Item Coversheet

OLD BUSINESS  2.

COMMITTEE MEMORANDUM

TO: Finance and Citywide Projects Committee Members


FROM:
Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager


DATE: March 26, 2018


SUBJECT:DISCUSSION REGARDING SUSTAINABLE FUNDING SOURCES FOR EDUCATIONAL ENHANCEMENTS IN MIAMI BEACH PUBLIC SCHOOLS

HISTORY:

BACKGROUND

 

At the March 1, 2017, Commission meeting, a referral was made to the Finance and Citywide Projects Committee (FCWPC) to examine options that may be available to the City to provide supplemental funding for enhancements and other support for public schools within the City’s geographical boundaries. A companion item was also referred to the Neighborhoods/Community Affairs Committee (NCAC), to hold a discussion regarding a governance structure with respect to the manner in which any such supplemental City funds to support public schools should be spent or used. During the March 31, 2017 FCWPC meeting, members recommended the creation of a non-profit charitable 501(c)(3) entity to raise funds for public education within the City.   Resolution 2017-30041 on October 18, 2017 was repealed at the February 14, 2018 Commission meeting (Item C7W) to allow for the utilization of One Miami Beach Inc. Not-for-profit 501(C)(3) organization for the public purpose of accepting charitable donations to be used for providing education enhancements to Miami Beach Public Schools.    

 

Staff received direction at the April 26, 2017 Commission meeting to survey members of the community with children in a Miami Beach public school to determine what educational enhancements were needed, and present the findings to the Finance and Citywide Projects Committee (FCWPC).  City administration developed and conducted an education enhancement survey in May 2017 to gather input on potential enhancement; this preliminary survey received 374 community responses.  Staff met with Miami Beach public school principals and district personnel in July 2017 to identify additional enhancements for inclusion in the follow-up prioritization survey. Between October 11, 2017 and November 13, 2017 administration conducted an Education Enhancement Prioritization Survey as directed.   Results from the survey were shared via LTC 562-2017 in November 2017.   At the March 13, 2018 FCWPC meeting, staff was directed to review unfunded educational initiative projected costs with each school PTSA Executive Board to further prioritize potential enhancements for each school.        



ANALYSIS:

EDUCATION ENHANCEMENT PRIORITIZATION BY SCHOOL PTSA EXECUTIVE BOARDS

 

Staff met with each Miami Beach public school PTSA Executive Boards to review results from the Educational Enhancement Prioritization Survey, as well as additional proposed enhancements from the Commission Retreat in March 2018 and Commission meeting in March 2018.   Below is a summary by schools of prioritized enhancements, as well as recommendations for the reallocation of funds for enhancements currently underway.

 

Nautilus Middle School (March 14, 2018) 

Priority Enhancements requested needing funding (no specific order):

 

Reading and math tutors during and after-school

LCSW for Mental Health Support (+1 full-time)

Weekend student tutorial program 

MB Police in lieu of SLO

Provide additional security guards (+4)

Provide Internet Safety classes (outside provider)

Arts & Culture enrichment during school hours and addition of similar class electives during school hours (music, art, life skills, coding, etc.)

IT support personnel (+1 PT)

Resources for ESE students/programs

Reduce counseling teacher student ratios

Bus transportation home for after-school PTSA enrichment, student club meetings, and school sports programs

STEAM program support (TBD)

 

Additionally, the board identified two existing funded enhancements to sunset with those funds to be used for reading and math and LCSW mental health professional:

VPK – Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten $141,000

Dual Enrollment after-school $9,000

 

Miami Beach Senior High School (March 20, 2018)

Priority Enhancements requested needing funding (no specific order):

 

Access for MB youth to city facilities

Extracurricular after-school activities such as drama/theater, coding, robotics, etc.

LCSW for Mental Health Support (+1 F/T)

Tutoring ACT/SAT/PERT

Reading and math tutors during and after-school

College guidance assistance

Resources for ESE students (+3 P/T)

Reduce counseling teacher student ratios (+4 F/T)

MB Police in lieu of SLO (+1 F/T)

Provide additional security guards (+3 P/T)

IT support personnel (+1 P/T)

STEAM program support (TBD)

 

Additionally, the board identified two existing funded enhancements to sunset with those funds to be used for reading and math and LCSW mental health professional, and MB PD in schools:

VPK – Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten $141,000

School Liaison Officers - $250,000 to be used for MB PD

 

 

 

 

 

North Beach Elementary (March 21, 2018)

Priority Enhancements requested needing funding (no specific order):

 

Access for MB youth to city facilities

LCSW for Mental Health Support (+1 F/T)

Reading and math tutors during school

Elementary Teaching Assistant grades K-1 (+3 F/T)

Resources for ESE students (+3 P/T)

MB Police in lieu of SLO (+1 F/T)

Provide additional security guards (+3 P/T)

IT support personnel (+2 P/T)

STEAM program support  (1 P/T lab coordinator and lab)

 

Additionally, the board identified two existing funded enhancements to sunset with those funds to be used for reading and math and LCSW mental health professional, and MB PD in schools:

VPK – Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten decreased by 1 class $70,000

School Liaison Officers - $250,000 to be used for MB PD

 

South Point Elementary (March 22, 2018)

Priority Enhancements requested needing funding (no specific order):

 

LCSW for Mental Health Support (+1 F/T)

Reading and math tutors during school

Elementary Teaching Assistant grades K-5 (+2 F/T and +2 F/T)

Resources for ESE students (+1 P/T)

MB Police in lieu of SLO

Provide additional security guards (+3 P/T)

Internet Safety Training (outside provider)

IT support personnel (+2 P/T)

STEAM program support  (1 P/T lab coordinator and lab)

Music and Art Enrichment during school

 

Additionally, the board identified two existing funded enhancements to sunset with those funds to be used for reading and math and LCSW mental health professional, and MB PD in schools:

VPK – Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten decreased by 1 class $70,000

School Liaison Officers - $250,000 to be used for MB PD

 

Biscayne Elementary (March 22, 2018)

Priority Enhancements requested needing funding (no specific order):

Extracurricular after-school activities

LCSW for Mental Health Support (+1 F/T)

Reading and math tutors during school

Elementary Teaching Assistant grades K-1 (+10 P/T)

Resources for ESE students (+10 P/T)

Weekend student tutorial

MB Police in lieu of SLO (+2 F/T)

Provide additional security guards (+2 P/T)

IT support personnel (+1 PT)

STEAM program support  (1 P/T lab coordinator and lab $20,000)

Art and Music Enrichment

 

Additionally, the board identified two existing funded enhancements to sunset with those funds to be used for reading and math and LCSW mental health professional, and MB PD in schools:

School Liaison Officers - $250,000 to be used for MB PD

 

Fienberg Fisher K-8 Center (March 22, 2018)

Priority Enhancements requested needing funding (no specific order):

Extracurricular afterschool activities

LCSW for Mental Health Support (+2 F/T)

Reading and math tutors during school

Elementary Teaching Assistant grades K-2 (+15 F/T)

Resources for ESE students (+10 P/T)

MB Police in lieu of SLO (+1 F/T)

Provide additional security guards (+2 P/T)

IT support personnel (+1 PT)

STEAM program support  (1 P/T lab coordinator and lab)

Art and Music Enrichment

 

Additionally, the board identified two existing funded enhancements to sunset with those funds to be used for reading and math and LCSW mental health professional, and MB PD in schools:

VPK – Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten decreased by 1 class $70,000

School Liaison Officers - $250,000 to be used for MB PD

 

 

 

 

EDUCATION COMPACT FUNDING CHART

 

The below chart provides information on enhancements currently underway, and estimated cost per year.   Also included is the estimated partner contribution for each enhancement and the number of youth participating annually.  Currently, enhancements are funded from waste hauler public benefit contributions to education at $100,000 per year and for FY18 $195,000 from parking garage advertisement revenue.  Also, $129,000 in funding is provided from the general fund in FY18.

 

*Partner annual estimated contributions are based on the following:

  • IB – Per MDCPS estimated annual costs include IB coordinator at each of the six schools, IB materials, IB Diploma exam costs, annual fees, etc.

  • Agenda partner contribution $600 North Bay Village, $5,300 school PTSA, and $5,300 ad sales

  • Nurse Initiative partner contribution $3,600 Towns of Surfside, Bay Harbor, and Bal Harbor, and $6,600 North Bay Village

  • Behavioral Health partners for mental health $22,000 Borinquen and $13,000 Children’s Trust

  • Miami-Dade College dual enrollment $15,152 MDCPS contribution for textbooks

  • Florida International University dual enrollment $33,568 MDCPS contribution for textbooks

  • Common Threads partnership contribution of $12,928

  • Anti-Defamation League partnership contribution $4,125

     

UNFUNDED PROPOSED EDUCATIONAL ENHANCEMENTS OPTIONS

 

The below chart provides information on enhancements not funded (if applicable), and estimated cost per year for two (2) potential options (if needed). 

 

 

Detailed explanations for each enhancement above and options are provided below:

  • Rate my teacher/professor – no funding needed as program is available and in use

  • Parent Academy-training by City on using Parent Portal – MDCPS offers “Technology and the modern family”, as well as training from the State Attorney, Public Defender’s Office, and Melissa Institute through MB Parent Academy at no cost.  Student curriculum includes Digital Citizen Initiative with two lessons per quarter including Common Sense Digital Citizenship and Social Media tips.

  • Independent Evaluation of school programs may be completed by consultant pending cooperation from M-DCPS for needed data sets.

  • Extracurricular after-school activities, such as: drama/theater, competitions, chorus, robotics, coding etc.. 

    • Option #1 includes partnership with school PTSA for hourly coach/instructor for various programs at $65-$100 per hour for 14 days per semester for 15 youth per program.  Option includes $1,400 per class with 10 classes in both the Fall and Spring for two (2) Biscayne Elementary and Fienberg Fisher K-8 Center, with an additional $2,500 administrative cost for classjuggler.com for ease of scheduling and registration.   Total cost $58,500 per year for two schools for between 600 – 800 youth.

    • Option #2 includes partnership with external STEM company for three step programs (Robotics, STEM rotation, and Advanced STEM) for $75 per hour for 20-40 youth per semester for 44 days (2 hours each session) at $6,600 per school for six schools plus an assistant at $20 per hour at $2,000 per school.   Total $8,600 per school for 40 youth at each school for 6 schools.   Total cost $51,600 for 240 youth.

  • Tutoring and ACT/SAT/PERT prep materials

    • Option #1 includes partnership with Prep Works for SAT/ACT/PSAT test preparation for 500 students using online support and teacher training to increase utilization at total cost of $12,500 per year for 500 youth.

    • Option #2 includes partnership with Kaplan SAT/ACT test prep with live online sessions for a 25 hour class for up to 50 youth at $15,250 per session.  Total cost $76,250 for 5 sessions for 250 youth.

  • Reading and Math tutors during and after-school

    • Options #1 provides for partnership with local university during critical reading course for 25 college students at a Miami Beach elementary/middle school site at $10 per hour per student for up to an additional 100 hours per semester (25 youth each semester) each for reading interventions.  University professor to supervise.   Total cost $50,000 for 1,250 youth at five (5) schools.

    • Option #2 provides for partnership with local college during practicum class for 25 college students to provide reading intervention at elementary/middle school site at $10 per hour per student for up to an additional 100 hours per semester (25 youth each semester) each for reading interventions.   Total cost $50,000 for 1,250 youth at five (5) schools.
  • Elementary Teaching Assistant grades K-1

    • Option #1 includes hourly non-degreed teaching assistants at $10.20 per hour + 19% fringe (5 hours per days x 180 days = $10,925 per) for 20 assistants at  $218,484 for two (2) schools.

    • Option #2 includes hourly degreed teaching assistants at $28 per hour + 19% fringe (5 hours per days x 180 days = $29,988 per) for 20 assistants at  $599,760 for two (2) schools.

  • Educational guidance and college application assistance

    • Option #1 includes a partnership with college counselor services outside of school for in-person/skype individual youth sessions up to 4 hours per year per youth afterschool/evenings year-round for 500 high school youth and 4-6 onsite parent/student informational sessions.   Total cost is $85,000 for 2,000 hours for 500 youth. 

    • Option #2 includes online support for 500 students.  Total cost is $30,800 ($10,400 startup) for 500 youth.

  • Reduce counseling teacher student ratios

    • Option #1 adds a traditional counselor  to three schools per year.  Cost $68,555 per counselor per school with fringe.  Total cost for three counselors $205,665 per year.

    • Option #2 hires hourly counselors during school hours at $28 per hour for 5 hours per day plus 19% fringe.  Total cost is $89,964 for three hourly counselors per year.

  • Resources for ESE students/programs

    • Option #1 includes hourly non-degreed teaching assistants at $10.20 per hour + 19% fringe (5 hours per days x 180 days = $10,925 per) plus $50 per for paraprofessional exam ($1,000) for 20 assistants at  $219,484 for six (6) schools.

    • Option #2 includes hourly degreed teaching assistants at $28 per hour + 19% fringe (5 hours per days x 180 days = $29,988 per) for 20 assistants at  $599,760 for six (6) schools.

  • Weekend student tutorial program w/participation incentives and snacks provides for hourly MDC honors program students at $10 per hour for 3 hours per week for 36 weeks plus snacks at $3,000 per site ($1,080 per tutor for 10 tutors x 36 days plus snacks).  Bus transportation for youth to be determined.   Total cost $13,800 per school for 6 schools at $82,800.

  • Truancy prevention programs are provided through MDCPS success programs.   City may apply for grant funding  (Ex. JAMS) for 75 youth from MBSH in 2018-19 at $37,000.

  • Provide additional security guards provides for hiring of part time security between $10-$18 per hour and 19% fringe ($10,710 per) with projection of 16 positions (8 elementary, 3 Nautilus, 5 Beach High).  Total cost $171,360.

  • Provide internet safety classes

    • Option #1 provides internet safety through MDCPS at no cost

    • Option #2 provides internet safety through outside provider at $2,000 for 2 hour class for 1,000 youth per class.   Total cost $6,000 for three schools.

  • Technology training at school sites for parents/guardians offered at no cost through MDCPS MB Parent Academy

  • Provide information technology(IT) support to public schools

    • Option #1 provides for hourly degreed IT support at $28 per hour plus 19% fringe for 5.8 hours per day for 180 days a year.   Total cost for 3 positions is $104,358

    • Option #2 provides for full time IT support at $28 per hour plus 19% fringe at $66,910 per position.  Total for 3 positions $200,730.

                 

EDUCATION COMPACT

 

On January 8, 2008, the City entered into an Education Compact (the “Compact”) with Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS).  Developed with significant community input, the Compact reflects the desire of the Miami Beach community to support excellence in its schools and an investment in the overall enhancement of education for its residents.  The Compact currently addresses and supports the following priority areas:

 

  • Teacher Recruitment/Retention;

  • Communication;

  • Parental Involvement/Family Support/Youth and Community Engagement;

  • Health and Well-Being;

  • Student Achievement;

  • Safety; and

  • Technology.

     

    In Resolution No. 2015-28997, the City Commission directed the Administration to expand the Compact to address the following areas:  Early Learning; Extracurricular/Choice Offerings; and Afterschool Programming. 

     

    Since then, the City has entered into contracts with M-DCPS and other organizations for the following initiatives:  Voluntary Pre-kindergarten (VPK) at Fienberg Fisher K-8 Center and Biscayne Elementary; Dual Enrollment Expansion through partnerships with Florida International University and Miami-Dade College at Miami Beach Senior High School and Nautilus Middle School; and Afterschool Teen Program at Nautilus Middle School.

     

    The City supports excellence in education in the City’s public schools recognizing it is an investment in the overall enhancement of education for residents.  Enhanced student achievement includes a seamless curriculum of advanced studies through the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program, from Pre-Kindergarten through twelfth grade.  To date, approximately $936,000 has been expended for application fees, professional development for teachers, and other youth related activities including dual enrollment, Nurse Initiative, Common Threads, and Mental Health Services (not including Voluntary Pre-K), for an additional $489,000 for the first three years.




CONCLUSION:

NEXT STEPS

 

At the request of the FCWPC, administration has obtained cost estimates for those enhancements identified that are not currently underway or not supported by MDCPS MB Parent Academy programming.  These estimates include partnership opportunities and the anticipated number of student participants.   Additionally, administration has met with each Miami Beach public school PTSA Executive Board to prioritize potential enhancements.   This information is provided for further discussion and consideration for implementation.

 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.