October 17, 2023
Library and Community Services
DATE: October 17, 2023
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Kate Eppler, Deputy Director of Community Services –
Library
Christopher Larsen, Administrative Librarian
Subject:
Contract with Bay Area Tutoring Association for
Homework Help Services
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The majority ($150,000) of the proposed expenditure of up to $200,000 is funded by a Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-24
Richmond Fund for Children & Youth grant. The
remaining $50,000 will come from the Library operating
budget (01241055-400201 and 01241055-400212).
Funding from the accounts was originally planned to
support strategic planning and diversity, equity, and
inclusion (DEI) training; however, it was determined that the funding was not needed this FY. In part due to the
timing of the library infrastructure project, the strategic planning process is better suited to begin in FY 2024-25, and a grant is covering DEI training sessions for library staff in FY 2023-24.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
June 20, 2023
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The Richmond Public Library is seeking approval for a
grant-funded contract with the Bay Area Tutoring
Association for homework help services to be provided at Library and Recreation sites.
AGENDA
REPORT
October 17, 2023
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
APPROVE a contract with the Bay Area Tutoring
Association for homework help services for an amount
not to exceed $200,000, for a term beginning October 17, 2023, and ending June 30, 2024 – Community Services
Department (Kate Eppler 510-620-5452/Christopher
Larsen 510-620-5524).
DISCUSSION:
In early 2023, the Richmond Public Library was awarded a $150,000 grant from the Richmond Fund for Children & Youth for a homework help program to be operated by the Bay Area Tutoring Association (BATA).
Through this partnership, trained tutors from BATA will provide homework help during after-school hours at five Library and Recreation sites in the City of Richmond:
Main Library
Bayview Branch Library
West Side Branch Library
Shields-Reid Community Center
May Valley Community Center
Per the contract, BATA will provide homework help services at the above sites for two hours per day, Monday through Thursday. Homework help will continue until the end of the school year in 2024. BATA tutors will provide drop-in assistance in multiple subjects and covering grades Kindergarten through 12th grade, with support for additional languages where possible, including Spanish. BATA will hire, train, and provide oversight of all tutors as well as administrative support and evaluation to operate the homework help program.
BATA is a non-profit educational organization based in Milpitas. It has provided tutoring services at both schools and libraries, including Santa Clara County Library and Alameda County Library.
The program represents a return to in-person homework help, which the Library offered prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Contract between City of Richmond and Bay Area Tutoring Association