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Report regarding a resolution authorizing the acceptance of $40,000 in grant funding from the Woodlawn Foundation to support Project Read’s Learning Wheels Family Literacy Program and amending the Library Department’s Fiscal Year 2022 - 2023 Operating Budget via Budget Amendment 23.031. (Valerie Sommer, Library Director)
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RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the acceptance of $40,000 in grant funding from the Woodlawn Foundation to support Project Read’s Family Literacy Program delivered by Learning Wheels and amending the Library Department’s Fiscal Year 2022-2023 (FY22-23) Operating Budget via Budget Amendment 23.031.
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BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
In September 2022, Project Read applied for a grant from the Woodlawn Foundation to support our family literacy services offered through Learning Wheels for low income, low literacy families in North San Mateo County. On October 26, 2022, Project Read was awarded funding for Learning Wheels, the Library’s mobile literacy program, to bring story times, literacy activities, and free books to hard-to-reach neighborhoods and service points. In typical years, Learning Wheels makes over 180 visits to preschools, transitional housing locations, social service agencies, health clinics, and community and library programs and events in South San Francisco, Daly City, San Bruno, and Town of Colma. Over 5,000 books are distributed annually to local families. In addition, Learning Wheels staff provides information and referral services to underserved families. This year, programming will continue to be available with social distancing and other health and safety protocols maintained in outreach services, programs and events. Funding from The Woodlawn Foundation allows Project Read’s Learning Wheels to continue providing vital services to residents of South San Francisco and partner cities.
FISCAL IMPACT
Grant funds will be used to amend the Library Department’s current FY 22-23 Operating Budget per Budget Amendment 23.031. Receipt of these funds does not commit the City to ongoing funding.
RELATIONSHIP TO STRATEGIC PLAN
Grant funding to support Learning Wheels services will provide additional family literacy programming for low income, low literacy families in South San Francisco and neighboring cities. The strengthening of learning programs is an action item in the City’s Strategic Plan under Priority #2: Quality of Life.
RACIAL AND SOCIAL EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
Equity and/or inclusion was considered in the development of the services to be funded through this grant as follows.
The LW pre-school on wheels was designed to provide doorstep literacy services to low-income/low-literacy families in South San Francisco, Daly City, San Bruno and Colma. By being a mobile operation, it can go into hard-to-reach neighborhoods and service points. LW seeks to bring resources to underserved families.
In South San Francisco Unified School District, 45% of students are high-need students such as being eligible for free lunch or reduced price school meals, are English Learners or foster youth. Learning Wheels seeks to reach these students and families.
LW is based on the belief that when children, parents, and caregivers learn together, an appreciation and respect for learning is fostered for the entire family/community thus paving the way for future success for children, skill acquisition for adults, a greater level of independence, and an enhanced understanding by parents and caregivers of their role as their child’s first teacher.
CONCLUSION
Receipt of these funds will support Learning Wheels Family Literacy Program for low income, low literacy families. It is recommended that the City Council accept $40,000 in grant funding to support family literacy programming and amend the Library Department’s FY 22-23 Operating Budget via Budget Amendment 23.031.