REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
November 19, 2024
FROM
LUTHER SNOKE, Chief Executive Officer, County Administrative Office
SUBJECT
Title
Amendment to Memorandum of Understanding with the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools for the Early Literacy Transmedia Project
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve Amendment No. 2 to Memorandum of Understanding No. 21-908 with the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools for the Early Literacy Transmedia Project to exercise the two-year extension option, for a total period of December 7, 2021 through January 31, 2027, and increase the total project amount by $1,083,208, from $1,727,782.50 to $2,810,990.50.
(Presenter: Luther Snoke, Chief Executive Officer, 387-4811)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Promote the Countywide Vision.
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The County received a direct allocation of $423.5 million under the American Rescue Plan Act - Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (ARPA Fund) to bolster the County’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impact. On June 8, 2021 (Item No. 121), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved an expenditure plan for the use of these funds, known as the County Local Fiscal Recovery Spending Plan (Spending Plan), and amended the Spending Plan on August 24, 2021 (Item No. 21).
Approval of Amendment No. 2 (Amendment) to Memorandum of Understanding No. 21-908 (MOU) will exercise the option to extend the term by two years in order to reimburse the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools (Superintendent) in the not-to-exceed amount of $1,083,208. Of the $1,083,208, $45,133 will be funded by the ARPA Fund’s earned interest revenue because, if approved by the Board, the MOU will end one month after the ARPA Fund’s expenditure eligibility period ending on December 31, 2026.
Sufficient appropriation is included in the ARPA Fund’s 2024-25 budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Transmedia learning is the strategy of designing, sharing, and participating in a cohesive story experience across multiple traditional and digital delivery platforms. Under this Early Literacy Transmedia Project (Project), the County has been the first to use transmedia learning as an innovative strategy for kindergarten readiness, third grade reading success, and 21st century skill development.
In August 2024, the County received the notification letter from the Superintendent requesting to amend the MOU and exercise the additional two-year extension to the term based on the effectiveness of the Project. In accordance with the MOU, Section 2.a., the final approval to continue services for the additional two years will be the joint decision of the County and Superintendent, which is why the Amendment is being presented for Board consideration and approval at this time.
Based on review of the Project’s Annual Report and data, outlined in Attachments A and B, the County ARPA Team recommends exercising the option for the additional two-year extension in the amount of $1,083,208 as all the measurable outcomes showed significant improvements, resulting in achieving a greater effectiveness of the Project.
The extension of the Project is crucial for maintaining progress in improving literacy rates across the County. By continuing to leverage ARPA funding, the County can ensure that children in disadvantaged areas receive the necessary resources for educational success, aligning with both County and federal goals of promoting equity and enhancing community resilience.
On December 7, 2021 (Item No. 19), the Board approved the MOU between the County and the Superintendent to partially fund the Project for the initial period of December 7, 2021 through December 6, 2024, in the initial amount of $1,727,782.50, with an option for a two-year extension in the amount of $1,083,208 for a total not-to-exceed amount of $2,810,990.50.
On December 13, 2022 (Item No. 34), the Board approved Amendment No.1 to the MOU between the County and Superintendent to extend the initial term to December 7, 2021 through January 31, 2025, and include the terms and conditions for Federal Guidelines Use of ARPA Fund and Requirements.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Julie Surber, Principal Assistant County Counsel, 387-5455) on October 8, 2024; Purchasing (Ariel Gill, Supervising Buyer, 387-2070) on October 18, 2024; Risk Management (Loretta Acuña, Staff Analyst II, 386-9039) on October 18, 2024; Finance (Joon Cho, Chief Administrative Analyst, 387-5402) on October 8, 2024; and County Finance and Administration (Matthew Erickson, County Chief Financial Officer, 387-5423) on October 22, 2024