DEPARTMENT: Pre-K 4 SA
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Sarah Baray, Ph.D.
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
CHEF Memorandum of Agreement
SUMMARY:
This item requests Board action to approve a new Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Culinary Health Education for Families (CHEF) and accept a grant of up to $147,044.00 to hire an additional Professional Learning Specialist to support expansion of the CHEF curriculum for Pre-K 4 SA and Pre-K 4 SA Competitive Grants funded schools.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
On November 13, 2018 the Pre-K 4 SA Board of Directors approved for Pre-K 4 SA to accept a grant of $103,000.00 for the purpose of expanding the CHEF curriculum to prekindergarten programs throughout San Antonio. In the initial phase of the program, the CHEF grant allowed Pre-K 4 SA to hire a Pre-K 4 SA Professional Learning Specialist dedicated to the CHEF expansion. In exchange for this funding, Pre-K 4 SA agreed to:
• Align the CHEF Program to high-quality early learning standards;
• Develop a professional learning plan to support implementation of CHEF Program in Pre-K 4 SA classrooms;
• Pilot the CHEF prekindergarten curriculum in 5 Pre-K 4 SA classrooms at each Education Center and revise and finalize the CHEF prekindergarten curriculum based on the pilot experience;
• Implement the finalized CHEF prekindergarten curriculum in all 20 Pre-K 4 SA classrooms;
• Develop professional learning modules to train teachers in the use of the CHEF prekindergarten curriculum
• Develop an evaluation plan for measuring the efficacy of the CHEF prekindergarten curriculum;
• Present CHEF Program initiative with key stakeholders in partner school districts and child develop centers; and
• Identify, in collaboration with CHEF, 1-2 partner districts and a small number of child development centers to implement CHEF Program in Pre-K classrooms.
All of these goals were accomplished. However, although a formal evaluation of the program has been developed, it was not completed due to the closure of schools in response to COVID-19. The formal evaluation is scheduled for Fall 2020 when schools reopen.
Building on the success of CHEF in Pre-K 4 SA classrooms, Pre-K 4 SA offered other early learning programs the opportunity to adopt the CHEF prekindergarten curriculum by making the CHEF prekindergarten curriculum an option in the Pre-K 4 SA Competitive Grants program. Twenty-three schools in six districts chose to include CHEF in their grant proposals. This represents 121 early learning classrooms across San Antonio.
The number of schools requesting support to implement the CHEF prekindergarten curriculum was greater than anticipated. Although Pre-K 4 SA has dedicated resources to this project, the Pre-K 4 SA allocation is insufficient to support the expansion of the CHEF prekindergarten curriculum into all grant-funded schools.
ISSUE:
In order to support expansion of the CHEF prekindergarten curriculum into all 121 classrooms, Pre-K 4 SA staff requests Board consideration to authorize the execution of a Memorandum of Agreement with CHEF and to accept a grant of up to $147,044.00 to hire an additional Professional Learning Specialist dedicated to CHEF and cover additional food costs. The term of the agreement is for a period of one year.
ALTERNATIVES:
If the Board does not approve the execution of the MOA, Pre-K 4 SA will not be able to continue and expand the CHEF curriculum to prekindergarten programs throughout San Antonio.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This item approves a new Memorandum of Agreement with the Culinary Health Education for Families (CHEF) and acceptance of a contribution up to $147,044.00 to hire a Professional Learning Specialist to support expansion of the CHEF curriculum for Pre-K 4 SA and Pre-K 4 SA Competitive Grants funded schools for a term of one year.
During the FY 2021 Budget process, the Corporation elected to keep five Professional Learning Specialist positions vacant for FY 2021. This board action would provide funding for one Professional Learning Specialist position. Therefore, funding for this position is available within the FY 2021 Pre-K 4 SA Operating Budget.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the Board authorize the execution of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Culinary Health Education for Families (CHEF) and accept a grant of up to $147,044.00 for a period of one year.