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Report regarding a resolution approving a staffing budget amendment in the amount of $578,000 to provide for recommended staffing for the Westborough Pre-school Expansion Project (Abby Lau, Mock Human Resources Director)
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RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Council approve a staffing budget amendment to provide for staffing needs for the Westborough Pre-School Expansion Project.
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BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
Human Resources staff worked with members of the Parks and Recreation Department to identify the staffing needs for the ongoing operations of the expanded Westborough Pre-school, taking into consideration the existing pre-school staffing model, State regulatory requirements, and efficient use of staffing resources. The California Department of Social Services specifies a minimum pre-school staffing ratio of one pre-school teacher to every 12 students. With the inclusion a teacher aides, an additional three students can be added per teacher aide. If the teacher is fully qualified, and the teacher aide has completed at least six early childhood education semester units, an additional 6 students per teacher aide. The City’s current pre-school programs provide for at least the minimum staffing ratio, plus additional staffing for break time, planning time, and long program hours (7:30am - 6:00pm). To accommodate the expanded preschool program at this site at full capacity, staff recommends the following staffing plan:
• 2 fully qualified Full-time Pre-school teachers, one for each classroom (Pre-school Teacher II)
• 4 Part-time (2 full-time equivalent) Preschool teachers, one for each classroom, one for morning and one for afternoon sessions (Pre-school Teacher II)
• 4 Part-time teacher aides (2 full-time equivalent), with one for each classroom, one for morning and one for afternoon sessions (Recreation Leader III).
In addition, for building maintenance custodial services, staff recommends adding one Building Maintenance Custodian, which would be shared with other planned new facilities (0.5 full-time equivalent for this site). For oversight and administrative support services, it is anticipated that the current Recreation and Community Services Coordinator would manage the site with the assistance of childcare program managers. No additional administrative support staff are recommended at this time, but additional part-time hours may be considered in the future depending on workload needs.
FISCAL IMPACT
The total annual cost of the proposed staffing plan is estimated at $578,000. A portion of this cost will be offset by pre-school enrollment fees, with a net general fund impact of approximately $289,000.
RELATIONSHIP TO STRATEGIC PLAN
This action supports the Council’s strategic plan in the area of Quality of Life, by allowing the much-needed expansion of affordable childcare services for the community.
CONCLUSION
Staff recommends that City Council approve the staffing budget amendment by resolution, in order to provide the necessary staffing for the Westborough Pre-school expansion.