Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Bertha Henry
Department: County Administration Division: Libraries
Information
Requested Action
title
A. MOTION TO RETROACTIVELY APPROVE Grant Agreement for Project 20-CARES-01 between Florida Department of State, Division of Library Information Services and the Broward County Board of County Commissioners, for, and on behalf of, the Broward County Library, effective November 25, 2020 through September 30, 2021, in the amount of $54,485 for the project “My Digital Summer Learning Program” which will bridge the digital divide and support digital equity; authorizing the County Administrator to take all administrative or budgetary actions to implement the grant and accept funding; and authorize the Mayor to execute same.
ACTION: (T-10:43 AM) Approved.
VOTE: 8-0. Commissioner Bogen was out of the room during the vote.
B. MOTION TO ADOPT budget Resolution No. 2021-045 in the grant fund for the Libraries Division in the amount of $54,485 to fund the My Digital Summer Learning Program.
ACTION: (T-10:43 AM) Approved.
VOTE: 8-0. Commissioner Bogen was out of the room during the vote.
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Why Action is Necessary
Board approval is required to approve agreements and adopt budget Resolutions.
What Action Accomplishes
This action will provide $54,485 to fund the Broward County Library My Digital Summer Learning Program.
Is this Action Goal Related
Yes
Previous Action Taken
None.
Summary Explanation/Background
THE LIBRARIES DIVISION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTIONS.
Approval of this item will support the Board’s Value to improve access to business development, educational, cultural, and recreational opportunities and amenities to the economically disadvantaged.
The State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Library and Information Services (DLIS) has awarded the Broward County Board of County Commissioners for and on behalf of Broward County Libraries Division $54,485 to bridge the digital divide, support digital equity and alleviate the “summer slide,” which is the loss of educational achievement gains made during the previous school year, of K-3 students living in six distressed communities in Broward County.
This will be accomplished by providing 56 My Digital Summer Learning Program (MDSLP) participants with cellular-enabled tablets with a keyboard. The tablets with be loaded with Broward County Library eBook access, the summer learning program tracker application, and a curated list of educational apps that will aid students in learning throughout the summer months. Parents/guardians who meet eligibility requirements will be able to check out one of the MDSLP tablets for the duration of the Library’s Summer Learning Program.
This agreement is on the State’s grant form, the template for which is contained in the Florida Administrative Code. There are a number of terms, which are non-standard to County agreements generally, including mandatory venue for disputes in Leon County and indemnification language. In addition, because the grant funding includes federal dollars from the CARES Act, there are additional reporting requirements and requirements relating to the use of the funds compared to other state grants.
Source of Additional Information
Kelvin Watson, Director, Libraries Division, 954-357-7377
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
The Libraries Division will receive CARES Act grant funds for $54,485 from the State to implement the My Digital Summer Learning Program.