March 19, 2024
Library and Community Services
DATE: March 19, 2024
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
LaShonda White, Deputy City Manager – Community
Services
Kate Eppler, Deputy Director of Community Services –
Library
Abigail Sims-Evelyn, Literacy Program Manager
Subject:
Accept and Appropriate $139,204 in Grant Funds from
the California State Library to Provide English as a
Second Language Services
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Project expenditures will be funded by the California State Library grant funds. There will be no net additional expense to the General Fund.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
Not applicable.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The Richmond Public Library has been awarded
$139,204 from the California State Library to support
English as a Second Language program services offered
at the library’s literacy program, Literacy for Every Adult Program (LEAP), for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-2025 and FY
2025-2026.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
ADOPT a resolution to ACCEPT and APPROPRIATE the
California State Library grant award of $139,204 for
English as a Second Language educational services; and
AUTHORIZE the city manager or their designee to
execute the grant agreement – Community Services
Department (Kate Eppler 510-620-5452/Abigail Sims-
Evelyn 510-307-8082).
AGENDA
REPORT
March 19, 2024
DISCUSSION:
Richmond’s Literacy for Every Adult Program (LEAP) provides English as a Second Language (ESL) services to the community, including group classes and individual tutoring. These services are funded by a grant from the California State Library’s California Library Literacy Services program.
In Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-2024, LEAP’s literacy services helped 31 learners increase their ability to speak, read, and understand English. Learners’ current skills are assessed when they enroll; learners then participate in small group classes, including sessions on evenings and weekends. LEAP’s ESL services have been supported by California State Library grant funding since FY 2021-2022.
The current grant award of $139,204 contains funding to support the ESL program during FY 2024-2025 and FY 2025-2026. The State Library is releasing both years of funding in FY 2024-2025. Of the grant award, $69,602 must be spent in FY 2024-2025 and $69,602 must be spent during FY 2025-2026.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 –California Library Literacy Services Award Packet Attachment 2 – Resolution