERT CHARTER MIDDLE SCHOOL'S AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM MOU JUNE 27, 2013 PAGE 2 Fiscal Analvsis Funding in the amount of $75,000 was included within the FY 2013/2014 Budget. Therefore, there will be no negative impact the General Fund. Submitted By: CITY COUNCILAC�iON APPROVED '� DF.N�ED RECEIVED OTHER Franki iddle - 7 0! MEETI G DAT Director of Special Programs AyES� ���'� �k NOES: ABSENT; ABSTAIN: VERIFIED BY: P I . Gibson Original on File with Ci erk's Office Director of Finance Approval: J n M. Wohlmuth �ty Manager Contract No. C 32970 MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE DESERT SANDS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, PALM DESERT CHARTER MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND THE CITY OF PALM DESERT AS IT RELATES TO PARTICIPATION IN AN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM . AT PALM DESERT CHARTER MIDDLE SCHOOL Whereas, the Desert Sands Unified School District (DSUSD) administers, operates, and maintains schools within the City of Palm Desert (CITY); and Whereas, CITY, Palm Desert Charter Middle School (PDCMS), and DSUSD all desire to improve after school programs through grants and in-kind services; and Whereas, DSUSD supports and has agreed to apply for grant funding and to provide use of its facilities for after school programs at Palm Desert Charter Middle School; and Whereas, PDCMS has agreed to create, operate, and administer such after school programs with the support and cooperation of DSUSD and CITY; and Whereas, at its regular meeting of June 27, 2013, the City Council of the City of Palm Desert approved the 2013/2014 budget,which included $75,000 for after school program services at Palm Desert Charter Middle School, contingent upon DSUSD assuming responsibility as"financial agent" for the administration and distribution of any grant monies received as it relates to the above mentioned "After School Program." Now, therefore, it is agreed that CITY will participate and contribute to an After School Program as follows: 1. An After School Program will be provided at Palm Desert Charter Middle School within the City of Palm Desert by PDCMS with said program operational plan; 2. DSUSD will provide in-kind services in the form of facility use for the After School Program; 3. DSUSD will assume responsibility as "financial agent" for administration and distribution of any grant monies received; 4. DSUSD must require the After School Program Operator to obtain proper background checks and fingerprinting on all volunteers and employees; 5. CITY will assist DSUSD and PDCMS in promoting the After School Program with CITY through CITY's newsletter, press releases, and other means as deemed appropriate; 6. Palm Desert Charter Middle School and the City will collaborate to develop a Civic Engagement Program for implementation at the beginning of the 2013/14 academic year. Page 1 of 2 Contract No. C32970 In Witness Thereof, this Memorandum of Understanding has been executed this 27th day of June, 2013, for a period of one year, after which it may become eligible for renewal, subject to agreement by both parties. DESERT SANDS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT Gary Rutherford, Superintendent Date PALM DESERT CHARTER MIDDLE SCHOOL Sallie Fraser, Principal Date AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM OPERATOR Name, Title, and Company Name Date CITY OF PALM DESERT Jan C. Harnik, Mayor Date Attest: Rachelle D. Klassen, City Clerk Date Page 2 of 2 PRELIMINARY MINUTES DRAFT REGULAR PALM DESERT CITY COUNCIL MEETING MAY 23, 2Q13 MESSRS. ROGER COLDIRON and STEVE LITTLE, representing the Palm Desert Aquatic Center, came forward today to thank Mayor Hamik, City Council, and ali community members who participated in "Swim To Win" with the Olympian swimmers on Saturday, May 18, at the Center. It was a great event with approximately 2,000 participants getting the chance to receive free swim lessons from the Olympians. They followed by presenting a short video clip from the event, adding that they hope to be able to do it again next year. MR. LITTLE went on to express thanks to the current and former City Councils, especially Mayor Pro Tem Benson for their tireless work in making sure the Aquatic Center came to fruition for the citizens of Palm Desert. Hopefully, they can change the world by teaching children how to swim, and he added that they already have agreements with the Olympians to come back and do this again next year. Mayor Harnik commented that it was an outstanding event, she and Councilman Tanner were there, and it was amazing to see six Olympians teaching community members to swim. She added that Mr. Little deserves a great deal of the credit for this event and thanked him for all his efforts put toward it. IX. AWARDS, PRESENTATIONS, AND APPOINTMENTS A. PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATION DECLARING THURSDAY, MAY 23, 2013, AS "ASPEN KOESTLER DAY" IN THE CITY OF PALM DESERT. On behalf of the City Council, Mayor Harnik presented the framed proclamation to Ms. Koestlerand congratulated heroutstanding achievement in receiving the Girl Scout Gold Award, Girl Scouting's highest, and being named the Girl Scout of the Yearforthe San Gorgonio Council. Additionally, she noted that Ms. Koestler was going to be graduating from Palm Desert High School at their ceremonies this evening. A representative from the Girl Scouts stated they were extremely proud of Ms. Koestler's accomplishments, and her receipt of the Girl Scout Gold Award was a testament to her exemplification of the very best values of Girl Scouting. B. PRESENTATION TO THE CITY COUNGL BY THE PALM DESERT CHARTER MIDDLE SCHOOL AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM. MS. BETH BEARDSLEY, Director of Bridges at Palm Desert Charter Middle � School, thanked the City for providing funding to their program. She presented a PowerPoint report(now on file and of record in the City Clerk's Office), illustrating the progress made in this school year. The report provided Student Survey statistics, with 73% in all grade levels strongly agreeing or agreeing that the program has helped with their grades, in addition to their enjoying participating in the program each day while their 4 PRELIMINARY MINUTES DRAFT REGULAR PALM DESERT CITY COUNCIL MEETING MAY 23, 2013 parents are at work. She said their new program is very structured,with the first hour being focused entirely on academics—making sure all homework is complete, and she shared some of the students'comments. One of them was that they enjoyed being in Bridges, because they could go home at night and relax with their family after having completed their homework during the After School Program. She said they also loved Bridges because they could experience enrichment activities, such as cooking and art, after the tutoring session is finished. She went on to report Parent Survey results, with an overwhelming positive result of 96% of the parents strongly agreeing or agreeing that they are satisfied with the new program. Further, she shared some of the parents' written responses, noting that numerous parents comment every day how much the stress in their lives is reduced, because they can work until 6:00 p.m. knowing that their child is safe and their homework is being done. Other parents related similar positive feedback. Lastly, she had a table representing grade point average (GPA), with 24 of 93 total students remaining on a 4.0 GPA, which is High Honor Roll, and 21 students receiving Honor Roll (3.5-3.9 GPA). She said in the 4�h quarter of this school year their focus was eliminating the "D"and "F"grades,with only 2 of the 93 receiving a 2.0 GPA or below. She added that they were very proud of this fact, because they've done a lot of intervention for the students, making sure that they're both doing and understanding the homework and coursework, and improving in their grades. Overall, she said that 49% of students throughout the entire year earned Honor Roll or High Honor Roll, and 76% of students earned a 3.0 for the entire year, which was very impressive and represented their very hard work. She introduced two 6`h Grade students, Kayla and Andrea, who wanted to personally share their impressions of the program with City Council. - Kayla said she liked Bridges because it helped increase her GPA—from 6's to straight A's. She also liked the enrichment choices; she took cooking in the first finro quarters and was now taking art. She learned to make pastries and stir-fry, and it was wonderful; and she's leamed pottery and landscape drawing through the art sessions. Her mom liked Bridges too, because when she gets home, they can just spend time together. She thanked Bridges and the City Council on her own behalf and that of her fellow students. -Andrea said she's been in Bridges since beginning of the 3'�quarter this year because her mom works every day until 5:00 p.m. Her favorite part of the program was the enrichment offerings, especially cooking, where she could learn how to prepare foods and bake her favorite desserts. She also liked being with her friends each day until 5:00 p.m.,and she thanked City Council for the Bridges Program that helped her with her homework. 5 , PRELIMINARY MINUTES DRAFT REGULAR PALM DESERT CITY COUNCIL MEETING MAY 23, 2013 MS. BEARDSLEY again thanked City Council and said how proud they were of their first year under the new Bridges Program at Palm Desert Charter Middle School. C. PRESENTATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL BY THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM. MS. MELISSA MOLL, Site Coordinator at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School YMCA, related that she attended both Abraham Lincoln Elementary School and YMCA Programs as a child, and has been working with YMCA now for around 18 years. At Lincoln Elementary, they have about 100 kids in, the After Schoo! Program, and through it, 90% of them this year have increased their reading by at least one level. She added that their test scores are also typically higher than those not in the program, and about 85%of them have earned "Student of the Month"this year. She added that they were very proud of the students and introduced two students, 5ch Graders Luz and Isis, to provide comments about the program. - Luz read her essay, stating that felt the YMCA had the best teachers—they helped with homework and are very nice, and some have been working at the YMCA for a very long time. She also liked the fact that she and her little sister get to go to the YMCA and spend more time together there than when they're at home. She noted that there are a lot of other siblings that go to the YMCA together as well. The YMCA has taught her about teamwork,friendship, and how to be a better person; she felt she had made more friends at the YMCA than she had at school. The YMCA has always been there for her, and she loved them. She thanked the City for keeping the program running. - Isis read her essay, saying that the YMCA offers many things and manyopportunities. She's made morefriends and learned newthings about who they are; her best friends all go to the YMCA too. She also liked crafts and projects that they get to do. If she were at home, she'd be watching N and not using her imagination like she gets to do at the YMCA. She also liked getting to have snacks and juice, because she's really hungry after school. It's fun to get to play on the playground after homework time, so she could play games and have fun. She said all the teachers were supportive and help her with her homework. She really loved coming to the YMCA. She thanked City Council for allowing her to have a place to go after school. MS. MOLL again expressed sincere appreciation for the City's support. 6