Important note: The following recommendation was approved by the Board of Supervisors on Jan. 26, 2016:
DISTRICT 2 (Supervisor Carole Groom)
FY 2015-17 Measure A Request St. James Community Foundation $20,000 One-Time Grant
San Mateo County strives to promote the education and welfare of all of our children and residents. Students in North Central San Mateo have disproportionately lower academic proficiency that other neighborhoods, and only 10% of low-income students demonstrated Algebra proficiency in 8th grade, the second lowest among all school districts in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.
The St. James Community Foundation is dedicated to assisting primarily middle school students in North Central San Mateo prepare for placement in Geometry in 9th grade, to ensure that students will be fully qualified for entry into the four-year university of their choice upon graduation from high school. This is a $20,000 one-time request for grant monies that will promote math proficiency skills for middle schoolers so they are on track to enter Geometry in 9th grade and follow a positive trajectory toward the college of their choice.
The County Manager’s Office will work with St. James Community Foundation staff on terms of the grant agreement for this one-time contribution. The St. James Community Foundation’s Math Scholars Program: The Math Scholars Program currently provides tutoring to 50-55 students per week during the school year and 55-65 in its summer program each year.
The program provides the tutors, the supplies, parent empowerment sessions and a healthy dinner meal to participating students. The students and parents make a commitment to regular attendance and full participation in all program components. Attendance is 98%. The cost of the program at its current level of services is approximately $50,000 per year.
This $20,000 grant would be allocated to support the operating costs associated with the program – food, stipends for tutors, and supplies (which include chrome books to assist the students with math reinforcement lessons). The St. James Foundation has already received $33,000 in funding from other sources, including the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, the City of San Mateo, and individual donors, for 2016 program year.
With this grant, the Math Scholars Program will be a fully funded program in 2016, enabling staff to devote its time and energy to program development and implementation. The total allocation request is $20,000. The release of funds will be contingent on the execution of a Grant Agreement providing for the County’s confirmation of the expenditure of funds during FY 2015-16 for the purposes stated herein.
Important note: This is a copy of the official report -- item 7 on the Board's agenda.