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-LSTA-B-02 between Florida Department of State, Division of Library and Information Services and the Broward County Board of County Commissioners, for, and on behalf of, the Broward County Library, effective July 1, 2020 through September 30, 2020, in the amount of $50,701 for the project “Career Online High School” which will provide scholarships and additional library services for 38 eligible adults seeking to earn high school diplomas; and authorize the County Administrator to take all administrative or budgetary actions to implement the grant and accept funding; and authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute the same.
(Per the Tuesday Agenda Memorandum, the Board’s consideration of the item is based on the revised Motion Statement distributed as Additional Material.)
ACTION: (T-10:38 AM) Approved as amended with Yellow-Sheeted Additional Material, dated January 12, 2021 submitted at the request of the Libraries Division.
VOTE: 9-0. Commissioner Rich voted in the affirmative telephonically.
B. MOTION TO ADOPT budget Resolution No. 2021-014 in the grant fund for the Libraries Division in the amount of $50,701 to fund the “Career Online High School” project.
ACTION: (T-10:38 AM) Approved.
VOTE: 9-0. Commissioner Rich voted in the affirmative telephonically.
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Why Action is Necessary
Board approval is required to approve agreements and adopt budget Resolutions.
What Action Accomplishes
These actions will allow the County to accept the grant and receive State funding for the Broward County Library “Career Online High School” project.
Is this Action Goal Related
Yes
Previous Action Taken
None.
Summary Explanation/Background
THE LIBRARIES DIVISION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTIONS.
This item supports the Board's Goal to "Enhance funding for Library programs and various life-long-learning opportunities for our residents and visitors.” Retroactive approval of the grant agreement is requested as the Libraries Division received it on October 29, 2020.
The Library Services and Technology Act grant for “Career Online High School” (COHS) provides continuing funding for this project that the Libraries Division has provided to the public since 2016 through a combination of State grant funds and local funds. The State requires that Grantees provide a 20% match, matching funds will be provided from the Libraries Division’s existing budget.
Career Online High School (COHS) is an online high school diploma and career certification program. Gale/Cengage Learning administers COHS, which is fully accredited by AdvancED/ Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI). Through the LSTA Grant, the Division will acquire a 12-month subscription to the COHS portal; purchase 38 scholarships to be offered to selected students; and will engage in active recruitment and selection of scholarship recipients.
Since this program began in 2016, the Libraries COHS program has assisted over 100 Broward residents in successfully graduating with high school diplomas. To be eligible to receive a scholarship a prospective student must be at least 19 years old; have a Broward County Library card in good standing; and successfully complete the self-assessment and pre-requisite course and attend an interview.
As this agreement is in the State’s form, the venue for any legal matters is in Leon County. The Office of the County Attorney has reviewed and approved as to form.
Source of Additional Information
Kelvin Watson, Director, Libraries Division, (954) 357-7377
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
The Libraries Division will receive grant funds in the amount of $50,701 from the State to implement “Career Online High School”.