Title
Intergovernmental Agreements with Various School Districts for Phoenix Afterschool Center (PAC) Sites (Ordinance S-46135)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to execute Intergovernmental Agreements (IGAs) between the Parks and Recreation Department and various school districts for PAC sites throughout the City of Phoenix. There is no financial impact associated with this item as participants pay program fees that support the PAC program.
Report
Summary
The City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department's PAC program is an affordable afterschool recreation and enrichment program for youth ages 6 to 13. PAC serves approximately 1,400 youth daily at 36 school sites throughout the City of Phoenix (Attachment A). PAC provides a fun, supportive and educational atmosphere during the crucial afterschool hours. PAC’s programming includes organized physical activity and games; Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) educational enrichment; arts; cultural activities; homework assistance; and civic and community involvement.
The Parks and Recreation Department partners with school districts to offer the PAC program at school sites. PAC is currently offered in the following 13 school districts: Balsz, Creighton, Roosevelt, Tempe, Wilson, Osborn, Paradise Valley, Washington, Cartwright, Pendergast, Riverside, Tolleson and Union. Additionally, there are two PAC sites located at charter schools (ASU Prep and AmeriSchools). PAC is currently funded for 36 school sites.
To facilitate the PAC program, the Parks and Recreation Department requires each school district to sign an IGA. The IGAs contain substantially similar language, including required City provisions, such as indemnification/hold harmless and nondiscrimination language. Additionally, the IGAs contain a list of City responsibilities, such as programming hours, staffing levels, staff-to-participant ratios and registration options. The IGAs also contain a list of responsibilities of the participating school districts, including that they must provide free facility usage with adequate indoor/outdoor space, a daily healthy snack for participants and access to cleaning materials/custodial services, among other requirements. Similar agreements are entered into with charter schools; however, these agreements take the form of Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) rather than IGAs and are not approved by City Council.
School districts do not pay for their school sites to participate in the PAC program. Participants pay program fees that support the PAC program. To ensure PAC remains affordable, the fee structure is based on each school’s U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) free and reduced lunch rate. Program fees for all sites range from $30 to $65 per session ($120 to $260 annually). Families can sign up for all four sessions or fewer, depending on their afterschool needs. Scholarships for families in need of assistance also are available and provided by private donors, school districts and Block Watch grants.
Once approved by the governing board of the respective school district, the IGA is then routed back to the Parks and Recreation Department, which has compiled the IGAs for City Council approval. The term of the respective IGAs is generally five years, through the 2023-24 school year, although the City and the school districts have the mutual option to withdraw from PAC based on factors such as low enrollment or budget reductions.
Contract Term
The IGAs with the school districts generally have terms of five years (through July 2024).
Financial Impact
There is no financial impact associated with this item. PAC is currently funded for 36 school sites. Participants pay program fees that support the PAC program.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Acting Deputy City Manager Toni Maccarone and the Parks and Recreation Department.