Coversheet

Resolutions - C7 E

COMMISSION MEMORANDUM

TO:	Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM:	Rickelle Williams, Interim City Manager
DATE:	May 15, 2024

SUBJECT:	A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE AND ECONOMIC RESILIENCY COMMITTEE AT ITS MARCH 22, 2024 MEETING TO PRIORITIZE $189,252 IN EDUCATIONAL ENHANCEMENTS FOR PRIVATE AND CHARTER SCHOOLS DURING THE FY 2025 BUDGET PROCESS AND ON A RECURRING BASIS THEREAFTER FOR THE SEVEN PRIVATE AND CHARTER SCHOOLS CURRENTLY ACTIVE ON THE QUALITY EDUCATION COMMITTEE; FURTHER PRIORITIZING $393,163 AS A ONE-TIME ENHANCEMENT FOR FY 2025 FOR THE SEVEN PRIVATE AND CHARTER SCHOOLS CURRENTLY ACTIVE ON THE QUALITY EDUCATION COMMITTEE; AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY CLERK AND CITY MANAGER OR HIS/HER DESIGNEE TO EXECUTE ALL AGREEMENTS OR DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO SUPPORT THE EDUCATIONAL ENHANCEMENTS CONTEMPLATED UNDER THIS RESOLUTION.

RECOMMENDATION

Vice-Mayor Rosen Gonzalez motioned at the March 22, 2024 Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee to discuss this item at the upcoming Commission meeting with a favorable recommendation of making this a priority during the FY 2025 budget process for $189,252 on a recurring basis and $393,163 as a one-time enhancement for the seven (7) private/charter schools with active membership on the Quality Education Committee. Commissioner Bhatt seconded with all in favor. The administration also recommends that any new program be considered as part of the FY 2025 budget process. Additionally, implementation of any combination of the requested educational enhancements at private/charter schools will require an educational specialist position to develop, implement, and manage all programs for each individual private and charter school. Funds for this position may partially come from allocated administrative funds for other educational programs currently underway.

BACKGROUND/HISTORY

This item was referred for a discussion at the Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee by Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez at the July 26, 2023 Commission Meeting (attachment A), to discuss funding for educational enhancements. The item was presented at the February 23, 2024 Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee meeting and returned to the March 22, 2024 meeting with additional information from the private/charter schools who have active Quality Education Committee (QEC) members regarding their interest in existing educational enhancement programs developed, implemented, funded and managed by the City's Education and Performance Initiatives Division.

The City of Miami Beach’s advisory Committee for Quality Education in Miami Beach Schools was established in 1999 to make recommendations to the City Commission and to investigate, develop, and carry out plans to promote and ensure the provision of quality education in Miami Beach schools.

The Ordinance 2023-4540, codified in Sections 2-190.134 through 2-190.138 of the City Code, was recently expanded to include twenty-six (26) voting members, including eleven private/charter Miami Beach schools who have inquired about existing City funded educational enhancements (attachment B). The existing City funded educational enhancements are provided in the document entitled Educational Enhancement Options (attachment C).

Additional private/charter schools included in the Ordinance:

• Casa Dei Bambini

• Klurman Mesivta

• Le Petite Papillon Montessori

• Lehrman Community Day School Inc

• Mater Beach Academy

• Mechina of South Florida (the Mesivta of Greater Miami)

• Montessori Academy at St. Johns

• Rabbi Alexander Gross High School & Hebrew Academy Miami

• St. Patrick Catholic School

• Temple Beth Sholom Innovative School

• Yeshiva Elementary School

ANALYSIS

Dr. Leslie Rosenfeld met with private/charter Miami Beach schools between February 29, 2024 and March 6, 2024 to discuss current educational enhancements available to youth in Miami Beach through various partnerships, including the public schools. Following each meeting, individual school Quality Education Committee representatives provided a ranking of current educational enhancements of interest to their school community which is attached in the document entitled Private/Charter Educational Enhancement Programs of Interest (attachment D). School site administration provided school enrollment numbers as well.

There are currently 2,612 youth from early childhood to grade 12 attending seven (7) private/charter schools in Miami Beach of which 54% (1,419) are Miami Beach residents.

Currently, there are 6,148 Miami Beach K-12 youth attending public schools across Miami-Dade County. As of March 2024, 4,839 or 78.7% are attending public schools in Miami Beach. The City of Miami Beach districtwide attached map reflects public school enrollment of Miami Beach youth residents across the Miami Dade County Public Schools (attachment E). Below is a listing of Miami Beach public schools and the percent attending that are Miami Beach residents per the map received from the public school district on March 13, 2024:

1. Miami Beach Sr. High 71%

2. Miami Beach Nautilus Middle School 81%

3. Miami Beach Fienberg Fisher K-8 96%

4. Miami Beach South Pointe Elementary 95%

5. North Beach Elementary 93%

6. Biscayne Beach Elementary 91%

An estimated $908,508 is allocated annually to various city funded and implemented educational enhancements with the breakdown by school available on the MB Public School Enhancement Distribution chart (attachment F).

At the March 19, 2024 meeting, a motion was passed unanimously by Committee for Quality Education members regarding educational enhancement (attachment G):

Made by Faiza Liban

Second by Chana R. Eisner

The Committee for Quality Education would like to request the Mayor and Commission continue to sustain current public school educational enhancements and support the newly prioritized educational enhancements for the private and charter schools. The amount reflected for the private and charter schools is estimated based upon current public school enhancement programs and may not be reflective of actual funding needs. The public, charter and private school representatives are united and committed to all improvements and enhancements for the educational needs of all Miami Beach children. These enhancements should only be an expansion and never a reduction of currently funded public school enhancement programs. The Committee for Quality Education urges the Mayor and Commission to support the above request.

Motion Passage: Votes 15-0

SUPPORTING SURVEY DATA

49% of residents were satisfied or very satisfied with public schools in Miami beach.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

FY 2025 $582,415

FY 2026 $189, 252 recurring

CONCLUSION

Was this Agenda Item initially requested by a lobbyist which, as defined in Code Sec. 2-481, includes a principal engaged in lobbying? No

If so, specify name of lobbyist(s) and principal(s): N/A

Applicable Area

Not Applicable

Is this a "Residents Right to Know" item, pursuant to City Code Section 2-14?		Does this item utilize G.O. Bond Funds?
No		No

Strategic Connection

Prosperity - Be known for (K-12) educational excellence.

Legislative Tracking
Education and Performance Initiatives

Sponsor
Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez and Co-sponsored by Commissioners Suarez and Magazine

ATTACHMENTS:
	Description
	Attachment A - Commission Referral
	Attachment B - Ordinance
	Attachment C - Educational Enhancement Options
	Attachment D - Private Charter Enhancement Programs of Interest
	Attachment E - MDCPS MB Public School Enrollment
	Attachment F - MB Public School Enhancement Distribution
	Attachment G - LTC 097-2024 QEC Motion March 2024
	Resolution