Apr 15, 2026 City Council B Session

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>> MAYOR JONES: GOOD AFTERNOON. THE TIME IS NOW 2:02 P.M. ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15TH, 2026. THIS SESSION OF THE SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL IS CALLED TO ORDER. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL ROLL.

[ BRIEFING ONLY  ]

THEY ARE SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT INVESTMENTS WE MAKE FOR OUR COMMUNITY SO I APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK THAT HAS GONE INTO THE BRIEFINGS.

ERIK, OVER TO YOU. >> AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, AS A REMINDER, UNDER STATE LAW ROTH THE PRE-K 4 SA AND THE READY TO WORK PROGRAMS OPERATE ON A JULY 1 TO JUNE 30TH FISCAL YEAR. SO BOTH DR. BARAY AND MIKE WILL WALK THROUGH THE PROPOSED BUDGET PROGRAMS AND THE TIMELINE BETWEEN NOW AND EVENTUALLY BRINGING IT BACK TO THE FULL COUNCIL FOR YOUR ADOPTION. AND IN BOTH CASES WE'LL START OFF WITH DR. BARAY. DR. BARAY IS GOING TO OBVIOUSLY TALK ABOUT WHERE WE'RE AT IN TERMS OF PRE-K 4 SA, THE PROGRAM, WHERE POTENTIAL TIMELINES ARE FOR FUTURE CONSIDERATION BY YOU ALL AND THE PUBLIC ON EXTENDING THAT.

IT'S NOT TOO SOON TO START TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THAT. AND MIKE WILL WALK THROUGH THE FY27 PROPOSED BUDGET FOR READY TO WORK. I AM GOING TO HAVE -- MIKE'S GOING TO COVER A SLIDE THERE TOWARDS THE END THAT TALKS ABOUT THE FUTURE AS HE TALKS ABOUT HIS PRESENTATION AND THE PROPOSED BUDGET, WE ARE, AS YOU KNOW, THAT SALES TAX HAS TRANSITIONED TO VIA AS OF RIGHT NOW, AND THE FUNDS THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW WILL RUN THROUGH WE'RE ESTIMATING FISCAL YEAR 30, MAYBE EARLY FISCAL YEAR 30.

SO PART OF TODAY'S CONVERSATION IS IS REALLY TO ALSO INITIATE YOU ALL, SOME OF THE CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IN THE FUTURE, AND START THAT NOW A LITTLE BIT. WE HAVE A COUPLE OF YEARS, BUT AS WE WORK TO DEVELOP ALTERNATIVES THAT YOU MAY WANT TO SEE, THAT GIVES US PLENTY OF TIME TO CONSIDER IT. IN LIGHT OF ALL THE OTHER FINANCIAL ISSUES THAT WE HAVE. SO WE'LL START OFF WITH DR. BARAY.

>> THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR JONES AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO PRESENT TODAY. MY NAME IS SARAH BARAY AND ON BEHALF OF PRE-K 4 SA I AM PLEASED TO PRESENT OUR FISCAL YEAR 27 OPERATING BUDGET AND TALK ABOUT THE AMAZING WORK THAT PRE-K 4 SA HAS BEEN DOING ON BEHALF OF YOUNG CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. WE'LL GIVE A BRIEF HISTORY AND WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED AND RESULTS ON THE GROUND. I'LL END WITH OUR FINANCIAL OUTLOOK AND PROPOSED BUDGET BRIEFING FOR FY27. PRE-K 4 SA WAS BUILT ON A SIMPLE, BUT POWERFUL BELIEF, THAT EVERY CHILD IN SAN ANTONIO DESERVES A STRONG START.

AND FOR MORE THAN A DECADE THAT BELIEF HAS GUIDED EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.

PRE-K 4 SA WAS FIRST AUTHORIZED IN 2012. FOR NEARLY A DECADE OUR WORK FOCUSED ON ONE CRITICAL GOAL, EXPANDING ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN FOR FOUR-YEAR-OLDS ACROSS OUR CITY.

THE RESULTS OF THE FIRST AUTHORIZATION SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.

ON ACCESS WE CREATED 5,000 FREE FULL-DAY PRE-K SEATS AND DROVE ACCESS FOR FOUR-YEAR-OLDS ACROSS BEXAR COUNTY BY 70% IN 2019. WE MADE THE CASE FOR STATE FUNDING FOR FULL-DAY PRE-K IN TEXAS. ON QUALITY, OUR CLASSROOMS HAVE CONSISTENTLY EXCEEDED RESEARCH THRESHOLDS FOR QUALITY.

WE'VE RECEIVED BOTH STATE AND NATIONAL RECOGNITION. OUR ALUMNI PERFORMED BETTER IN MATH AND READING ON THEIR THIRD GRADE TESTS AND MORE OF OUR PARTNER PROGRAMS NOW

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A MORE SKILLED WORKFORCE MEANS BETTER OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN.

THAT FIRST AUTHORIZATION LAID A STRONG FOUNDATION AND THE SECOND AUTHORIZATION GAVE US A NEW CHALLENGE. IN 2021 WE BEGAN OUR SECOND AUTHORIZATION AND PIVOTED OUR FOCUS TO ADDRESS THE SIGNIFICANT GAPS IN CARE FOR YOUR HONOR CHILDREN IN SAN ANTONIO'S BIRTH THROUGH AGE 3 WHILE CONTINUING TO SUPPORT ACCESS FOR PRE-K FOR FOUR-YEAR-OLDS. THE NEED IN BIRTH TO THREE WAS AND REMAINS SUBSTANTIAL.

WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE BIRTH TO THREE LANDSCAPE IN 2021, WE FOUND THREE MAJOR PROBLEMS. FIRST, AFFORDABILITY. THERE WAS MINIMUM PUBLIC FUNDING FOR INFANT AND TODDLER CARE, WAITLIST FOR CHILDCARE SCHOLARSHIPS AND MILITARY FAMILY CHILDCARE SEATS WERE LONG AND PRIVATE PROGRAMS WERE TOO COSTLY FOR MOST SAN ANTONIO FAMILIES. SECOND, THERE WAS UNEVEN QUALITY.

QUALITY VARIED WIDELY ACROSS PROGRAMS WITH FEW RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR IMPROVEMENT AND LIMITED CRITICAL YEARS. AND THIRD, WE FOUND AN UNDERPREPARED, UNDERPAID WORKFORCE. ENTRY LEVEL QUALIFICATIONS WERE LOW, WAGES CHRONICALLY SUPPRESSED, TURNOVER WAS HIGH, CREATING INSTABILITY FOR CHILDREN AND PROGRAMS ALIKE. THESE WERE THE CHALLENGES THAT PRE-K 4 SA SET OUT TO ADDRESS. OVER THE COURSE OF THIS AUTHORIZATION, WE HAVE MOVED WITH URGENCY AND INTENTION. IN 2022 WE BEGAN ENROLLING THREE-YEAR-OLDS WHILE ENSURING FOUR-YEAR-OLDS CONTINUE TO HAVE ACCESS THROUGH PUBLIC PRE-K THROUGH THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS. IN 2023 WE EXPANDED THE SAN ANTONIO SHARED SERVICE ALLIANCE FROM 17 PROVIDERS TO 90 TO SUPPORT MORE CHILDCARE PROVIDERS WITH RAISING QUALITY WHILE ALSO IMPROVING BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY.

IN 2024 WE FORMALIZED A PARTNERSHIP WITH JOINT CASE SAN ANTONIO TO BETTER SERVE MILITARY FAMILIES. IN 2025 WE OPENED OUR NEW SOUTH EDUCATION CENTER AND LAUNCHED OUR INFANT-TODDLER PILOT PROGRAM BRINGING OUR MODEL TO THE BIRTH TO THREE AGE GROUP FOR THE FIRST TIME. THIS SUMMER WE WILL LAUNCH A PILOT SUMMER PROGRAM AND NEXT YEAR WE WILL ROLL OUT A CHILDCARE FINDER SEARCH TOOL TO HELP PARENTS NAVIGATE AVAILABLE OPTIONS AND HELP PROVIDERS FILL SEATS.

EACH OF THESE STEPS HAVE BEEN DELIBERATE, EVIDENCE BASED AND AIMED AT MAKING A LASTING DIFFERENCE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT THE RESULTS. IN TERMS OF INCREASING ACCESS, WHILE PRE-K 4 SA IS OPEN TO FAMILIES THROUGHOUT SAN ANTONIO, WE PRIORITIZE ENROLLMENT FOR CHILDREN WITH THE GREATEST NEED. IN PARTICULAR WE'VE BEEN FOCUSED ON INCREASING ACCESS FOR THREE-YEAR-OLDS, CHILDREN WITH EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS AND MILITARY AFFILIATED CHILDREN. SINCE 2021, ENROLLMENT OF THREE-YEAR-OLDS IN PUBLIC PRE-K ACROSS BEXAR COUNTY HAS GROWN BY 38%. THIS IS ALMOST ENTIRELY DUE TO PRE-K 4 SA OPENING ITS DOORS TO THREE-YEAR-OLD. CHILDREN WITH EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS ALSO FACE BARRIERS IN FINDING ACCESS TO EARLY LEARNING AND SINCE 2021 PRE-K 4 SA HAS SEEN A STEADY INCREASE IN CHILDREN NEEDING ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES. IN RESPONSE WE HAVE EXPANDED THE AVAILABILITY OF EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES IN OUR CLASSROOMS. THIS MEANS THAT MORE CHILDREN ARE GETTING THE TARGETED SUPPORT THEY NEED EARLIER WHEN IT IS MOST IMPACTFUL. AND AS HAS BEEN REPORTED, JBSA HAS ONE OF THE LONGEST CHILDCARE WAITLISTS IN THE FAMILY. THIS SHOULD NOT BE SO IN MILITARY CITY USA. WE ENTERED INTO A PARTNERSHIP WITH PRE-K 4 SA TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW TO ADDRESS THIS GAP IN ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY EARLY LEARNING FOR MILITARY-AFFILIATED FAMILIES.

SINCE THEN WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN ENROLLMENT BY ACTIVE DUTY AND VETERAN FAMILIES AT PRE-K 4 SA. WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS AN AMPLE SUPPLY OF HIGH QUALITY EARLY LEARNING FOR OUR FAMILIES WHO SERVE. IN AN UPCOMING SLIDE YOU WILL SEE WE ARE JOINED IN THIS EFFORT BY PARTNERS ACROSS THE COMMUNITY.

FROM THE START, EXTERNAL EVALUATION HAS BEEN A CORE PART OF HOW PRE-K 4 SA MEASURES PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS. AND WHAT THAT RESEARCH SHOWS IS THAT WHILE ONE YEAR OF PRE-K IS POWERFUL, TWO YEARS IS EVEN BETTER.

PRE-K 4 SA CHILDREN ARE ENTERING KINDERGARTEN MORE THAN READY.

THIS ISN'T JUST GOOD FOR FAMILIES, IT'S GOOD FOR OUR SCHOOLS, OUR WORKFORCE PIPELINE AND OUR CITY'S LONG-TERM ECONOMIC FUTURE. WE KNOW CHILDREN THRIVE BEST WHEN THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED. IN RECENT YEARS WE'VE NOTICED AN INCREASE IN FAMILIES EXPERIENCING INSTABILITY FACTORS.

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THE COMMUNITIES WILL ACCESS IS HARDEST AND NEED IS GREATEST.

THROUGH THE ALLIANCE WE'VE PROVIDED OVER 18,000 HOURS OF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING, HELPED ALLIANCE MEMBERS REALIZE OVER $146,000 IN ADDITIONAL REVENUE, RESOURCES THAT FLOW BACK INTO BETTER CARE, INCLUDING AN 11,000-DOLLAR ANNUAL SALARY INCREASE FOR TEACHERS. WE'VE PROVIDED 246 EDUCATORS WITH CDA CREDENTIALING AND WE HAVE IDENTIFIED AND ARE SUPPORTING 45 MILITARY ACCREDITED SEATS ACROSS THE COMMUNITY. ALTOGETHER 4,888 CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE BENEFITING FROM THE ALLIANCE.

THIS IS HOW WE MOVE THE WHOLE SYSTEM FORWARD, WHICH IS REALLY THE SECRET SAUCE OF PRE-K 4 SA. IT HAS NEVER BEEN JUST ABOUT OR FOR SCHOOLS, IT IS ABOUT THE ENTIRE ECOSYSTEM. AS WE LOOK INTO THE FUTURE, THERE'S AN IMPORTANT MILESTONE ON THE HORIZON. SALES TAX COLLECTION FOR PRE-K 4 SA IS SET TO END ON MARCH 31ST, 2019. PROGRAM FUNDING RUNS THROUGH JUNE 30, 2029.

FOR PRE-K 4 SA TO CONTINUE ITS WORK WE NEED TO BE REVOLUNTEERSED BY NOVEMBER OF 202008. UNDER THE STATUTE THAT FUNDS OUR PROGRAM, PRE-K 4 SA MAY BE AUTHORIZED FOR UP TO 20 YEARS. THE DECISIONS MADE IN THE NEXT TWO TO THREE YEARS WITH WILL PROJECT THE TRAJECTORY FOR CHILDCARE AND EDUCATION.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT CONVERSATION WITH COUNCIL AND OUR COMMUNITY.

NOW LET ME TURN TO THE FINANCIAL PICTURE FOR FY2027.

PRE-K 4 SA IS FUNDED THROUGH A DEDICATED EIGHT-CENT SALES TAX.

REVENUE IS PROJECTED TO GROW MODESTLY OVER THE LEAST OF THE CURRENT AUTHORIZATION.

IN 2025 WE COLLECTED $51.7 MILLION IN SALES TAX. WE PROJECT $52 MILLION TO CLOSE OUT FY26, IT 53.4 MILLION IN 27 AND 54.47 IN 2008 AND 29 RESPECT OF ITLY. THIS ALLOWS US TO PLAN RESPONSIBLY AND INVEST STRATEGICALLY. LOOKING AT OUR FINANCIAL FORECAST, IN FY2025 WE ENDED WITH A BEGINNING BALANCE OF 14.5 MILLION, REVENUES OF 55.4 MILLION AND EXPENDITURES OF 62.2 MILLION RESULTING IN A BALANCE OF 8.8 MILLION.

WE ESTIMATE THAT AT THE AT THE END OF FY26 WE WILL HAVE PROJECTED REVENUES OF 58 MILLION, CLOSING WITH A 7-MILLION-DOLLAR FUND BALANCE.

IN FY27, WHICH WE ARE PROPOSING, WE BELIEVE WILL HAVE REVENUES OF 58.9 MILLION WITH EXPENDITURES OF 62.3 MILLION, ENDING WITH A 3.6 MILLION FUND BALANCE. THROUGH FY28 AND 29 WE PROJECT A RESPONSIBLE DOWNWARD DRAW OF OUR FUND BALANCE TO CLOSE OUT THIS AUTHORIZATION.

THIS FORECAST REFLECTS DISCIPLINED FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, DRAWING DOWN RESERVES INTENTIONALLY WHILE MAINTAINING FULL OPERATIONS. OUR TOTAL PROPOSED APPROPRIATIONS FOR FY27 ARE $62,289,638. WITH A BREAKDOWN AS FOLLOWS.

MOST OF THAT IS IN PERSONNEL SERVICE, OVER $39 MILLION, THE LARGEST INVESTMENT, WHICH REFLECTS OUR COMMITMENT TO A HIGH QUALITY, WELL-COMPENSATED WORKFORCE. WE ALSO HAVE CONTRACTUAL SERVICES.

IN JUST OVER 17 MILLION, WHICH COVERS COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND PROGRAM OPERATIONS, INCLUDING FOOD SERVICE, TRANSPORTATION, CURRICULUM AND OTHER SERVICES. WE HAVE COMMODITIES OF 1.3 MILLION AND OTHER EXPENDITURES AT 3.2, CAPITAL OUT LAY AT JUST OVER $120,000 AND PERSONNEL ARE THE MAJORITY OF OUR BUDGET, ALWAYS ARE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE AT THE HEART OF WHAT WE DO. SPEAKING OF PEOPLE, OUR PROPOSED PERSONNEL COMPLEMENT FOR FY27 REMAINS UNCHANGED FROM FY26 WITH 502 POSITIONS.

WE ARE MAINTAINING OUR CURRENT STAFFING LEVELS WITH NO NEW NET POSITIONS AND

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WE'VE EXPANDED ACCESS, IMPROVED QUALITY, WORKFORCE CAPACITY AND CREATED SYSTEMS THAT EXTEND OR IMPACT FAR BEYOND OUR OWN SCHOOLS. THE FY27 PROPOSED BUDGET STAINS THAT WORK, RESPONSIBLY, STRATEGICALLY AND IN FULL ALIGNMENT WITH THE TRUST OF THE VOTERS. WE ARE PROUD OF WHAT THIS COMMUNITY HAS BUILT TOGETHER AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT EVERY DOLLAR SPENT IN THE SERVICE OF SAN ANTONIO'S YOUNGEST AND MOST IMPORTANT RESOURCE, ITS CHILDREN.

I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE, AND FINALLY WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT TOMORROW IS THE GRACIAS CHILDREN ARE CITIZENS EXHIBIT THAT OPENS AT THE SOUTH CENTER AND THE ONLINE AUCTION WILL BEGIN IN CASE YOU WANT A NEW ART

PIECE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, DR. BARAY. I THINK WE'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE THE SECOND PRESENTATION AS WELL AND THEN GO AROUND FOR QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.

>> >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE BEFORE YOU TODAY.

AS WE TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 27 FOR READY TO WORK WE LOVE TO START BY HIGHLIGHTING OUR PARTICIPANTS. THIS IS WHY WE DO THIS WORK EVERYDAY, WHY OUR PARTNERS DO THIS WORK EVERYDAY. HE IS BEING SERVED BY HALLMARK UNIVERSITY. SHE HAS BEEN EMPLOYED BY METHODIST HEALTH CARE AND AS A SINGLE MOTHER OF 3, SHE SAID GOING BACK TO SCHOOL SEEMED OVERWHELMING.

SHE LEARNED ABOUT THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM AND WAS ABLE TO GAIN ACCESS TO CASE MANAGEMENT TO SUPPORT HER ON HER JOURNEY. SHE NEEDED TO STAY FOCUSED EVEN WHEN LIFE GOT HEAVY, SHE SAID. NOW I SECURED MY DREAM AS A REGISTERED NURSE WITH METHODIST HEALTH CARE. I'M PROUD TO CLOSE MY BARTENDING CHAPTER AND STEP INTO THE CAREER I'VE WORKED SO FAR.

SHE WENT FROM EARNING $2.13 PER HOUR WITH TIPS TO MORE THAN $30 AN HOUR IN HER CURRENT ROLE. SO WHY ARE WE NOW? AS OF MARCH 30TH WE HAD OVER 15,000 INDIVIDUALS ENROLLED IN TRAINING, MORE WERE ELIGIBLE IN CREATING THEIR EDUCATION AND TRAINING PLANS. EACH IS ASSISTED AT THE BEGINNING AND HELPED ON THEIR JOURNEYS. ABOUT 4700 ARE STILL IN TRAINING RIGHT NOW. 602 COMPLETED THEIR TRAINING, 358 AS OF MARCH 30TH WERE IN AN APPROVED JOB IN READY TO WORK.

ABOUT A 62% COMPLETION FOR WORK. THE PROGRAM IS GAINING MOMENTUM. IT'S INCREASING OUR TRAINING COMPLETION RATE.

IT HAS GONE FROM 97 TRAINING COMPLETERS OR PROGRAM GRADUATES PER MONTH OVER ROUGHLY THE FIRST THREE YEARS OF THE PROGRAM TO OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS ABOUT 258 TRAINING PROGRAM COMPLETERS PER MONTH, ABOUT 166% INCREASE.

THE SAME GOES FOR JOB PLACEMENTS. WE'RE AVERAGING ABOUT 56 APPROVED JOB PLACEMENTS PER MONTH OVER ROUGHLY THE FIRST THREE YEARS AND RIGHT AT 200 JOB PLACEMENTS OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS, A 255% INCREASE IN THAT JOB PLACEMENT VOLUME. INTAKES HAVE GONE UP 11% AND ENROLLMENT AND TRAINING NUMBERS HAVE INCREASED BY 20% OVER THE SAME TIME COMPARISONS.

SO OUR ROI STUDY, DR. NECESSITY VIN IS HERE. HE CONNECTED THE ROI STUDY AND HAS SOME KEY FINDINGS THAT AN $11.8 BILLION TOTAL IMPACT OVER THE WORKING CAREERS OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY READY TO WORK THROUGH OCTOBER OF 2025. AT THAT TIME WE HAD ABOUT 11,592 PARTICIPANTS, ABOUT 4,000 TRAINING COMPLETERS AND JUST UNDER 2900 HAD APPROVED JOBS AT THAT POINT IN TIME. THE BULK OF THAT ECONOMIC IMPACT COMES FROM THE INCREASED INCOMES DIRECTLY INTO THE PARTICIPANT HOUSEHOLDS OF 7.5 BILLION.

FOR EVERY DOLLAR SPENT THERE'S 125-DOLLAR RETURN IN TOTAL INVESTMENT.

SO OUR FY27 PROPOSED BUDGET ASSUMPTIONS, ON-THE-JOB TRAINING PROGRAM, FUNDING IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET FOR FY27. WE'LL REEVALUATE THAT IN -- AS LOCAL MARKET CONDITIONS SHIFT IN FUTURE YEARS. WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS ALAMO IMPLEMENTATION TRANSITION, THEIR SERVICE LEVELS ARE BEING REDUCED STRATEGICALLY BY 50% FOR INTAKE AND CASE MANAGEMENT. EMPLOYER LED COHORT TRAINING IS THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY TO GET INDIVIDUALS ON TRACK INTO AN APPROVED JOB QUICKLY. AS THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD SERVES AS THE HUB FOR TEXAS FAME, ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAMS THAT EXIST IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. WE WANT TO TAKE THAT MODEL AND REPLICATE IT IN OTHER INDUSTRY SECTORS AND IT CONTINUES TO GROW IN THE ADVANCED MANUFACTURING

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SO OUR PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FY27, ROUGHLY HALF OF IT, 50%, IS FOR TUITION.

21% FOR WRAPAROUND SUPPORT AND CASE MANAGEMENT FOR OUR PARTICIPANTS.

10% FOR INTAKE AND INITIAL ASSESSMENTS. FIVE PERCENT GOING TO EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FUNDING FOR OUR PARTICIPANTS AND TWO PERCENT FOR CHILDCARE.

THAT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR PARTICIPANTS HAVE ACCESS TO CHILDCARE FUNDING IF THEY'RE ON THAT STATE WAITLIST AND THEY'RE IN READY TO WORK, WE HAVE FUNDING AVAILABLE TO HELP ASSIST THE COST OF CHILDCARE TO ENSURE THEY CAN GET ACROSS THE TRAINING FINISH LINE.

SO A PROJECTED PARTICIPANT SERVED IN FY27, WE ANTICIPATE ABOUT 6,773 COMPLETING THE INTAKE AND ASSESSMENT PROCESS, 4730 ENROLLING IN TRAINING AND 3800 PLUS TRAINING COMPLETERS, AND 2410 APPROVED JOB PLACEMENTS IN 2027. THAT WILL GET US CLOSER TO OVERALL GOALS.

WE PLAN TO HIT THAT 39,000 GOAL BY NOVEMBER OF 27. BY MAY OF 28, OUR 28,000 ENROLLED IN TRAINING TARGET, AND BY THE SPRING OF 2030, 15,600 APPROVED JOB PLACEMENTS. OUR BUDGET PROPOSED FOR FY27 IS 42.8 MILLION, THE APEX OR HEIGHT OF BUDGET FOR READY TO WORK. WE HAVE ARE OF YOULY AROUND 126 MILLION TO SPEND OVER THE SUNSET OF THE PROGRAM. OVER 46 MILLION IN 2028 AS WE SCALE BACK AND 23.5 MILLION IN FY2029 AND WE CLOSE OUT 2030 WITH AN 18.2-MILLION-DOLLAR BUDGET. TODAY WE'RE APPROVING -- PROPOSING THE FY27 BUDGET FOR 42.8 MILLION. FUTURE PROGRAM AND BUDGET CONSIDERATIONS, IN FISCAL YEAR 27 THE PINNACLE FOR SERVICE LEVELS WITHIN THE PROGRAM, PROGRAM ENROLLMENT WILL CEASE IN FISCAL YEAR 29 AND AL TRAININGS WILL BE COMPLETED BY JANUARY OF 2030. SALES TAX FUNDING WILL BE FULLY EX-PENCED BY 2030.

THIS IS WITH THE COMPLETION OF TRAINING PROGRAMS, STAKEHOLDER INPUT SUCH AS THROUGH OUR ADVISORY BOARD, OUR CHAIR IS HERE TODAY. THANK YOU, BEN, FOR BEING HERE. THEY'RE PROVIDING US INPUT, BUT WE ALSO NEED YOUR INPUT AS OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO DETERMINE THE WORKFORCE OFFERINGS BEYOND FISCAL YEAR

2030. >> LET ME ADD ONE OTHER PIECE.

I TALKED A LITTLE ABOUT THIS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE INTRO.

WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO JUST PUT A MARKER ON THE TABLE HERE BECAUSE FOR CONTEXT PURPOSES, PRIOR TO READY TO WORK THE CITY SPENT ROUGHLY TWO MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR IN WORKFORCE, PRIMARILY THROUGH PROJECT QUEST. AND SO A LOT HAS CHANGED OVER TIME AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S -- OBVIOUSLY WE'LL HAVE SOME CONVERSATION TODAY. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF YEARS LEFT IN READY TO WORK, BUT THE STRATEGIC CONVERSATION THAT YOU ALL SHOULD HAVE ABOUT WHAT SHOULD EXIST AFTER 2030 OR BEGINNING IN 2030 OR 2031 CAN START NOW, RIGHT? BECAUSE SOME OF THE FEEDBACK WE HEAR FROM YOU NOW AS WE GO THROUGH BUDGET ADOPTION WITH READY TO WORK GIVES US AN IDEA OF THINGS THAT WE CAN START PLANNING FOR AS WE DO THIS A COUPLE MORE TIMES WITH THE COUNCIL IN TERMS OF THE ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET.

SO IT'S REALLY MORE JUST KIND OF A STRATEGIC POINT AND ASKING FOR SOME THOUGHT ABOUT BIG PICTURE, WHAT WOULD BE THINGS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE OR HOW WOULD YOU LIKE FOR US TO POSITION OURSELVES TO HAVE

THAT CONVERSATION IN THE FUTURE. >> OUR LEADERS ARE HERE, WE'RE EXTREMELY PROUD OF THEIR WORK AND THEY WILL BE ASSISTING US ONGOING TO HELP US ENSURE THAT OUR COACHES AND CASE MANAGERS ARE WELL TRAINED.

THEY'RE GOING TO HELP US TO MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE PRINCIPLES THAT THEY'VE LEARNED OVER 30 PLUS YEARS IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. SO OUR B SESSION BRIEFING TODAY AND THEN WE HAVE OUR PRE-K 4 SA BOARD APPROVAL AS OUR NEXT STEP ON APRIL THE 28TH.

AND IN A SESSION BEFORE FULL COUNCIL ON MAY THE 7TH. THAT CONCLUDES OUR

PRESENTATION. >> >> MAYOR JONES: THANKS, MIKE. I WILL -- GO AHEAD. WE'LL START WITH YOU, MIKE, WITH READY TO WORK. AS I SHARED YESTERDAY, I DID A NIGHT TOUR WITH TOYOTA

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I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOING TO GET ANY PUSHBACK HERE IN TERMS OF THE GOOD WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE. I THINK THE QUESTION THAT'S ALWAYS TOP OF MIND FOR US IS ARE WE DOING THIS AS BEST POSSIBLE, AS BEST ABLE? SO I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS IN THAT REGARD, MIKE. AND JUST TO LEVEL SET, SO 235 MILLION WAS THE TOTAL BUDGET FOR THIS, RIGHT? THIS YEAR WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 42.8 MILLION SO THEM WE'LL HAVE ABOUT 130 MILLION LEFT OVERALL.

OKAY. AND I APPRECIATE ALSO WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF CONVERSATIONS JUST AGAIN IN THE 10 MONTHS I'VE BEEN IN THE SET, BUT EVEN NECKING DOWN THIS LIST, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE STILL AT 58 OCCUPATIONS THAT PEOPLE

CAN SELECT FROM. >> CORRECT. >> MAYOR JONES: WHAT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR ME IS TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE EXPLAIN AGAIN TO MRS. MARTINEZ, HEY, AT THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR FOR FY27, IF YOU WERE TO INVEST, IF THE COMMUNITY INVESTS 42.8 MILLION, WE ANTICIPATE GETTING X NUMBER OF ELECTRICIANS, X NUMBER OF PLUMBERS. I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, THOUGH, I'D BE VERY INTERESTED TO SEE HOW MANY OF THESE OCCUPATIONS WILL HAVE ZERO, RIGHT? I'M GUESSING YOUR IN THE HAVING JUST A -- YOU'RE NOT HAVING A TON OF SUCCESS GROWING FINANCIAL MANAGERS. RIGHT? I WOULD ALSO QUESTION CHEFS AND HEAD COOKS, IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT ACTUALLY NEEDS TO BE ON THIS LIST.

SO WOULD WELCOME YOUR -- AGAIN, FOLLOW-UP AND UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE CAN EXPLAIN TO FOLKS NOT JUST, AGAIN, PEOPLE, NUMBER OF PEOPLE GOING THROUGH THE PROGRAM, HAVING BEEN PLACED, BUT WHAT ARE ACTUALLY THE NEEDS THAT WE THINK WE ARE GOING TO FILL IN OUR COMMUNITY. I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE BEING AS JUDICIOUS AS WE POSSIBLY CAN WITH THESE RESOURCES.

AS A MILITARY VETERAN, I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE WAY IN WHICH THIS PROGRAM SUPPORTS OUR VETERANS, TO INCLUDE VETERANS THAT DON'T EVEN LIVE IN THE CITY, THIS HE LIVE IN THE COUNTY. IT SOUNDS LIKE WE DON'T ACTUALLY TALK INTO ACCOUNT THE WAGES THEY MAKE WHEN ACCOUNTING FOR WHETHER THEY SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM. SO UNDERSTANDING THAT OUR MILITARY VETERANS THANKFULLY HAVE ACCESS TO SOMETHING LIKE THE GI BILL. I REALLY QUESTION WHETHER SAN ANTONIO TAXPAYERS SHOULD BE FUNDING THEIR ABILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM OR IF THERE'S NOT SOME KIND OF REIMBURSEMENT THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO EXPLORE AS PART OF THAT. AS YOU MENTIONED, WE HAVE VERY LIMITED DOLLARS HERE FOR THIS PROGRAM. AND IF OTHERS HAVE ANOTHER AVENUE, OTHER SET OF RESOURCES TO GET THIS TRAINING THAT CERTAINLY THEY DESERVE, I THINK THEY NEED TO EXPLORE THAT SO THAT WE CAN INVEST IN OUR FOLKS AS BEST ABLE. IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON THAT PART, YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT, MAYOR.

WE DEFINITELY WANT TO TRY TO LIVE UP TO OUR NAME AS MILITARY CITY USA, WHICH WHY WE EXTENDED THAT OPTION TO OUR TRANSITIONING VETERANS, OUR TRANSITIONING ACTIVE DUTY MEMBERS INTO CIVILIAN LIFE TO BE READY TO PARTICIPATE IN READY TO WORK WITHOUT THEIR CURRENT ACTIVE DUTY INCOME IMPACTING THEIR ELIGIBILITY.

OUTSIDE OF COVERING TUITION, IT'S THE WRAPAROUND SUPPORTS.

WITH HE KNOW OUR VETERANS AS THEY MAKE THAT TRANSITION INTO CIVILIAN LIFE NEED AS MUCH SUPPORT AS THEY CAN GET TO TRANSITION WELL AND GET A GOOD-PAYING JOB.

THE WRAPAROUND REPORTS IS WHAT I BELIEVE THE BETTER BENEFIT IS FOR THOSE PARTICIPANTS. WE CAN LOOK AT SHIFTING AWAY FROM THE TUITION FUNDING IF

THEIR GI BILL IS FUNDING THAT. >> MAYOR JONES: AS YOU AND I BOTH KNOW, THE MILITARY VETERANS HAVE THAT TRANSITION SERVICE WHILE THEY'RE IN THE SERVICE, SO THEY WILL HAVE THEIR TRANSITION SERVICE ON THE WAY OUT, THEY WILL HAVE IT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT AS WELL.

AGAIN, HE JUST DON'T WANT THE CITY TO BE SUBSIDIZING SOMETHING THAT, AGAIN, OUR VETERANS ARE ABLE TO ACCESS ELSEWHERE. AND THERE'S A DIFFERENT POT OF MONEY THAT THEY CAN TAP INTO. AND IS UNIQUELY SUITED AND TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE UNIQUE NEEDS AS YOU POINT OUT OF VETERANS.

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IT LOOKS LIKE IN FY25 WE SET ASIDE SIX MILLION DOLLARS TO PAY COMPANIES TO TAKE OUR GRADUATES. IS THAT RIGHT? DO I HAVE THAT NUMBER RIGHT?

>> CLOSE. 3 MILLION FOR INCUMBENT WORKER TRAINING AND 3 MILLION FOR ON-THE-JOB TRAINING. ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AS NEW

HIRES AND PARTICIPANTS. >> MAYOR JONES: OF THE SIX MILLION, WE WERE ONLY ABLE

TO SPEND ONE MILLION, IS THAT CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT, FOR

FY2026. >> MAYOR JONES: MY CONCERN IS IF WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PAY PEOPLE TO TAKE OUR GRADUATES, SIX MILLION WORTH, AND WE ARE ONLY ABLE TO SPEND ONE MILLION, THAT MEANS -- TO PUT IT BLUNTLY, IT'S ALMOST LIKE WE CAN'T

PAY FOLKS TO TAKE OUR GRADUATES. >> THAT'S ONE WAY TO LOOK AT

IT. >> MAYOR JONES: THAT'S ONE WAY TO LOOK AT IT AND THAT'S UNFORTUNATELY HOW I'M LOOKING AT IT. SO I REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BEING AS TIGHT AS WE CAN BE WITH WHAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS, WHAT WE ARE ACTUALLY PRODUCING, AND BEING REALISTIC WITH WHAT THESE FOLKS ARE GOING TO ENTER INTO BECAUSE FOR US NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS, NUMBER OF APPLICANTS, BUT THEN AN IMPROVED JOB, RIGHT? AND WE CAN'T PAY PEOPLE TO TAKE THESE FOLKS? WE MIGHT NEED TO LOOK AT A DIFFERENT APPROACH OTHER THAN THE 58 THAT WE'VE GOT ON HERE. I WOULD ARGUE, AND THIS IS INFORMED BY NOT ONLY YOUR DATA, BUT FRANKLY A RECENT TRIP TO TAIWAN WHERE IN TERMS OF LET'S BE REAL FOCUSED ON THE SKILLS THAT WE NEED AND THAT -- THERE'S LOTS OF REPORTING ABOUT UNFORTUNATELY THE REAL DELTA THAT WE HAVE IN TRADE SKILLS, RIGHT, OUR PLUMBERS, OUR ELECTRICIANS, OUR WELDERS. AND I KNOW THEY'RE ON THE LIST AND THAT'S GREAT. I THINK MAYBE A MORE FOCUSED APPROACH THAT ALLOWS US TO COMMUNICATE, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON THESE DOZEN THINGS.

AND IF THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN, UNDERSTOOD.

THIS MIGHT NOT BE THE PROGRAM FOR YOU. BUT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SAN ANTONIO TAX DOLLARS, RIGHT, AND WE'VE GOT REAL GAPS IN THE WORKFORCE, HOW WE CAN BEST AIM TO FILL THOSE IS WHAT I THINK WE OWE NOT ONLY THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ENTRUSTING US WITH THEIR TIME AND ENERGIES AS THEY GO THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, BUT

CERTAINLY WITH THE TAXPAYER. ON PRE-K 4 SA. >> MAYOR, CAN I -- BEFORE YOU CHANGE GEARS. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO SHARE SOME CONTEXT.

THAT PROGRAM THAT YOU'RE DESCRIBING WAS IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, AND IS NOT IN NEXT YEAR'S PROPOSED BUDGET. AND I THINK IS PROBABLY WORTH SOME CON CONTEXT HERE THAT EACH YEAR WE DID THAT AND THIS IS ALL AN EXPERIMENT BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A CORE CITY FUNCTION. EACH YEAR WE DID THAT WE ATTACHED MORE REQUIREMENTS TO COMPANIES THAT PARTICIPATED IN THOSE PROGRAMS AND PART OF THE REQUIREMENT IN '26, WHICH WAS NEW, IS THAT IT COULDN'T BE OPEN-ENDED, BUT HIRED READY TO WORK GRADUATES. A YEAR AGO AS WE SAT HERE WE WERE ESTIMATING WHAT TYPE OF ACTIVITY. OBVIOUSLY WE DIDN'T SPEND AS MUCH AS WE BUDGETED OR WE ESTIMATED, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THAT'S NOT INCLUDED IN THE FY27 BUDGET.

BUT I'M NOT SURE -- LOUD AND CLEAR I HEAR THE MESSAGE ABOUT TOO MANY OR -- MAYBE TOO MANY OCCUPATIONS OR THE WRONG OCCUPATIONS, BUT I THINK THAT'S A SEPARATE ISSUE THAT IS, FRANKLY, A PERTINENT ONE, BUT NOT REALLY TIED TO THE FACT THAT WE ONLY SPENT A MILLION OUT OF THE SIX. WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WE DIDN'T KNOW LAST YEAR, AND THANKFULLY WE DIDN'T SPEND IT AND WE HAVE FIVE MILLION DOLLARS LEFT OVER THAT WE'RE REPROGRAMMING IN 2027. I WANTED TO PROVIDE A LITTLE

CONTEXT THERE. >> MAYOR JONES: I THINK THEY'RE TWO SEPARATE ISSUES.

I THINK FACT THAT WE HAD MONEY TO HAVE PEOPLE TAKE OUR FOLKS AND DIDN'T SPEND IT BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT OUR FOLKS. AND ON TOP OF TRAINING THEM FOR THE RIGHT THINGS. YOU'RE RIGHT, THOSE ARE TWO SEPARATE ISSUES.

>> I THINK THE BETTER WAY TO DESCRIBE IT IS THEY ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY SAYING THEY WANTED TO HIRE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF PEOPLE.

THEIR NEEDS SHIFTED. MANY COMPANIES REPORTED THAT THEIR HIRING WAS FLAT IN 2026. THEY DIDN'T HAVE AS MANY ANTICIPATED VACANCIES THAT THEY THOUGHT THEY WOULD HAVE. IT WASN'T THAT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO HIRE READY TO WORK PARTICIPANTS. WE HAD OVER 2,000 EMPLOYERS THAT ARE HIRING READY TO WORK PARTICIPANTS. AND NEVERTHELESS, WHETHER IT IS HIRING STALE OR HOW YOU'RE DESCRIBING IT, MAYOR, IT'S NOT IN THE '27 BUDGET.

WE'RE SHIFTING AND PUTTING MONEY INTO THE PROGRAMS THAT WE DO KNOW THAT WORK.

>> MAYOR JONES: I'M THANKFUL THAT WE ARE ADJUSTING ACCORDINGLY, BUT I

[00:35:04]

SO THANK YOU FOR THE EXPLANATION. >> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> MAYOR JONES: OF THE 1 MILLION THAT WAS SPENT JUST FOR CONTEXT, AN ADDITIONAL FOLLOW ON, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO UNDERSTAND WHO TOOK THE

MILLION. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> MAYOR JONES: APPRECIATE THAT. DR. BARAY, IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS A VERY EXCITING HERE. AS ALEX MENTIONED, THIS IS THE FIRST GRADUATING YEAR

FOR OUR PRE-K 4 SA FOLKS, IS THAT RIGHT? >> NO, THEY'RE JUNIORS.

>> MAYOR JONES: JUNIORS, OKAY. WE'RE CLOSE.

>> I HAVE TO DO THE COUNTING, BUT THEY'RE JUNIORS THIS YEAR.

>> MAYOR JONES: ALL THAT TO SAY IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S VERY EXCITING. AND HOPEFULLY WE ARE NOW PUTTING IN KIND OF STRUCTURES IN PLACE TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THESE FOLKS ARE GOING, RIGHT? I KNOW OBVIOUSLY THE SYSTEMS WE HAD IN PLACE WHEN THEY ENTERED ARE -- WEREN'T AS ROBUST TO TRACK IT AS WELL AS WE ARE TRACKING KIND OF THEIR TRAJECTORY NOW, BUT AS BEST ABLE TO BE ABLE TO SHARE AND EXPLAIN TO THE COMMUNITY THIS VERY GENEROUS, BUTTIC FOLKS WANT TO SEE AND HEAR ABOUT HOW THESE FOLKS ARE DOING.

THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. >> WE DO HAVE A LONG-TERM OUTCOME STUDY COMING OUT LATER. WE ARE WORKING ON THAT RIGHT NOW SO WE SHOULD KNOW HOW OUR CHILDREN HAVE DONE THROUGH THE FIRST YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOL.

>> MAYOR JONES: GREAT, THANK YOU. THE -- ON SLIDE 9, THIS IS ANOTHER AREA WHERE I THINK WE ARE ALL COMMITTED TO MEETING OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS MILITARY CITY USA. WHEN WE LOOK AT WHEN WE DON'T HAVE ENDLESS RESOURCES, HOWEVER, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE AS BEST ABLE PRIORITIZING THE KIDS THAT ARE VERY LIKELY TO BE HERE FOR THEIR ENTIRE CHILDHOOD.

YOU KNOW, WHEN I LOOKED AT -- AS ALEX SHARED, 17% IT SOUNDS LIKE OF THE STUDENT POPULATION ARE MILITARY YOUTH, AS YOU KNOW, A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF THOSE FOLKS MAY NOT REMAIN IN THE COMMUNITY. THEY'LL TRAVEL OBVIOUSLY AS THEIR PARENT MOVES FROM STATION TO STATION. I WOULD WELCOME AN UNDERSTANDING IN HOW WE COULD BETTER PRIORITIZE SAN ANTONIO KIDS.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS, BUT THAT IS FOR ME A PRIORITY.

IT SOUNDS LIKE ON THE WAITLIST THERE AREN'T ANY MILITARY KIDS ON THE WAITLIST. AND THIS IS -- I'M GLAD THAT THE CONVERSATION HAS STARTED WITH THE DOD BECAUSE AS A RESULT OF THEM NOT HAVING SUFFICIENT SEATS, THAT IS

NOW US TAKING ON THE BURDEN, FRANKLY. >> WELL, SORT OF.

OUR DEFINITION OF MILITARY FAMILIES INCLUDE NOT JUST ACTIVE DUTY WHO HAVE ACCESS, BUT ALSO VETERANS. WE HAVE MANY VETERANS WITH YOUNG CHILDREN OR GRANDPARENT VETERANS WHO ARE RAISING CHILDREN AND WILL LIKELY STAY HERE.

SO THOSE NUMBERS INCLUDE THAT BROADER DEFINITION BECAUSE THOSE FAMILIES DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE DOD'S CDC AND MANY OF THEM HAVE LOCATIONS.

SO THAT'S -- AND WE COULD BREAK DOWN WHAT NUMBER ACTIVE DUTY AND WHAT NUMBER ARE WHAT WE WOULD CALL EXTENDED MILITARY AND RESERVISTS WHO -- AND MOST OF THEM ACTUALLY ARE VERY LOW INCOME. SO THEY ARE MEETING THAT

DEFINITION OF WHO OUR PRIMARY FAMILY FOCUS IS. >> MAYOR JONES: AND YOU KNOW IN THAT DISTINCTION I THINK IS HELPFUL BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A KID OR GRANDKID OF A VETERAN THAT LIVES IN THE COMMUNITY, THAT'S MUCH DIFFERENT FROM SOMEBODY WHO MAY VERY WELL ONLY BE HERE TWO OR THREE YEARS.

SO UNDERSTANDING THAT DISTINCTION IS IMPORTANT, THANK YOU.

TO YOUR., THAT FAMILY MIGHT NOT HAVE ALL THE OTHER WRAPAROUND SERVICES THAT THE ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY KID ABSOLUTELY HAS. APPRECIATE THAT.

>> AND IF I MAY, PART OF OUR --R PROVIDERS ACROSS THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE NOW PART OF THE MILITARY CHILDCARE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD PROGRAM, THE FOCUS IS TO GET THEM THE REVENUE THAT WOULD COME FROM ENROLLING ACTIVE DUTY. THAT'S REALLY PART OF THE SHIFTING MORE OF THEM INTO THE COMMUNITY PROVIDERS BECAUSE THAT BRINGS REVENUE TO OUR PARTNER PROVIDERS AS WELL. SO IT IS PART OF KIND OF HOW WE'RE HEADED AND TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO MAXIMIZE THOSE FEDERAL

DOLLARS THAT COME INTO OUR COMMUNITY. >> MAYOR JONES: APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU, DR. BARAY. OF THE KIDS, THOUGH, THAT ARE OF THE -- FROM ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY FAMILIES, I WOULD APPRECIATE US UNDERSTANDING THE -- IF WE'VE GOT THAT COST STRUCTURE ABOUT RIGHT, BECAUSE AGAIN THOSE KIDS, THEY'VE GOT INSURANCE, RIGHT, THEY DON'T HAVE SOME OF THE OTHER CHALLENGES THAT SOME OF OUR SAN ANTONIO PRE-K 4 SA KIDS ARE GOING TO HAVE. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BALANCING THAT.

SO I WELCOME FOLLOW-UP INFORMATION ON THAT, THANK YOU.

[00:40:01]

SO MAY I ASK WHAT PERCENTAGE OF YOUR WORKFORCE ARE READY TO WORK GRADUATES?

>> WELL, SO THAT'S A LITTLE HARD TO SAY BECAUSE WE'RE ACTUALLY ENROLLING OUR EMPLOYEES INTO READY TO WORK SO THAT THEY CAN EARN ADVANCED DEGREES.

SO THEY WERE PRE-K 4 SA EMPLOYEES FIRST AND THEN THEY WENT INTO READY TO WORK MORE. AND BEING ABLE TO HELP THEM ADVANCE FROM THAT HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA INTO HAVING AN ASSOCIATE'S OR ACTUAL TEACHING CREDENTIAL.

BUT I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT NUMBER, BUT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH MIKE AND HIS TEAM TO CREATE A COHORT OF OUR ASSISTANT TEACHER AND TEACHER AIDES TO BE ABLE TO GO TOGETHER INTO A PROGRAM SO THAT THEY CAN COMPLETE. BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT COHORT MODELS ARE MORE SUCCESSFUL PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU'RE WORKING FULL-TIME AND HAVING ALL THOSE OTHER CHALLENGES. SO -- AND MIKE HAS BEEN GREAT.

HAVING READY TO WORK WEDNESDAYS AT OUR CENTERS TO HELP OUR FAMILIES GET IN AS WELL. SO WE ARE WORKING REALLY CLOSELY TOGETHER BOTH FOR

OUR FAMILIES AND FOR OUR OWN EMPLOYEES. >> MAYOR JONES: I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU FOR THAT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK MOST FOLKS MAKE THE CONNECTION THAT SOME OF THE CURRENT EMPLOYEES MAY ACTUALLY BE UTILIZING THIS PROGRAM. APPRECIATE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON HOW THAT'S BEING UTILIZED. SLIDE 9 AS WELL WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE CHILDREN RECEIVING EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES. YOU KNOW, AS WE ARE ANTICIPATING AND CONTINUING TO SEE REDUCTIONS IN HEAD START UNFORTUNATELY, I'D WELCOME UNDERSTANDING HOW YOUR PLANNING AND THE ASSUMPTIONS THAT YOU ALL ARE REVISITING ARE TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THOSE FEDERAL REDUCTIONS.

AND ONE OF THE GROWTH IN KIDS AS FRANKLY, FOLKS ARE LESS ABLE TO SAY WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT TO HAVE CHILDREN, BUT ALSO KIDS HAVING MORE SPECIAL NEEDS,

SO WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FOR YOUR PLAN? >> SO WE HAVE NEVER SET OUT INTENTIONALLY TO SERVE CHILDREN WITH EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS.

WE'RE OPEN TO EVERYBODY, BUT WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IS THIS INCREASE ESPECIALLY IN THE PANDEMIC IN CHILDREN WHO HAVE INDICATIONS OF EARLY DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS.

SO WE ARE -- THAT'S WHY WE'VE EXPANDED THE SERVICES. WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER THERE'S ACTUALLY AN INCREASE IN THE POPULATION, IT'S TOO EARLY TO TELL, OR WHETHER IT'S WORD OF MOUTH THAT FAMILIES KNOW THEY CAN COME TO PRE-K 4 SA AND GET THOSE EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES. MANY OF THE FAMILIES DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT HAD ACCESS TO THOSE KIND OF TESTING AND THE MEDICAL INFORMATION, SO THAT'S A HUGE PART OF WHAT WE DO IS HELP THE FAMILIES UNDERSTAND THAT EARLY INTERVENTION MATTERS AND IF THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO NEED SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES IN THE FUTURE THAT WE PARTNER WITH THE DISTRICTS TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE ALL SET UP. IN TERMS OF HEAD START, HEAD START CHILDREN ARE ALSO ELIGIBLE FOR PRE-K 4 SA. SO AS WE MAY SEE REDUCTIONS IN HEAD START THAT WOULD MEAN WE WOULD NEED TO LOOK MORE CAREFULLY AT WHERE THOSE FAMILIES ARE AND THEY WOULD PRIORITIZE THEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE GREATEST NEED BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY WE DO. ENROLLMENT IS LOOKING AT THE LOWEST INCOME FAMILIES, CHILDREN IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, CHILDREN WHO ARE UNHOUSED.

THOSE ARE PRIORITY AREAS FOR US. >> MAYOR JONES: GREAT.

DOVETAILING OFF THE COMMENTS THAT ERIK MADE AT THE BEGINNING OF HOW WE LOOK AT BOTH OF THESE PROGRAMS BEYOND THE CURRENT DURATION AND A LOT OF THAT IS SHAPED BY THINGS OUTSIDE OF OUR CONTROL, THESE CHANGES IN FEDERAL EXPENDITURES, BUT ALSO JUST LAWS THAT ARE, FRANKLY, CAUSING HER THINGS TO HAPPEN IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY. I'LL LEAVE IT THERE. SO UNDERSTANDING WHAT Y'ALL'S ASSUMPTIONS ARE ABOUT HOW THE PROGRAM MAY GROW IN A WAY THAT YOU HAVEN'T IN JUST THESE DECADE AND A HALF OR SO IS REALLY HELPFUL FOR US TO UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU FOR LAYING ALL OF THAT OUT.

COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

ALL RIGHT. WE'LL START WITH PRE-K 4 SA. I CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE EDUCATIONAL INVESTMENT FOR PRE-K 4 SA AND Y'ALL CAN GO BACK TO SLIDE NUMBER 9.

SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS AND THE EARLY INTERVENTION, I WANT TO -- I KNOW WE'RE MOVING BECAUSE I HAVE THE PRE-K 4 SA MIND FROM BIRTH TO THREE, IS I THINK -- AND BIG PICTURE, ERIK, THAT YOU ASKED IS THAT WE LOOK AT THAT. IF WE NOTICE THAT THE PROBLEM COMING THROUGH THAT BIRTH THROUGH THREE, MAYBE WE MOVE THEM OVER INTO A DISTRICT SCHOOL THAT HAS A PRE-K PROGRAM BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THAT IF THEY'RE IN A DISTRICT SCHOOL, WHETHER IT BE HARLANDALE, SAISD -- I'M THINKING OF MINE, SOUTHSIDE, EAST CENTRAL, THEY CAN FOLLOW THEM THROUGHOUT THEIR CAREER WITH THAT DISABILITY OR THAT SPECIAL NEED THAT THEY HAVE. SO I REALLY WANT US TO -- I THINK AS WE LOOK IN THE

[00:45:05]

AS A FORMER EDUCATOR, I REMEMBER IT WAS THE SOONER WE GET THEM INTO SPEECH CLASS, THE BETTER IT IS FOR THEM. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.

THERE IS ANOTHER SLIDE THAT TALKED ABOUT THE TOP INSTABILITY FACTORS.

DO WE HAVE AN IDEA OF HOW MANY DROP OUT OF THE PROGRAM DUE TO THE INSTABILITY FACTORS, AND DO WE IDENTIFY WHAT THE INSTABILITY FACTORS ARE, WHETHER IT IS HOUSING,

FAMILY SAFETY, EMPLOYMENT? >> YES. OUR FAMILY TEAM WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE FAMILY. THE WAY THIS TYPICALLY COMES OUT IS THERE IS ONE ISSUE, AND AS WE SIT DOWN WITH THE FAMILY TO HAVE A CONVERSATION IT MIGHT BE THE CHILD HAS BEEN ABSENT AND WE FIND OUT THERE'S LACK OF TRANSPORTATION OR FOOD INSECURITY. SO WE SIT DOWN WITH THEM AND WE HAVE A VERY -- A DEEP CONVERSATION WITH THEM ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON, WHAT ARE YOU STRUGGLING WITH, WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT WE CAN HELP WITH? AND WE CREATE A PLAN THAT IS VERY HIGH TOUCH, INDIVIDUALIZED, INTENSIVE TO HELP SUPPORT THEM AND WE HELP THEM THINK ABOUT WHAT'S FIRST? WHAT IS THE FIRST STEP? AND GET THEM CONNECTED. AS I SAY, IT'S NOT JUST SAYING OH, THERE'S SOMEBODY OVER AT THE FOOD BANK THAT CAN GET YOU FOOD. WE GO WITH THEM, WE CONNECT THEM. WE'RE HELPING THEM, FOLLOW UP WITH THEM, BECAUSE WE

KNOW IT'S HARD TO JUGGLE ALL THE PIECES. >> VIAGRAN: YEAH.

SO WITH THAT IF WE COULD GET THE DATA WHEN THAT HAPPENS AND THE HOUSING AND THE EMPLOYMENT IN PARTICULAR SO THAT WE CAN TRY AND IDENTIFY AS WE MOVE TO READY TO WORK, WHAT JOBS WE MIGHT NEED, I THINK THAT WOULD BE KEY. IN TERMS OF THE FAMILY SAFETY, THERE ARE PROGRAMS AND I'M HOPING SOME OF THEM WILL CONTINUE, IF THEY ARE VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIME. AND SO I THINK THAT THAT IS KEY AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE -- WE ARE WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE -- ESPECIALLY IF IT'S DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH THE TEAM AND THEY'RE CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM THAT THEY'RE GETTING THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONE WHERE I COULD SEE IF IT'S PUBLIC SAFETY AND IT'S DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND WE HAVE TO MOVE --E OUT OF TOWN OR WE NEED TO KEEP TRACK OF THAT ALSO AS WE START TO CONTINUE TO DO STUDIES ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN AND THE STATUS OF GIRLS IN SAN ANTONIO. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

I THINK THOSE WERE MY BIG PICTURE KIND OF LOOKS, ERIK, FOR PRE-K 4 SA.

MIKE, I THINK YOU'RE UP NEXT. YOU DON'T HAVE TO STAND RIGHT NOW. I'LL BRING YOU UP WHEN I NEED YOU BECAUSE I THINK I COULD GIVE YOUR SPEECH BECAUSE I'VE HEARD IS SO MANY TIMES.

[LAUGHTER]. AS CHAIR OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, I'VE BEEN COMMITTED TO THIS, I'VE SEEN DIFFERENT ITERATIONS.

WE'VE HAD THIS COME TO EDDC -- EWDC. I'VE SAT ON THAT COMMITTEE SINCE 2021, PROUD TO CHAIR IT. I THINK THE ONE THING THAT WE'VE CONTINUED TO COMMUNICATE IS PARTNERSHIP. PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN THOSE THAT ARE DOING THE JOB TRAINING, THE EMPLOYERS, AND OUR TEAM HERE AT THE CITY.

AND I THINK PART OF IT IS TO CONTINUE TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE REGARDING THE INVESTMENTS MADE ON THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE PART OF THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM AND THEN HOW WE GET THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT. THE ONE THING I DO WANT TO STRESS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SAN ANTONIO AND WE TALK ABOUT THE COMMUNITIES IN PARTICULAR, IS THAT THIS RETURN ON INVESTMENT TRULY IS -- IT'S A -- IT'S SAN ANTONIO UNIQUE. IT TRULY IS. THERE IS NO MODEL THAT I THINK IS THE SAN ANTONIO MODEL, WHETHER YOU GO FROM THE SOUTHSIDE TO THE WESTSIDE TO THE EASTSIDE TO THE SOUTHSIDE. AND ON THE EASTSIDE ALONE YOU CAN FIND SIX DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOOD STYLES AND PERSONALITIES.

I GUESS THE -- I DON'T WANT TO SAY YOU CAN COMPARE IT TO CHICAGO, BUT I FEEL LIKE YOU CAN COMPARE IT TO CHICAGO. AND HISTORY LESSON, A LOT OF THE MIGRANT WORKERS THAT COME THROUGH TEXAS ENDED UP IN CHICAGO. SO I FEEL LIKE PERSONALITYWISE WE'RE A LOT LIKE THAT. AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT SELLING THEM SOMETHING, COMING OUT INTO THE

[00:50:03]

THEY KNOW THE MILITARY, THEY UNDERSTAND THAT. THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS TO WORK CONSTRUCTION, BUT WITH READY TO WORK WE'RE TRYING TO GIVE THEM ALL THE OPTIONS AND SEE WHERE THEY WANT TO HEAD TO, SO THEY DO LOOK A LITTLE SUSPICIOUSLY.

BUT I'M VERY PROUD OF WHAT WE'VE DONE SO FAR AND THE PIVOTS WE'VE MADE AND I'M PROUD OF MY CURRENT COMMITTEE AND THEIR DEDICATION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS EMPLOYED. I THINK ONE THING AS WE MOVE FORWARD IS NOT ONLY DO YOU HAVE THE DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES, BUT YOU SEE THESE DIFFERENT EMERGING GENERATIONS AND THE PATTERNS.

AND I WAS AT TRINITY FOR THEIR PRESENTATION ON A POLICY MAKERS BREAKFAST ABOUT THE DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES AND HOW IT IS TO MANAGE THEM.

SO THAT'S ALSO NOW WHAT WE HAVE. WE HAVE A GENERATION THAT'S HITTING 16 THAT CAME OUT OF THE PANDEMIC, AND THEY WANT TO DO GROUP PROJECTS AND THEY WANT TO DO THINGS BY THE PHONE. BY THE PHONE TEXT MESSAGE.

THEY DON'T WANT TO PICK UP THE PHONE AND TALK TO PEOPLE.

SO HOW DO WE LOOK AT THAT AND WORK WITH THE EMPLOYER ON HOW WE MAKE SURE WE GET THEM READY FOR THE WORKFORCE AND TO BE SUCCESSFUL? SO IN TERMS OF BIG PICTURE, I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE -- WE NEED TO LOOK AT THOSE STUDIES AND HOW WE INCLUDE THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD. I THINK WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND AS WE LOOK AT INDUSTRIES IS YES, I'M VERY PROUD OF OUR TITLE MILITARY CITY USA AND WE HAVEN'T HAD A BROAD CLOSURE, BUT ARMY NORTH AND SOUTH ARE GONE.

AND WHAT DO WE DO NOW? WHAT DO WE HAVE NOW? AND THAT IS WHAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT. AND THAT IS WHAT I NEED THE EMPLOYERS TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT WE HAVE A GENERATION OF EMPLOYEES COMING UP, WE HAVE PERSONALITIES THAT WERE USED TO THE MILITARY JOB. THAT'S NOT THERE ANYMORE. AND WE COULD POSSIBLY FACE BASE CLOSURES OR REALIGNMENTS. SO WHAT DO WE DO? HOW DO WE DIVERSIFY THIS ECONOMY, HOW DO WE MAKE THIS A PLACE THAT OTHER BUSINESSES WANT TO COME TO? AND THAT ONLY HAPPENS IF WE INVEST NOT ONLY IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT IF WE INVEST IN OUR PEOPLE. I THINK THAT'S WHAT READY TO WORK DOES. I THINK IN TERMS OF BIG PICTURE, ERIK, IS THAT WHAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT IS PERSONALITYWISE WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER TO EMPLOYERS WHERE THEY KNOW THAT THEIR EMPLOYEES ARE -- THEY DON'T HAVE TO BRING THEIR EMPLOYEES FROM OUT OF THE STATE OR THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO THE RECRUITING.

THEY'RE WILLING TO BE FLEXIBLE HERE AND GET THE TRAINING THAT THEY NEED TO DO THESE JOBS. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THE REPORTS FROM YOUR HARD WORK AND ALL OF THE PROVIDERS THAT ARE HERE TO TRAIN THE EMPLOYEES.

WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK AHEAD OF US, BUT I THINK THESE ARE LEAN TIMES, BUT WE'LL GET THROUGH THEM AND WE JUST NEED TO CONTINUE TO PIVOT AND USE OUR VOICES TO

MAKE SURE WE DO IT. SO THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES:

COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU.

I'LL START WITH PRE-K 4 SA. THANK YOU, SARAH. FIRST OFF, I'M GOING TO JUST COMPLIMENT. OBVIOUSLY I THINK THE WORLD OF YOU AND THEN YOU HAVE BRAD ON YOUR TEAM TOO, SO YOU HAVE A PHENOMENAL TEAM. YOU KNOW, PRE-K 4 SA HAS BEEN A GREAT INITIATIVE. I REMEMBER CAMPAIGNING FOR IT, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE DID.

AND SO I'M DEFINITELY LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THE LONG-TERM RESULTS AS EARLIEST USERS. YOU SAID THAT THEY'RE JUNIORS NOW, RIGHT?

>> YES. >> GAVITO: SO WHEN CAN WE EXPECT THAT FIRST REPORT

WITH ALL OF HOW THEY DID? >> SO WE HAD THE FIRST REPORT IN 2019 WHICH IS WHEN OUR COHORT WAS THIRD GRADERS. LATER THIS YEAR WE'LL HAVE

THE LONG-TERM FOR WHAT'S HAPPENED SINCE THEN. >> GAVITO: BY THE END OF

THE YEAR? >> YEAH, THEY'RE WORKING ON IT NOW.

>> GAVITO: OKAY. WE'RE DEFINITELY READY TO SEE IT.

AND I COULDN'T REMEMBER. I MEANT TO GO LOOK BACK BECAUSE I REMEMBER WHEN THEN MAYOR CASTRO WAS PUSHING THIS. I BELIEVE AT FIRST IT WAS AN INITIATIVE THAT WAS JUST SUPPOSED TO START IN THE CITY AND BE HANDED OFF SOMEWHERE ELSE, IS THAT CORRECT? I CAN'T REMEMBER THE

CAMPAIGN PROMISES? >> I'VE NOT SEEN THAT, NO. >> GAVITO: FROM WHAT I AM RECALLING, BUT DON'T TAKE MY WORD ON THIS. I THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT THE CITY WAS GOING TO START, WHICH IT NEEDED TO START.

I THINK IT WAS A VERY NOBLE MISSION, BUT THAT IT WAS TO BE HANDED OFF TO A NON-PROFIT OR SOMEONE ELSE TO DO FURTHER. I HAD SOME OTHER QUESTIONS.

HOW DO OUR PRE-K 4 SA NUMBERS COMPARE TO CHILDREN WHO DO NOT -- I'M SORRY, REFERENCING SLIDE 10. HOW DO THESE NUMBERS COMPARE TO CHILDREN WHO DO NOT

ATTEND PRE-K 4 SA? >> SO IN SAN ANTONIO -- IN SAN ANTONIO AT THE HIGHEST, 60% OF CHILDREN WERE KINDER READY, BUT MORE RECENT YEARS IT'S BEEN 52%, SO OUR

[00:55:07]

BUT THERE ARE PROGRAMS, OBVIOUSLY DIFFERENT SCHOOLS HAVE DIFFERENT OUTCOMES, BUT BY AND LARGE THE CITY'S KINDERGARTEN READINESS HAS BEEN ABOUT 52% OVER THE LAST

COUPLE OF YEARS. >> GAVITO: OKAY. SOUNDS GOOD.

ON SLIDE 12, THE

MATTERS, AND IF SO WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? >> SO EARLY MATTERS IS AN ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION AND THEY HAVE HELPED TO BRING TOGETHER A GROUP OF ABOUT 90 OF US TO CREATE AN EARLY LEARNING PLAN FOR SAN ANTONIO, AND SO PRE-K 4 SA IS HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THAT. FOR AWHILE I WAS LEADING THE ACCESS TO QUALITY SUBGROUP, JOHN, OUR CHIEF OF INNOVATION, IS NOW LEADING THAT ONE. LARIS IS A, OUR DEPUTY CEO, IS LEADING THE CAREER PATHWAYS. AND THEN I SERVE AS ONE OF THE PARTNERS THAT IS WITH THE ADVISORY BOARD HELPING TO DETERMINE WHAT'S NEXT AND KIND OF GIVE GUIDANCE TO

THAT. BUT WE'RE CLOSELY ALIGNED. >> GAVITO: GOT IT.

SOUNDS LIKE THAT. ON SLIDE 7, YOU MENTIONED THAT Y'ALL ARE GOING TO CREATE A FAMILY SEARCH TOOL THAT'S BEING LAUNCHED IN 2027.

WE KNOW BECAUSE IN OUR MEETING WITH EARLY MATTERS SAN ANTONIO THEY'RE ALSO WORKING ON A SEARCH TOOL AND THEN THE TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION ALSO HAS THEIR OWN SEARCH TOOL. SO HOW ARE THESE SEARCH TOOLS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT?

HOW ARE THEY -- >> ACTUALLY, THE EARLY MATTER SEARCH TOOLS IS A PRE-K SEARCH TOOL. WE BEGAN WORKING ON THAT AND THEN IT BECAME PART OF THE PLAN. SO IT IS PART OF THE OVERALL PLAN.

CERTAINLY WE'RE WORKING ON THAT. IN TERMS OF THE ONE THAT'S AT THE STATE LEVEL, IT DOES NOT HAVE THE FUNCTIONALITY THAT WE NEED HERE AND WE'VE ASKED FOR THAT AND THE STATE SAID WE DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY.

WE'RE GOING TO START HERE AND WE ACTUALLY ENDED UP AWARDING THE CONTRACT TO THE SAME VENDOR THE STATE IS USING SO WE HOPE OUR TOOL WILL LEAD TO THE STATE ADOPTING A MORE RIGOROUS TOOL MORE BENEFICIAL FOR EMPLOYERS AND PROVIDERS.

>> GAVITO: THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. IS THERE ANY PLANNING IN

CASE VOTERS DO NOT APPROVE THIS PROGRAM IN THE FUTURE? >> YEAH, AT THIS POINT IN AN AUTHORIZATION JUST LIKE LAST TIME WE'RE GOING TO PLAN FOR CARRYING ON AND WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE WERE NOT REAUTHORIZED. SO WE WILL -- AND THAT OBVIOUSLY WITHOUT THE FUNDING WE COULD NOT CONTINUE IN THE SAME WAY THAT WE ARE NOW. IT WOULD BE A TREMENDOUS LOSS FOR THE COMMUNITY, BUT THERE ARE POSSIBILITIES THAT SOME ASPECTS OF THE PROGRAM COULD CONTINUE, BUT IT -- IT WOULD BE LESS ACCESSIBLE TO THE FAMILIES WITH THE GREATEST NEEDS AS THEY DON'T

HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY FOR CHILDCARE. >> GAVITO: YEAH, THAT MAKES SENSE. WHAT ARE WE DOING NOW TO DIVERSIFY YOUR FUNDING

SOURCES OR PRE-K 4 SA'S FUNDING SOURCES? >> PART OF IT IS WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT -- WE'VE LOOKED AT GRANT FUNDING A LITTLE BIT.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING SOME WITH FOUNDATIONS. BUT I THINK WHAT HAS MADE PRE-K 4 SA SO SUCCESSFUL IS THAT WE HAVE THE LOCAL SALES TAX BASE BECAUSE IT'S SUSTAINABLE, IT'S RELIABLE, IT'S WHAT HAS MADE THIS POSSIBLE.

AND SO WITHOUT THAT FUNDING, WE WOULD CEASE TO EXIST IN THE FORM THAT WE KNOW IT NOW. WE COULDN'T REPLACE THAT MONEY WITH FOUNDATIONS OR IT JUST -- AND AGAIN, IF YOU -- THIS IS PROBABLY WHAT MAKES CHILDCARE SO CHALLENGING IS THE COSTS THEN GET SHIFTED TO FAMILIES, WHICH THEY CANNOT AFFORD.

>> GAVITO: SO WITH THAT, ANDIST YOU TO HELP ME EXPLAIN THIS BECAUSE IT'S BEEN RAISED TO ME A COUPLE OF TIMES. WHEN PEOPLE JUST DO THE SIMPLE MATH OF IT TAKES YOU -- Y'ALL'S OPERATING BUDGET AROUND 62 MILLION AND YOU DIVIDE THAT BY 2,328 STUDENTS, THAT'S AROUND A 26 --R EDUCATION PER STUDENT, WHICH IS HIGHER THAN MOST OF OUR PRIVATE SCHOOLS. HOW DO WE EXPLAIN THAT?

>> BECAUSE OUR SCHOOLS IS ONLY ONE PART OF WHAT WE DO. WE PROVIDE -- WE HAVE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING SPECIALISTS AND COACHES AND SUPPORT FOR THE 90 PROVIDERS. WE ALSO WORK WITH FAMILIES AND HAVE FAMILY SPECIALISTS.

THAT'S A COMMON MISCONCEPTION THAT ALL OF THE MONEY IS GOING TO SUPPORT THE CHILDREN. IT'S REALLY WHAT MAKES PRE-K 4 SA STAND OUT FROM SO MANY OF THE OTHER MODELS THAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING IS THAT IT IS A COMPLETE COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM THAT IS NOT JUST ABOUT CREATING ADDITIONAL SEATS, IT'S ABOUT COMPLETELY TRANSFORMING THE ECOSYSTEM THROUGH OTHER PROVIDERS WE WORK WITH.

AND OUR GOAL IS THAT EVERY FAMILY IN SAN ANTONIO HAS ACCESS TO A HIGH QUALITY PROVIDER, WHATEVER MEETS THEIR NEEDS, WHETHER IT'S A FAITH-BASED PROVIDER, IN-HOME, CHILDCARE, AT ONE OF OUR CENTERS, IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THAT'S THE GOAL. THE MONEY GOES TO HELP SUPPORT THE ECOSYSTEM.

>> GAVITO: SO THE QUICK ANSWER IS IT'S NOT JUST EDUCATION, BUT FAMILY

SERVICES AND WHAT ELSE DID YOU SAY? >> PROFESSIONAL LEARNING.

SO SUPPORTING THOSE PROVIDERS WHO ARE EDUCATING ANOTHER 4800 CHILDREN, AND

[01:00:04]

SO WE SHOWED THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY -- WE WERE SPENDING LESS PER CHILD IN OUR SCHOOLS THAN SOME OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS WERE AND WHEN YOU BROKE IT DOWN BY HOUR, BECAUSE WE RUN A PROGRAM FROM 71500:00:06 P.M. PER HOUR IT WAS LESS EXPENSIVE THAN WHAT THE SCHOOLS WERE SPENDING. IT WAS NOT TO SUGGEST THE SCHOOLS WERE SPENDING TOO MUCH, BUT TO SHOW THAT HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION COSTS MONEY. AND WE'RE VERY MINDFUL OF THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE MAKING USE OF EVERY DOLLAR IN THE MOST EFFICIENT SAY, BUT QUALITY DOES COST MONEY. SO THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PIECE WE WANT TO PAY OUR EMPLOYEES WELL, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CHILDREN GET THE OUTCOMES THEY DESERVE.

>> COUNCILWOMAN, WE'LL UPDATE THAT AND ALSO I'LL SEND IT AS A FOLLOW-UP TO YOU AND THE REST OF THE COUNCIL TO SEE THE APPLES TO APPLES.

>> GAVITO: YEAH. I'M CURIOUS TO SEE HOW MUCH YOU'RE SPENDING ON FAMILY SERVICES, ON PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND THE EDUCATION PIECE.

THANK YOU FOR THAT. >> OF COURSE. >> GAVITO: REALLY QUICK, ON READY TO WORK, YOU KNOW, I'VE SAID IT BEFORE, THE MISSION OF READY TO WORK IS THAT -- I KNOW THAT MAYOR NUREMBERG AND COUNCILS IN THE PAST WERE TRYING TO SOLVE A VERY HARD PROBLEM OF REDUCING GENERATIONAL POVERTY.

SO EVEN THOUGH THE OUTCOMES ARE STILL NOT QUITE AS EXPECTED, I'M HAPPY TO SEE AT LEAST SOME PROGRESS AND FORWARD MOMENTUM. A COUPLE OF QUICK QUESTIONS.

WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE PROGRESS THAT WE'VE MADE IN REDUCING SOME OF THE BARRIERS, OR WHAT KIND OF PROGRESS HAVE WE MADE IN REDUCING SOME OF THE

BARRIERS FOR PEOPLE GETTING INTO JOBS QUICKER? >> SO OUR PARTNERS ARE DOING YEOMAN'S WORK TRYING TO MAKE THE CONNECTIONS BEFORE THEY EXIT THEIR TRAINING PROGRAM WHEN HAS SEEN GREAT RESULTS. OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS WHILE WE'VE SEEN THE JOB PLACEMENT IS NO SMALL PART TO THEM MAKING THE CONNECTIONS SO THEY CAN HAVE

THAT ONRAMP IN A MUCH SHORTER TIME SPAN. >> GAVITO: OKAY.

CAN YOU TELL ME THE TWITTER VERSION OF THAT ANSWER? >> TWITTER VERSION, OUR PARTNERS ARE CONNECTING THEM TO EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES BEFORE THEY FINISH THEIR

TRAINING. >> GAVITO: OKAY. SO Y'ALL ARE KIND OF MAKING THE ONRAMP QUICKER. ALL RIGHT. I KNOW THAT -- ONE OF Y'ALL'S GREAT PARTNERS WHO ME AND MY TEAM HAVE TREMENDOUS RESPECT FOR IS FRANCISCO AND PROJECT QUEST TEAM. I KNOW THEY DO A PHENOMENAL JOB OF CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH THEIR EMPLOYERS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT IN OUR LAST MEETING WAS THAT THERE WAS A FLOODING IN THE MARKET WITH ENTRY LEVEL I.T. JOBS AND SO IT KIND OF CREATED A LONGER LAG FOR PEOPLE TRYING TO FIND THOSE JOBS. WHAT HAVE WE DONE TO CORRECT THAT AND HAVE WE SEEN THAT

WITH OTHER INDUSTRIES? >> I.T. HAS BEEN THE ONE THAT WE STRUGGLE THE MOST IN. AND WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS OUR ADVISORY BOARD HAS REDUCED THE NUMBER OF OCCUPATIONS THAT WE TRAIN FOR WITHIN READY TO WORK, BUT WE STILL HAVE A GROUND SWELL OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE ALREADY GONE THROUGH THOSE TRAINING PROGRAMS. SO WE'RE CONTINUING TO REFINE WHICH OCCUPATIONS IN THE I.T. SECTOR ARE PRODUCING RESULTS FOR READY TO WORK PARTICIPANTS. OUR

BOARD IS DOING YEOMAN'S WORK IN DOING THAT. >> GAVITO: OKAY.

SOUNDS GOOD. HOW HAVE OUR TARGET INDUSTRY NEEDS AND ENROLLMENT SHIFTED

WITH TODAY'S CURRENT ECONOMY? >> HEALTH CARE IS STILL NUMBER ONE, BY FAR. THAT SECTOR IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE NEEDS NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE. CDL DRIVERS HAVE BEEN A HUGE DEMAND AND THEY'RE FINDING GOOD EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH READY TO WORK.

AS WE JUST TALKED ABOUT WITH I.T., WE'RE SEEING A DECREASE IN HIRING FROM THAT SECTOR, BUT AGAIN, WE'RE TRYING TO FIND THE RIGHT NICHES FOR OUR POPULATION.

THE MAJORITY OF OUR PARTICIPANTS DON'T HAVE FOUR-YEAR DEGREES.

A LOT OF EMPLOYERS ARE LOOKING FOR THAT SO WE'RE TRYING TO FIND POSITIONS IN I.T. THAT DON'T REQUIRE THAT. EDUCATION IS AN AREA THAT'S BEEN GROWING FOR US IN READY TO WORK FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO DO HAVE DEGREES LOOKING TO BECOME TEACHERS, THEY'RE FINDING GREAT OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH READY TO WORK AND WE HAVE A HIGH PLACEMENT IN THAT SECTOR. [BUZZER].

>> GAVITO: I'LL GO ON THE NEXT ROUND. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU BOTH FOR THE PRESENTATIONS AND FOR THE WORK THAT DO YOU IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WITH RESIDENTS. I KNOW IT'S VERY DIFFICULT SUBJECT MATTER AT TIMES AND IT'S THE WORK OF PEOPLE AND HUMAN RELATIONS AND THE LIKE. I GUESS I'LL START WITH PRE-K 4 SA AND I'M GOING TO TRY TO TRANSITION NATURALLY AND GRACEFULLY TO READY TO WORK.

I'LL START OFF WITH THE REAUTHORIZATION. THE DEADLINE IS NOVEMBER OF 202008 2028, AND THIS MAY NOT BE YOUR QUESTION, BUT MAY BE ERIK. DO WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL APRIL OF 202008 OR COULD WE

REALISTICALLY PUT IT ON THE BALLOT THIS YEAR? >> NO, YOU COULD DO IT SOONER. YOU COULD DO IT SOONER, IT'S JUST -- THAT'S UP TO THE

COUNCIL FOR SURE. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I THINK IT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE KNOW THAT THE MONEY WAS AUTHORIZED SO THAT WE CAN

[01:05:01]

>> SO RIGHT NOW SO A&M WE COMMISSIONED A STUDY WITH THEM, IT WAS ACTUALLY READY TO WORK, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES -- NOT HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. SORRY, I GET THEM CONFUSED BETWEEN THE STATE ONE AND OUR CITY DEPARTMENT. BUT AT ANY RATE, COMMISSION ADD STUDY WITH A&M AND WHAT THE STUDY SHOWED WAS THAT WE HAVE ABOUT A 35,000 SEAT GAP BETWEEN THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN -- THAT ARE WITH FAMILIES THAT WOULD LIKE TO BE TO WORK AND THE NUMBER OF SEATS THAT ARE ACTUALLY AVAILABLE. BUT ALSO THAT THE QUALITY OF THAT IS NOT WHAT IT COULD OR SHOULD BE FOR OUR CHILDREN. AND SO THAT'S WHERE IT'S LIKE HE FIGURING OUT HOW DO WE EXPAND ACCESS IN THE RIGHT PLACES AND IN A WAY THAT FAMILIES CAN MAKE IT AFFORDABLE -- THAT IS AFFORDABLE FOR FAMILIES.

BECAUSE WE HAVE AN AFFORDABILITY ISSUE AS WELL. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: FOR SURE. SO DEFINITELY OUTSIDE OF JUST THE FOUR PRE-K 4 SA SITES, THERE'S ALL THE DIFFERENT PROVIDERS THAT YOU WORK WITH TO -- TO TRY TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY AND CARE AND I GUESS THIS IS NOT THE POINT WHERE I AIM TO TRANSITION, BUT -- BUT LET ME JUST -- I GUESS I WILL CLOSE OUT ON THIS PART OF THE PRESENTATIONS BY SAYING -- I GUESS I'LL ASK THIS.

IF I WERE TO -- WITH THE REAUTHORIZATION, WOULD WE BE ABLE TO EXPAND PRE-K 4 SA SUCH AS THE -- RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THE ZERO TO THREE PROGRAM.

WOULD WE BE ABLE TO EXPAND THAT? BECAUSE THAT'S SUCH A GREAT NEED. WOULD WE BE ABLE TO PILOT SOMETHING LIKE NIGHT CARE?

>> YEAH. WE ACTUALLY HAVE. WE'RE WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP RIGHT NOW WITH TEXAS A&M SAN ANTONIO TO OPEN. DU CARE TO SEE -- PART OF THE GOAL OF THAT PARTICULAR SITE IS TO OFFER AFTER HOURS OR LATER HOURS CARE.

AND WE WILL START BY HAVING REGULAR HOURS, BUT THEN UNDERSTANDING GOING TO A SECOND SHIFT AND WHAT THAT MEANS. WE REALLY NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE FAMILIES WANT AND NEED BECAUSE NOT EVERY FAMILY NECESSARILY WOULD WANT THEIR YOUNG CHILD OVERNIGHT IN A CHILDCARE FACILITY, BUT THAT IS THE INTENTION OF THAT PROGRAM. AS WITH EVERYTHING AT PRE-K 4 SA WE START WITH A PILOT TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO DO IT, STUDY IT, FIGURE IT OUT AND THEN TAKE IT TO SCALE.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: SURE. SO I GUESS THE ROOT OF THE QUESTION WAS CAN WE DO THAT WITH THE REAUTHORIZATION? THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO OR WILL WE HAVE TO FIND

OUTSIDE MONEY? >> WE COULD -- BECAUSE AUTHORIZATION IS TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN, RIGHT, AND EARLY EDUCATION SERVICES.

AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IS DEPENDENT ON WHAT THE NEEDS ARE IN THE COMMUNITY AND THAT'S WHY IT'S SHIFTED A LITTLE BIT OVER TIME. BUT THAT'S ALL PERMITTED AS LONG AS WE'RE FOCUSED ON EARLY LEARNING THAT IS ULTIMATELY FOCUSED ON HELPING CHILDREN DO BETTER IN SCHOOLS AND BETTER IN THE WORKFORCE.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. I IMAGINE YOU'VE HAD THESE CONVERSATIONS ALREADY WITH THE DIFFERENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS, BUT AS YOU'RE AWARE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CAMPUSES THAT ARE CLOSED AND ARE CLOSING.

I'VE RECENTLY HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH SAISD ABOUT CLASSES IN ANY DISTRICT AND BUILDINGS THAT DON'T REQUIRE REPAIR RIGHT NOW THAT COULD BE UTILIZED FOR CHILDCARE. THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO NAVIGATE BECAUSE THE NEED IS DEEP AND IT'S EVERYWHERE, BUT I GUESS I'LL -- I REALLY WANT TO CONVEY, WE SHOULD PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT AS SOON AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT PRE-K 4 SA IS ABLE TO OPERATE AND SERVE KIDS FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE NEED IS SO ASTOUNDING.

I'LL TRANSITION TO -- AND THIS IS THE QUESTION I WAS GOING TO ASK.

I'M LOOKING AT THE READY TO WORK SITE RIGHT NOW, AND ON THE TARGET OCCUPATIONS PDF, THERE ARE THREE THAT ARE HIGHLIGHTED, TEACHING ASSISTANT, CHILDCARE WORKERS, AND VETERINARY TECHNICIANS. AND THOSE ARE ALL INDICATED TO BE PILOTS. ALL OF MY YEARS ARE BLENDING TOGETHER AT THIS POINT.

WAS THAT A PILOT FOR THIS YEAR? CAN YOU TELL US ANYTHING ABOUT HOW THOSE THREE ARE GOING AND HOW ARE YOU TESTING THEM?

>> THIS YEAR THEY'RE IN THE VERY EARLY STAGES TO SEE IF WE'LL HAVE GOOD OUTCOMES.

THE VET TECH PROGRAM IS A TWO YEAR PROGRAM THROUGH ALAMO COLLEGES SO WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY GRADUATES FROM THAT PROGRAM YET. THEY'VE JUST STARTED ENROLLING INDIVIDUALS. FOR THE CHILDCARE PILOT WE'RE WORKING WITH FAMILY SERVICE AND WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN OUR FIRST GROUP RESULTS YET.

DON'T HAVE THEM OUT YET, BUT THE CHALLENGE IN CHILDCARE WE DON'T NEED WORKERS, BUT WAGES. SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS TO FIGURE OUT IF THERE'S A SWEET SPOT WHERE GETTING MORE INDIVIDUALS INTO THE CHILDCARE PROFESSION, WHERE

[01:10:02]

CONNECT WITH EMPLOYERS THAT PAY WELL. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I GUESS DRAWING A CONNECTION BEFORE I FORGET, I THINK WE SHOULD PROBABLY BE ON TO THIS CONVERSATION AND HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW WE MAKE THE CHILDCARE INDUSTRY MORE AFFORDABLE AND MORE ACCESSIBLE AND HOW DO WE MAKE IT EASIER FOR OPERATORS TO OPERATE MORE AFFORDABLE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, BUT THE WAGES HAVE GOT TO IMPROVE AND I DON'T KNOW HOW WE GET TO THAT POINT BECAUSE WE CAN TRAIN ALL THESE PEOPLE AND IF THEY DECIDE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GO INTO THIS FIELD TO MAKE 11, $12 AN HOUR, AS THEY SHOULDN'T, THEN -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE WE DO.

BEYOND THAT I SEE ALSO ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL.

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? ARE YOU -- ARE FOLKS DOING ALTERNATIVE CERTIFICATION

PROGRAMS PRIMARILY? >> THAT'S CORRECT. PRIMARILY REGION 20 ALTERNATIVE CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS, PEOPLE WITH DEGREES LOOKING TO GO INTO

THE CLASSROOM. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: AND WHAT DOES THE -- AND ARE WE PAYING THE FEE WITH -- I GUESS WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?

>> THE EDUCATION AND TRAINING COSTS OF THAT CERTIFICATE PROGRAM, WE COVER THAT. THEY GET THE WRAPAROUND SUPPORT AND READY TO WORK

PROVIDES THAT AS WELL. >> THEN, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE WE DO. BEYOND THAT, I SEE ALSO ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL. WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? ARE FOLK DOING ALTERNATIVE

CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS, PRIMARILY? >> RAMSEY: THAT'S CORRECT.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: AND WHAT DOES THE -- ARE WE PAYING THE FEE?

I GUESS WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? >> RAMSEY: THE EDUCATION AND TRAINING COSTS OF THAT CERTIFICATE PROGRAM. WE COVER THAT.

THEY GET THE WRAPAROUND SUPPORT THAT READY TO WORK PROVIDES AS WELL.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THE MAYOR MENTIONED THE GI BILL AND FOLK WHO HAVE ACCESS TO OTHER RESOURCES THAT CAN PAY FOR THEIR CONTINUED EDUCATION.

I USED THE GI BILL FOR MY UNDERGRAD DEGREE AND I FELT LIKE IT WAS SMOOTH FOR ME.

IT'S NOT -- THE VA AS A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THE GI BILL WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES. WHAT I WONDER IS -- I DON'T KNOW LOGISTICALLY HOW THIS MIGHT WORK OUT BUT IS THERE A WAY FOR READY TO WORK TO ACCEPT PAYMENT FROM THE GI BILL? IF PEOPLE WANT THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES AND THAT'S THE REAL BENEFIT. YOU CAN ENTER ANOTHER EDUCATION PROGRAM AND NOT HAVE ANY OF THOSE THINGS AND THEY CAN USE THE GI BILL AND THAT'S FINE. BUT IF THE REAL BENEFIT TO VETERAN IS GOING TO BE THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES AND THE REST, IS THERE A WAY THAT WE CAN ACCEPT TUITION TO COVER SOME OF THE COSTS AND PROVIDE THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES AND LET THE GI

COVER -- >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU SAID THAT

TWICE JUST NOW? >> RAMSEY: NO. WE DIDN'T GO THAT DEEP THE

FIRST TIME. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: JUST WANTED TO BE HERE.

I THINK THAT'S IT. I REALLY APPRECIATE BOTH OF Y'ALL AND KEEP IT UP.

>> RAMSEY: THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: I THINK THE SPIRIT AND INTENT OF THE QUESTION IS THE SAME. HOW CAN WE GET REIMBURSED WHEN OTHERS HAVE OTHER WAYS OF PAYING FOR THESE SERVICES? THANK YOU.

COUNCILMAN GALVAN. >> GALVAN: THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATIONS, BOTH MIKE AND DR. BARAY. PRE-K 4 SA, FIRST OF ALL, DR. BARAY, THANK YOU FOR THE CONVERSATION WE HAD. THAT WAS ON ME FOR MAKING IT LONG.

OF COURSE I'M INTERESTED IN FINDING WAYS TO EXPAND THESE SERVICES.

ON SLIDE 11, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WAS ANY DATA. FOR THE MODERATE ONES ON 159, DO WE KNOW WHAT THE TWO MAJOR FACTORS OF THE FIVE ARE?

>> BARAY: YES. FAMILY VIOLENCE IS ACTUALLY PROBABLY THE MOST PREVALENT INSTABILITY FACTOR BUT ALSO TRANSPORTATION HAS BEEN AN ISSUE.

IN FACT OUR COO, PAUL CHAPMAN AND LARISSA ARE GOING TO MEET WITH VIA LATER IN THE MONTH. IS THERE A POSSIBILITY THAT WE CAN UNDERSTAND BETTER HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS TO HELP FAMILIES GET CONNECTED TO IT.

>> GALVAN: THAT'S GREAT. THAT'S HELPFUL TO KNOW. IN OUR LAST COMMUNITY HEALTH COMMITTEE MEETING WE TALKED ABOUT ACES AND HOW THOSE SCORES ARE IMPACTING OUR FAMILIES. AND THE WAY THAT METRO HEALTH AND OTHER PROGRAMS

[01:15:02]

I THINK IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO UNDERSTAND -- I THINK UNDERSTANDING HOW MANY OF OUR PROGRAMS ARE INTERVENING IN THOSE ONES, PARTICULARLY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. OF COURSE WE HAD A LOT OF GOOD PARTNERS IN OUR COMMUNITY BUT WONDERING HOW MANY COSA PROGRAMS ARE ASSISTING WITH THOSE TWO AND THE OTHER ONES TO BE ABLE TO SHOWCASE HOW MUCH WE'RE INVESTING IN OUR PRE-K STUDENTS OVERALL AND OUR FAMILIES. BUT ALSO UNDERSTANDING OUR BUDGET PROCESS THIS YEAR AND EVERY YEAR HOW IMPORTANT THOSE PROGRAMS ARE KEEPING

OUR KIDS AND FAMILIES ENGAGED IN PRESCHOOL. >> BARAY: ABSOLUTELY.

WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR OTHER DEPARTMENTS IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO THAT ARE PROVIDING HUMAN SERVICES, READY TO WORK, THE METRO HEALTH, AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT WE MENTIONED. BECAUSE WE KNOW OUR LANE IS EARLY CHILDHOOD AND THAT'S WHAT WE DO BEST. BUT WE KNOW THE CITY HAS GREAT RESOURCES. SO WE CONNECT WITH PEOPLE THAT HAVE EXPERTISE IN THOSE AREAS. NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING IS ANOTHER BIG ONE THAT WE WORK

WITH. >> GALVAN: THANK YOU. I KNOW WE'RE TOUCHING A LITTLE BIT HERE AND THERE ABOUT THE INFANT AND TODDLER PILOT.

ARE THERE ANY UPDATES ON THAT ONE? HOW MANY FOLKS ARE ENROLLED.

>> BARAY: WE STARTED WITH FOUR CLASSROOMS IN THE SOUTH CENTER.

WE STARTED IN OCTOBER. IT HAS BEEN MORE SUCCESSFUL THAN WE IMAGINED.

AND SO WE HAVE 40 CHILDREN ENROLLED IN THERE. WE COLLECT DATA ON THEM AND ON THE TEACHERS, THE PROGRAM HOW IT'S DOING SO THAT WE CAN UNDERSTAND OVER TIME.

BUT IN ONE OF THE DATA PIECES THAT WE'VE COLLECTED IS AROUND INSTRUCTIONAL QUALITY, WHICH WE THOUGHT MIGHT BE A LITTLE LOWER THAN IN OUR PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS TO START. BECAUSE IT'S A NEW PROGRAM. BUT ACTUALLY THE BASELINE SCORES ARE VERY HIGH SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

AND WE'RE ALSO DOING SOME SCREENINGS WITH THE CHILDREN.

AGAIN, THOSE DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENINGS TO BE ABLE TO FIND OUT ARE THERE ANY THINGS WE SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR AND BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE SUPPORTS TO MAKE SURE CHILDREN GET THE INTERVENTIONS EARLY BUT IT'S GOING GREAT AND WE'RE SUPER

EXCITED ABOUT IT. >> GALVAN: I THINK SOMETHING WE HEAR A LOT AND WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT IT, I THINK THIS COUNCIL HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON FINDING WAYS TO EXPAND PRE-K OPPORTUNITIES, IN PARTICULARLY THE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION FROM BIRTH TO 3. WE KIND OF DO THIS CONVERSATION AT THE EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES COMMITTEE . I WOULD BE INTERESTED TO SEE IN EIGHT YEARS, 20 YEARS, SOMETHING SIMILAR TO SHIP IN WHAT OUR LONG-TERM PLANS ARE FOR NOT ONLY PRE-K BUT EDUCATION OVERALL. LOOKING AT SOME OF THE FRAMEWORK THAT WAS USED THEN, TIMELINES, TARGETS, PARTNERS, ALL THE SPECIFIC ACTION STEPS THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY ARTICULATED BUT BE ABLE TO PUT IT TOGETHER IN ONE FORMALIZED DOCUMENT TO STATE THIS IS OUR NORTH STAR.

WE'RE LOOKING TO FUND THE EDUCARE PROGRAM. I THINK THAT WOULD HELP NOT ONLY US CONTINUE TO LOOK AT OUR OWN BUDGETARY CONVERSATIONS HERE BUT ALSO FOR THE COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THESE PROGRAMS THAT THEY'RE INVESTING IN ARE GOING TO. UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE FULL LOOKS LIKE AS WELL.

BEING ABLE TO ARTICULATE THAT, WHEN IT COMES TO A 10, 15, 20-YEAR AUTHORIZATION, WHERE ARE WE GOING TO BE IN 20 YEARS. THIS IS THE ROADMAP THAT

WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR THEM TO SEE. >> BARAY: THAT'S A GOOD POINT. PRE-K 4 SA IS SUCH A COMPLEX PROGRAM FROM A COMMUNICATION STANDPOINT. IT IS A CHALLENGE TO TALK ABOUT ALL THE THINGS THAT WE DO. WE OFTEN HAVE OTHER COMMUNITIES WHO COME VISIT US AND WANT TO LEARN FROM US. AND THEY ARE ALWAYS AMAZED BY ALL THE THINGS SAN ANTONIO IS DOING IN THIS AREA.

YEAH. WE'LL WORK WITH OUR COMS FOLKS TO GET THE WORD OUT AND PUT IT INTO UNDERSTANDABLE LANGUAGE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S COMPLEX.

>> GALVAN: THANK YOU FOR THAT. I THINK THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS FOR PRE-K 4 SA. FOR READY TO WORK, MIKE, THANK YOU FOR THE CONVERSATION WE ALSO HAD. I KNOW WE HAD A LONG CONVERSATION ABOUT AI AS WELL AND HOW IT IMPACTS OUR COMMUNITY. CAN YOU BREAK DOWN, TODAY OR LATER ON, THE PARTICIPANT DATA FOR THOSE WHO ARE ENROLLED IN -- SORRY.

OUR READY TO WORK PARTICIPANTS WHO ARE ALREADY ENROLLED IN OUR PRIME PARTNERS, WHETHER IT'S ALAMO COLLEGES, ET CETERA, OR EMPLOYED BY A READY TO WORK EMPLOYER VERSUS THOSE WHO ARE NOT ENROLLED OR EMPLOYED BY EITHER.

>> RAMSEY: THOSE WHO ARE ENROLLED? >> GALVAN: COULD YOU GIVE US THE DATA BETWEEN PARTICIPANTS WHO ARE NOT ENROLLED IN ANY PROGRAM AT ALL. NOT IN COLLEGE, NOT IN A READY TO WORK EMPLOYER, VERSUS THOSE WHO ARE IN A PRESENT EMPLOYER OR ALREADY IN PROJECT QUEST OR ALAMO

COLLEGE, ET CETERA. >> RAMSEY: WE'LL HAVE TO FOLLOW UP.

>> GALVAN: THANK YOU. I THINK WE HAD THIS CONVERSATION TOO AT THE

[01:20:04]

I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND A BIT MORE. IN TERMS OF ALAMO PROMISE, I KNOW A LOT OF OUR READY TO WORK PARTICIPANTS ARE 18-24 ARE ENROLLED IN THE ALAMO PROMISE ALREADY. BUT WITH THE TUITION COSTS ARE WE COVERING PRIMARILY THAT TUITION OR THOSE WHO ARE OUTSIDE, RIGHT AFTER THE HIGH SCHOOL RANGE.

>> RAMSEY: SO FOR ALAMO PROMISE -- READY TO WORK IS $4.6 MILLION IN THE FY27 BUDGET. THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT CONNECTED TO TRADITIONAL READY TO WORK. WE ARE FUNDING THOSE SCHOLARSHIPS THROUGH THE READY TO WORK POT BUT THEY ARE NOT CAPTURED WITH THE CASE MANAGER SUPPORT OR ANY OTHER ELEMENTS ON THE READY TO WORK. THEY DON'T SHOW UP ON OUR DASHBOARD. FOR INDIVIDUALS ENROLLED IN ALAMO COLLEGES FOR READY TO WORK, LEAVES ABOUT 18% OF OUR PARTICIPANTS PURSUING DEGREES AND A MAJORITY ARE

AT ALAMO PROMISE. THOSE ARE ON OUR DASHBOARD. >> GALVAN: FINDING A WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TUITION THAT WE'RE PROVIDING ARE GOING AS FAR AS THEY CAN VERSUS SUBSIDIZING SOMETHING THAT'S ALREADY AVAILABLE SOMEWHERE.

I UNDERSTAND THAT POINT BUT FOR ALAMO PROMISE, SPECIFIC ELIGIBILITY AND THIS IS HELPING THOSE WHO AREN'T ELIGIBLE TO STILL BE ABLE TO GET THAT RESOURCE.

I THINK IT BLEEDS INTO PELL GRANTS AND THE CHANGING SYSTEM TH THERE .

>> RAMSEY: WORKFORCE PEL? >> GALVAN: WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF OUR COSTS? DO WE ANTICIPATE ANY SAVINGS?

>> RAMSEY: IT'S TOO EARLY TO TELL. THEY'RE STILL MAKING THE RULES FOR WORKFORCE PELL. IN T THEORY IT SHOULD CREATE SOME SAVINGS WITH TUITION.

>> GALVAN: I ASK THOSE QUESTIONS, WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE LARGER QUESTION WHAT'S NEXT FOR READY TO WORK AS WE LOOK AT THE WINDDOWN, I WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT -- I KNOW WE HAVE THE END DATE OF 2030 AND IT'S OUR GOAL TO HAVE THE FUNDS EXPENDED BY THEN. IF THERE'S SAVINGS OR TUITION OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE DON'T ANTICIPATE CURRENTLY IN OUR ASSUMPTIONS, DO WE ANTICIPATE BEING ABLE TO CONTINUE THIS PROGRAM IN SOME FORM BEYOND 2030 IF WE

HAVE $20 MILLION LEFT OVER? >> RAMSEY: IF THERE'S FUNDING REMAINING, WE'LL

CONTINUE TO INVEST THAT IN WORKFORCE EFFORTS. >> GALVAN: I THINK THAT'S HELPFUL BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT IN SOME FORM. THE CONVERSATION, IF IT'S LOOKING AT A SPECIFIC FIELD -- I JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO DO THIS WORK. THE NEED IS STILL THERE. WE KNOW THERE'S A LOT IN OUR CITY AND BEING ABLE TO HAVE A CENTRAL HUB FOR THIS IS REALLY HELPFUL.

AND I'M GOING TO BRAG FOR 30 SECONDS ON COUNCILMEMBER MEZA GONZALEZ BECAUSE OF HER RECENT CCR RELATED TO THE SAN ANTONIO EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP.

FINDING WAYS TO CONTINUE THESE EFFORTS BEYOND READY TO WORK IS STILL CRUCIAL AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF RESOURCES OUT THERE THAT WE CAN STILL TAP INTO.

IF THERE'S ANY LEFTOVER DOLLARS, WE CAN CONTINUE TO PUSH THAT ALONG.

THOSE ARE MY INITIAL THOUGHTS AROUND WHAT THE NEXT PHASE OF READY TO WORK

LOOKS LIKE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: ERIK, DO

YOU HAVE SOMETHING? >> WALSH: THANKS, MAYOR. COUNCILMAN, YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT. WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS DURING BUDGET ADOPTION.

WE'VE GOT GREAT PROGRAMS HERE. I WAS ALSO GOING TO REFERENCE THE CCR THAT COUNCILWOMAN MEZA GONZALEZ SUBMITTED THAT STILL NEEDS TO GO THROUGH GOVERNANCE. BUT THE NOTION IS WE HAVE ALAMO PROMISE, WHICH IS FUNDED TO THE TUNE OF $4.6 MILLION BY THE CITY. STARTED OUT UNDER THE GENERAL FUND. IT'S UNDER READY TO WORK. HUGELY IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY, WE HAVE BOTH UTSA AND TEXAS A&M SAN ANTONIO THAT HAVE CREATED TUITION-FREE PROGRAMS. WE HAVE THE SAN ANTONIO EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP, WHICH WAS CREATED WHEN I WAS IN JUNIOR HIGH. THAT STILL EXISTS.

NO, I'M NOT THAT OLD, MAYOR. IT'S JUST THE '80S. [LAUGHTER] BUT IT STILL EXISTS. AND THEN WE HAVE READY TO WORK.

AND ALL THOSE COMPONENTS ARE ALL GREAT BUT THINGS HAVE CHANGED.

TIMES HAVE CHANGED AND SO HOW SHOULD WE LOOK AT THIS IN TERMS OF AN ENTIRE HORIZON IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SPENDING THE MONEY, OUR MONEY OR THE

[01:25:02]

AND NUMBER TWO, WE NEED TO START PLANNING FOR THE END OF READY TO WORK AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND HOW DO WE START TO MOVE THOSE THINGS SLOWLY OVER TIME AND

NOT IN THE COURSE OF THE SUMMER OF 2030. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMAN

WHYTE. >> WHYTE: THANKS, MAYOR. I'LL START WITH PRE-K 4 SA.

THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND ALL OF THE GOOD WORK.

JUST FOR CLARIFICATION PURPOSES, CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT TEXAS, THE STATE'S

PRE-K FUNDING COVERS VERSUS WHAT OUR PRE-K 4 SA COVERS. >> BARAY: THE STATE COVERS HALF-DAY PRE-K AND IT VARIES, DEPENDING ON THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

THERE'S A COMPLICATED FORMULA OF SCHOOL FUNDING. WHEN CHILDREN ARE ELIGIBLE FOR DUAL ENROLLMENT, WHICH IS A SMALLER SUBSET THAN ARE ELIGIBLE FOR CHILDCARE SCHOLARSHIPS, WE CAN DUALLY ENROLL THEM WITH A PARTNER SCHOOL DISTRICT.

WE ASK FOR THE MAJORITY OF THAT IN EXCHANGE FOR PROVIDING THE FULL-DAY

PRE-K. >> WHYTE: OKAY. AND THEN I HAD THE SAME QUESTION AS MY COLLEAGUE OVER THERE REGARDING, YOU KNOW, THE COST PER STUDENT.

>> BARAY: WE'LL UPDATE THAT FOR YOU. >> WHYTE: AND WHAT ELSE IS GOING INTO THIS COST. IT LOOKS LIKE EXPENDITURES CONTINUE TO OUTPACE REVENUES EVERY YEAR. WHAT'S DRIVING SOME OF THOSE --E COST THERE?

>> BARAY: A LOT OF IT IS PERSONNEL AND THE INCREASING COST OF PERSONNEL.

THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED, BECAUSE IT'S AN EIGHT-YEAR AUTHORIZATION, THERE'S A PLANNED USE OF FUND BALANCE IN THE DESIGN BECAUSE IF WE WERE TO NOT BE REAUTHORIZED, WE WOULD WANT TO BE JUST AT ALMOST ZERO AT THE END OF OUR AUTHORIZATION.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE POTENTIALLY PLANNING FOR REAUTHORIZATION SO WHAT IF WE DO GET REAUTHORIZED. THAT'S IN THE EIGHT-YEAR DESIGN IS ON THE FRONT END LESS AND THEN YOU'RE SPENDING DOWN THAT FUND BALANCE.

>> WHYTE: OKAY. HAVE YOU GUYS DONE ANY INTERNAL OR HAD ANY INDEPENDENT FOLKS LOOK AT YOU GUYS FOR OPERATIONAL AUDITS AND EFFICIENCIES?

>> BARAY: WE GET AUDITED A LOT SO WE HAVE TO HAVE, BOTH INTERNALLY FROM THE CITY BUT ALSO WE HAVE AN EXTERNAL AUDIT. WE OURSELVES ARE VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT HOW THE MONEY IS SPENT AND WHERE IT GETS SPENT.

BUT THE MAJORITY OF OUR COSTS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH OPERATING THE SCHOOLS.

BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO HAVE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF TEACHERS AND STAFF.

BUT ALSO IN SUPPORTING OUR 90 CHILDCARE PROVIDERS TO PROVIDE THE COACHING, THE BUSINESS SUPPORTS, THE MATERIALS, ALL THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

>> WHYTE: AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN THE SALES TAX REVENUE AND THE OPERATING BUDGET, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE FUNDING SOURCES THAT YOU'RE

USING? >> BARAY: RIGHT NOW ENROLLMENT.

WE DO GET SOME FUNDING AND THEN OUR SLIDING-SCALE TUITION PROGRAM BRINGS IN ADDITIONAL FUNDING. WHEN WE HAVE SPECIFIC PROGRAMS THAT WE WANT TO TRY OR PILOT, WE LOOK FOR EXTERNAL FUNDING, IF IT'S NOT AVAILABLE IN THE REVENUE

FROM SALES TAX. >> WHYTE: HOW BIG OF A PERCENTAGE IS THE DUAL

ENROLLMENT? >> BARAY: IT'S ALMOST HALF, NOT QUITE.

I THINK. I DON'T HAVE THE -- DO YOU HAVE THE NUMBERS EXACTLY? LET ME SEE IF I'VE GOT IT HERE. AND --

>> WHYTE: ARE THERE ANY ISSUES WITH THE REIMBURSEMENTS?

>> BARAY: I MEAN, WORKING WITH OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THEY GET THE FUNDING.

THE CHALLENGE FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS IS THEY GET FUNDING IN ARREARS.

IT'S JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE KEEP UP. THEY DON'T GET IT IN REALTIME SO WE HAVE TO KEEP UP WITH THEM. BUT THEY'RE GOOD PARTNERS IN

BEING ABLE TO DO THAT. >> WHYTE: OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

I APPRECIATE THAT. IF WE CAN GET THE PERCENTAGE OF THE DUAL ENROLLMENTS, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. ON READY TO WORK, I GUESS I'M PLEASED THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME IMPROVEMENT. JOB PLACEMENTS ARE UP A BIT. THE COST PER PLACEMENT IS TRENDING DOWN SLIGHTLY. IT LOOKS LIKE 62% OF FOLKS ENROLLED IN THE TRAINING SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE IT, WHICH IS MORE THAN IT WAS. I'VE GOT QUESTIONS.

[01:30:05]

TO WORK FOLKS, RIGHT? >> RAMSEY: YEAH. METHODIST HEALTH CARE IS

NUMBER ONE AND I BELIEVE THE CITY IS NUMBER THREE. >> WHYTE: A LOT OF THIS MONEY THAT WE'RE SPENDING ON TRAINING, WE'RE REALLY JUST TRAINING OUR PEOPLE TO FILL JOBS HERE, WHICH I THINK IS AN INTERESTING MODEL, I GUESS.

>> AVERAGE TIME FROM TRAINING COMPLETION TO JOB PLACEMENT IS WHAT?

>> RAMSEY: ABOUT 69 DAYS. >> WHYTE: THAT'S A LITTLE BIT DOWN FROM WHERE IT WAS LAST YEAR. IS THERE ANY POINT WHERE WE STOP TRACKING OR SUPPORTING

A PARTI PARTICIPANT IN JOB SEAR? >> RAMSEY: NO. AS LONG AS THEY STAY CONNECTED TO THE AGENCY, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HELP THEM.

WHAT HAPPENS AT SOME POINT, IF THAT CONNECTIVITY IS SEVERE WEATHERED, THAT'S THE

ONLY REASON IT WOULD STOP. >> WHYTE: THOSE 2100 PEOPLE, HOW MANY ARE WE

STILL HELPING? >> RAMSEY: MANY FINISHED WITHIN THE LAST MONTH OR SO BUT THE MAJORITY ARE STILL IN CASE MANAGEMENT WITH THEIR PARTNERS.

THEY'RE STILL BEING ASSISTED. >> WHYTE: BEYOND THE JOB

TRAINING, I GUESS WE'RE SORT OF MOVING AWAY FROM THAT? >> RAMSEY: YEAH.

WE'RE SHIFTING AWAY FROM THE OJT. WE HAD EMPLOYERS WHO SIGNED AGREEMENTS WITH THE CITY TO HIRE X NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS THAT THEY KNEW WERE GOING TO BE READY TO WORK PARTICIPANTS, AT $20 AN HOUR.

THOSE HIRING PROJECTIONS IS NOT COMING TO FRUITION, WHICH IS WHY WE HAD

DECREASED SPENDING IN THAT SPACE. >> WHYTE: I REMEMBER IT WAS TWO YEARS AGO WHEN YOU STOOD UP THERE AND I ASKED YOU WHAT COULD WE BE DOING BETTER. WE TALKED THEN ABOUT HOW WE NEEDED TO LOOK AT THINGS MORE FROM THE EMPLOYER PERSPECTIVE IN FULFILLING THOSE NEEDS.

TWO YEARS DOWN THE ROAD I GUESS WE'RE DOING A LITTLE BIT BETTER THAN THAT.

AS YOU STAND HERE TODAY, WHAT CAN WE DO BETTER TO MAKE THIS PROGRAM MORE

EFFECTIVE? >> RAMSEY: IT'S A CONTINUAL PROCESS.

CONTINUE TO TALK TO EMPLOYERS, FIND OUT WHAT THOSE NEEDS ARE, AND CREATE THAT ALIGNMENT. THE PARTICIPANTS ARE HUNGRY FOR JOBS.

THEY WANT TO WORK. WE'VE GOT TO DO A BETTER JOB EQUIPPING THEM WITH THE

SKILLS. >> WHYTE: WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST IMPEDIMENTS YOU SEE

RIGHT NOW TODAY IN TERMS OF PLACING PEOPLE IN JOBS? >> RAMSEY: IT REMAINS THE SAME BUT I BELIEVE THE ECONOMY IS GOING TO BE A BIG FACTOR.

US FINDING OUT EXACTLY WHICH OCCUPATION IS GOING TO GROW OVER THE NEXT TWO, THREE YEARS. UNTIL THE SUNSET OF THE PROGRAM.

MAKE SURE WE'RE ALIGNED. AND THE PROGRAMS WE'RE ADVISING PARTICIPANTS TO GO

INTO, MAKE SURE THE JOBS ARE GOING TO BE HERE LOCALLY. >> WHYTE: I AGREE WITH A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS THAT THE MAYOR AND THE COMMENTS THAT THE MAYOR HAD EARLIER ON THIS. I'M GLAD TO SEE THINGS ARE IMPROVING, CERTAINLY.

BUT I THINK THERE'S, AS YOU SAID, THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE.

THANKS, MAYOR. >> WALSH: COUNCILMAN, WE ARE ONE OF THE LARGEST EMPLOYERS IN THE CITY WITH 13,500 EMPLOYEES. WE ARE IN DIRECT COMPETITION WITH A LOT OF OTHER BUSINESSES AND YOU CAN ALSO SAY THAT, AS A CITY ORGANIZATION, WE'RE A CORPORATION OF CORPORATIONS BECAUSE WE DO SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS. WE'VE GOT A MULTITUDE OF PROFESSIONS THAT START FROM STRAIGHT BLUE COLLAR TO NURSES AND DOCTORS AND LAWYERS.

SO WE ARE ONE OF THE LARGEST USERS BECAUSE I'M IN DIRECT COMPETITION TO FILL SPOTS.

TO DO THINGS THAT A LOT OF FOLKS DON'T WANT TO DO. WHETHER THAT'S ANIMAL CARE SERVICES OR SOLID WASTE OR SOME OF THE OTHER DIFFICULT JOBS THAT WE HAVE.

SO MUCH FOR THE SAME REASON WHY YOU HAVE METHODIST HEALTH CARE, ONE OF THE TOP PROVIDERS, THEY'RE USING READY TO WORK BECAUSE THEY'RE IN DIRECT COMPETITION WITH BAPTIST AND CHRISTUS AND UHS. SO I THINK IT'S TO OUR

[01:35:01]

SO WE ARE CHASING THAT FOR SURE BECAUSE ON A DAILY BASIS WE'RE IN COMPETITION TO KEEP OUR POSITIONS FILLED. I DON'T WANT IT TO BE SEEN AS A NEGATIVE CONTEXT BUT PURE AND SIMPLE, WE'RE ONE OF THE LARGEST EMPLOYERS IN

THE CITY. >> WHYTE: YES. I DON'T KNOW THAT I MEANT IT NEGATIVELY BUT CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, WE COULD ALSO DIRECTLY HIRE FOLKS AND TRAIN THEM HERE, AS OPPOSED TO THEM GOING THROUGH THE PROGRAM.

I DON'T MEAN IT NEGATIVELY. I JUST THINK THAT IT STOOD OUT TO ME THAT THE CITY IS THE THIRD LARGEST EMPLOYER OF THE READY TO WORK PARTICIPANTS.

I GUESS MY FOLLOW-UP TO YOU IS DO YOU KNOW WHERE WE'RE HIRING THEM, FOR WHAT KIND

OF JOBS? >> WALSH: EVERYTHING FROM CDLS AT SOLID WASTE IN AUDIO] BUT I KNOW THE LOWEST LEVEL ARE CDLS BECAUSE WE ARE IN CONSTANT TURN. WHETHER IT'S PUBLIC WORKS OR SOLID WASTE.

AND FRANKLY -- AND YOU ALL PROBABLY KNOW THIS -- THAT THE SOLID WASTE EMPLOYEE WORK GROUP IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST TENURED. THEY COME TO THE CITY.

THEY WORK FOR THE CITY AND THEY WILL STAY WITH US FOR 35 YEARS.

AND SO THOSE ARE GOOD POSITIONS, GOOD-PAYING POSITIONS.

AND BUT WE'LL GET YOU A BREAKDOWN OF THOSE. BUT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO CHASE THAT BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO KEEP POSITIONS FILLED.

>> WHYTE: I'M NOT SAYING NOT TO, ERIK. I'M NOT SAYING NOT TO.

>> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILWOMAN MEZA GONZALEZ. >> GONZALEZ: THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATIONS. THIS IS A NICE B SESSION BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF A B SESSION OF FIRSTS. WE WERE THE FIRST IN REALLY THE COUNTRY, BACK IN 2012, TO INVEST IN PRE-K. AND WE WERE THE FIRST CITY IN THE COUNTRY IN 2020 TO INVEST IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

SO I FEEL LIKE THIS IS AN IMPORTANT MEETING TO SHOWCASE THIS AND WHAT WE DO AS A CITY. JUST WANTED TO START WITH PRE-K.

I ALSO THINK BEFORE WE START, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT HAPPENING AT THE STATE LEVEL IN REGARDS TO EARLY CHILDHOOD. I WANT TO MAKE A NOTE THAT WE PRIORITIZE THIS AS PART OF THE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES, WHENEVER WE HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT THOSE PRIORITIES ARE. AND I HOPE ANY COLLEAGUES WOULD CHIME IN AND AGREE WITH THAT. I KNOW YOU'RE WORKING TOO AT THE STATE LEVEL. IF YOU COULD SHARE SOME OF THAT WORK WE'RE DOING BEFORE

WE START THE QUESTIONS. >> BARAY: SURE. THANK YOU.

OUT OF THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THERE WAS A BILL TO CONVENE A TRI-AGENCY TASK FORCE, WHICH IS LOOKING AT THE FOUR AGENCIES THAT HAVE SOME KIND OF GOVERNANCE OVER CHILDCARE PROVIDERS. THOSE FOUR AGENCIES OFTEN HAVE CONFLICTING REGULATIONS. IT MAKES IT VERY BURDENSOME FOR PROVIDERS.

SO THE HEADS OF THOSE AGENCIES ARE COMING TOGETHER TO LOOK AT WHERE THERE ARE DISCREPANCIES AND TRY AND CREATE A MORE STREAMLINED SYSTEM.

I'M PARTICIPATING IN A STATEWIDE WORK GROUP LOOKING AT QUALITY AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE ISSUES AROUND QUALITY THAT ARE AFFECTED BY SOME OF THESE DISCONNECTED SYSTEMS. THE OTHER PIECE THAT CAME OUT OF THAT WAS THE GOVERNOR'S TASK FORCE ON EARLY LEARNING, CHAIRED BY PETER HOLT. THAT IS LOOKING AT WHAT THE STATE CAN DO TO IMPROVE EARLY CHILDHOOD. I'M ON A TASK FORCE GIVING EXPERT ADVICE, IF YOU WILL, OR GUIDANCE FOR THAT TASK FORCE AROUND ISSUES OF

QUALITY AND AFFORDABILITY. >> GONZALEZ: THANK YOU FOR THAT.

ON SLIDE 4, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT -- AND THIS GOES TO KIND OF WHAT ALL THAT PRE-K DOES. IT'S THAT ECOSYSTEM THAT YOU MENTION.

WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS AS WELL. BUT CAN YOU JUST EXPAND A LITTLE BIT ON THOSE CDAS AND THOSE 300

WHERE ARE THEY IN THE CITY? >> BARAY: SO THEY ARE ALL OVER THE CITY.

BECAUSE THEY ARE OUT IN CHILDCARE PROVIDERS. SOME OF THEM ARE ALSO IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS. WHEN WE STARTED THIS WORK, MANY OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAD TEACHER ASSISTANTS BUT THEY DID NOT HAVE THAT CREDENTIAL.

THAT WAS NOT THE STANDARD. WE WORKED CLOSELY WITH OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO PROVIDE THAT COURSEWORK AND TO TRAIN THEIR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO OFFER THOSE COURSES IN THEIR OWN SCHOOLS SO THAT WE NOW HAVE KIND OF SET THAT AS THE STANDARD AS A CITY THAT A

[01:40:05]

>> GONZALEZ: WHAT'S THE STARTING SALARY FOR THOSE FOLKS, WITH THAT CREDENTIAL?

>> BARAY: THE AVERAGE SALARY IN SAN ANTONIO FOR A CHILDCARE WORKER IS STILL AROUND $11 AN HOUR. HOWEVER, IN OUR SHARED SERVICES, THIS IS ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING AND ONE OF THE AGREEMENTS WE HAVE WITH OUR PROVIDERS THAT AS THEY SEE INCREASED REVENUES, THEY WILL INVEST IN THEIR PEOPLE.

ON AVERAGE, OUR PROVIDERS ARE PAYING AROUND $15 AN HOUR.

AND WE ARE PUSHING TOWARD GETTING THAT TO $18 AN HOUR, TRYING TO HELP INCREASE THEIR -- DIVERSIFY THEIR REVERENCE AND BRING IN REVENUES SO THEY CAN PAY THEIR TEACHERS MORE, WHICH THEY ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF. IT'S JUST A MATTER OF DO YOU

HAVE THE DOLLARS TO DO IT. >> GONZALEZ: I APPRECIATE THAT.

WHEN I WAS CAMPAIGNING, I KNOCKED ON DOORS AND I LITERALLY KNOCKED ON THREE IN-HOME PROVIDERS DURING PICKUP TIME AND IT WAS FULL-BLOWN DAYCARE.

>> BARAY: YES. >> GONZALEZ: I WOULD GIVE MY RIGHT ARM FOR MY EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHERS, FOR THE ONES THAT TOOK CARE OF MY KIDS, I WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR THOSE FOLKS TO THIS DAY. I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS FOR FAMILIES.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING TO HELP THOSE IN-HOME PROVIDERS? I'M GOING TO TAKE A TOUR OF IN-HOME PROVIDERS IN DISTRICT 8.

I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES DO THE SAME TO HIGHLIGHT THE WORK THEY'RE DOING, AND NOT ALWAYS IN THOSE TRADITIONAL WORK HOURS TOO. SOME OF THOSE ARE OPEN LATE.

CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO HELP THEM?

>> BARAY: OUR SHARED SERVICE MODEL INCLUDES FAMILY HOME PROVIDERS.

IT'S A DIFFERENT KIND OF BUSINESS THAN THE CHILDCARE CENTERS.

IT'S RELATED BUT HAS DISTINCT CHALLENGES. SO WE'RE HELPING THEM WITH COACHING, WITH CURRICULUM. HELPING THEM TO AUTOMATE THEIR BUSINESSES.

HELPING THEM DO SOME BUSINESS PLANNING ABOUT IF THEY CAN ACCEPT MORE CHILDREN, WHAT SHOULD THEY BE CHARGING IN TUITION. HOW DO THEY MARKET TO FAMILIES. BUT MOSTLY IT'S HELPING THEM.

BECAUSE THEY'RE OFTEN ALONE. THEY ARE JUST ONE TEACHER OR ONE OWNER IN THEIR HOME AND SO HELPING THEM TO FEEL CONNECTED TO A NETWORK BUT ALSO WE'VE BEEN REALLY FOCUSED ON EXPANDING HOURS FOR NON-TRADITIONAL HOURS. IN-HOME CARE, FAMILY HOME CARE IS THE EASIEST PLACE TO EXPAND THOSE HOURS. WEEKENDS AND LATE NIGHTS THAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE FOR OUR WORKERS, WHETHER IT'S IN THE HEALTHCARE FIELD OR THE MANUFACTURING FIELD. HAVE THOSE AVAILABLE TO THEM.

>> GONZALEZ: I KNOW I THINK THE LAST COUNCIL ADOPTED THE PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT FOR THE EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTERS. HAVE THOSE BEEN BENEFICIAL?

>> BARAY: THEY HAVE BEEN BENEFICIAL. I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBERS OF HOW MANY ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THEM. THAT WAS A HUGE WIN BECAUSE IT'S JUST ONE MORE EXPENSE THAT THE PROVIDERS DON'T HAVE TO INCUR.

BUT I THINK ALSO IT WAS A WIN BECAUSE IT HELPED THE PROVIDERS UNDERSTAND CITY COUNCIL CARES. AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THE WORK THEY'RE DOING IS CRITICAL TO OUR COMMUNITY AND TO OUR WORKFORCE.

AND SO I THINK AS MUCH AS THE MONEY, IT WAS BEING SEEN AND RECOGNIZED THAT THEY ARE

BUSINESS OWNERS AND THEY NEED THE SUPPORT. >> GONZALEZ: GREAT.

I REMEMBER A COUPLE OF B SESSIONS AGO WE HAD OPPORTUNITY HOME HERE AND THEY TALKED ABOUT THEIR FUNDRAISING ARM THAT THEY'RE

>> BARAY: WE ACTUALLY STARTED A DIVISION CALLED PRE-K 4 SA VENTURE SOLUTIONS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO BECAUSE WE HAD SO MANY COMMUNITIES OUTSIDE OF SAN ANTONIO COMING TO VISIT US AND THEY OFTEN WANTED OUR HELP IN DOING THINGS IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITY. I SAID OUR RESOURCES STAY IN SAN ANTONIO SO IF YOU WANT OUR ASSISTANCE, YOU WILL NEED TO PAY FOR THAT. SO WE HAVE HAD A FEW COMMUNITIES THAT ARE TAKING US UP ON THAT OFFER. WHAT'S HAPPENED ALSO IS THAT WE HAVE HAD EMPLOYERS IN SAN ANTONIO COME TO US AND SAY CAN YOU HELP US SOLVE OUR CHILDCARE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES? AND WE SAID WE CAN CERTAINLY TALK ABOUT THAT UNDER THE CONDITION THAT WE DON'T JUST SOLVE CHILDCARE FOR EMPLOYEES, WE SOLVE CHILDCARE FOR THE COMMUNITY. YES, WE CAN HELP YOUR EMPLOYEES BUT YOU HAVE TO HELP US FIGURE OUT HOW TO SERVE MORE CHILDREN AND WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE.

WE'RE IN THE BEGINNING STAGES OF THAT BUT WE'VE TALKED TO TOYOTA, USAA.

WE'VE TALKED WITH A NUMBER OF EMPLOYERS TO SAY WHAT ARE THE POSSIBILITIES OF HOW THAT COULD HELP. WHICH DOESN'T MEAN NECESSARILY BUILDING A PRE-K 4 SA ON OR NEAR THEIR SITE, IT'S MORE LIKELY TO BE CONNECTING WITH ONE OF OUR PARTNER PROVIDERS, WHO IS READY TO EXPAND, THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO OFFER THAT OR TO THINK ABOUT UNIQUE SOLUTIONS THAT MEET THE NEEDS OF EMPLOYERS ACROSS OUR

COMMUNITY. >> GONZALEZ: HOW DO WE ADD THAT NUMBER TO THE 2,000,

[01:45:01]

BUT THERE'S SO MANY OTHER PROVIDERS THAT YOU'RE HELPING.

HOW DO WE -- WHAT'S THAT NUMBER LOOK LIKE? >> BARAY: SO THE 90 PROVIDERS WE HAVE, WE DON'T HAVE A PARTNERSHIP ON THE EMPLOYER SIDE.

THESE ARE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT UNDERSTANDING WHAT THAT COULD LOOK LIKE.

MORE TO COME AS THOSE COME TO FRUITION. OUR GOAL REALLY IS TO HAVE EVERY FAMILY HAVE A HIGH-QUALITY OPTION THAT MAKES SENSE AND IS AFFORDABLE FOR THEM. THAT'S GOING TO TAKE A MIXED DELIVERY SYSTEM OF BOTH IN-HOME PROVIDERS, CHILDCARE, FAITH-BASED SCHOOLS, ALL OF THOSE ARE

IMPORTANT FOR THE SYSTEM. >> GONZALEZ: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THIS LONG-TERM INVESTMENT THAT WE'RE MAKING AS A CITY AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THIS LAST OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS AND HOW WE DO THAT.

I THINK THAT ZERO TO 3 AGE GROUP IS SO, YOU KNOW, NECESSARY THAT WE FIGURE OUT HOW TO EXPAND SERVICES THERE. AND SO IN KEEPING, YOU KNOW, IF WE EXPAND THIS, THOSE 20 YEARS, ARE YOU ABLE TO PROVIDE MORE EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTERS OR IS IT REALLY WORKING WITH EMPLOYERS THAT GOES A LONGER WAY.

I GUESS I'M TRYING TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THAT. >> BARAY: IT'S ALL OF IT, ACTUALLY. IT'S WORKING WITH MORE PROVIDERS.

RIGHT NOW WE WORK WITH 90. WE WOULD LOVE TO WORK WITH 300.

IT HELPS THEM EXPAND, BE ABLE TO FILL THEIR SEATS. IT'S ALSO WORKING WITH EMPLOYERS TO FIGURE OUT ARE THERE PLACES WHERE WE WOULD WANT TO CREATE MORE SEATS FOR THE COMMUNITY. THAT'S A DIVERSIFIED REVENUE SOURCE.

IF EMPLOYERS ARE HELPING PAY FOR CHILDCARE, THAT MAKES IT A MORE STABLE CHILDCARE CENTER. THOSE ARE ALL THE PIECES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT AND DECIDING WITH THE NEXT AUTHORIZATION WE ALWAYS TALK WITH THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT ARE THE NEEDS. WE LOOK AT THE DATA AND SAY WHAT'S NEXT?

WHERE SHOULD WE BE HEADED? >> GONZALEZ: THANK YOU. READY TO WORK.

WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS PRESENTATION IN ECONOMIC WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU'RE DOING. THIS IT HAD A ROUGH START BUT IT'S OKAY AND WE PUSHED THROUGH AND MAKE SURE WE'RE HITTING THE GOALS. I SEE A LOT OF OUR PARTNERS HERE.

I SEE SOME OF THE BOARD MEMBERS HERE. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING TO MAKE THIS PROGRAM SUCCESSFUL. I JUST WANT TO REALLY MAKE THE SAME POINT THAT I MADE IN EWDC, WHICH IS JUST IN THE FUTURE, ANY PARTICIPANTS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THOSE WORKFORCE PELL GRANTS THAT WE CAN SEE THE COST SAVINGS WHEN THE TIME COMES. I KNOW IT'S GOING THROUGH THE STEPS ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SIDE. AND MAYBE IF OUR IGR DEPARTMENT CAN KEEP TABS ON WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THOSE, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. AND GIVE US AN UPDATE THROUGH OUR FEDERAL LOBBYIST OR SOMETHING, I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO ALL OF US SO WE KNOW WHERE THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS. I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

JUST THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR WORK. THAT'S IT, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILWOMAN SPEARS. >> SPEARS: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I THINK I WANT TO FIRST SAY WORKFORCE IS TOP OF MIND.

THE MAYOR MENTIONED IT BUT IN TAIWAN, THAT'S ALL THEY WANTED TO TALK ABOUT.

AND I THINK WORKFORCE IS TIED TO CHILDCARE IN THESE DAYS BECAUSE IT'S USUALLY DUAL-INCOME FAMILIES OR SINGLE-PARENT FAMILIES AND CHILDCARE IS SO EXPENSIVE, NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE. WHAT AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU MAKE, IT'S EXPENSIVE.

SO I THINK I'M GOING TO START, THOUGH, WITH READY TO WORK.

THIS SOUNDS FUNNY WHEN I SAY IT OUT LOUD NOW. READY TO WORK NEEDS TO LOOK AT WHAT'S WORKING AND WHAT'S NOT WORKING. I DO AGREE WE PROBABLY NEED TO LOOK AT HOW WE NARROW OUR FOCUS WITH THE TIME WE HAVE. TRADES ARE A REALLY GOOD POINT, MAYOR, THAT WE DO TRADES. THAT'S ALL I HEAR WE NEED.

WE NEED THAT A LOT ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY BUT EQUALLY IMPORTANT, BECAUSE YOU MENTIONED METHODIST IS OUR TOP EMPLOYER, IS HOW DO WE INTEGRATE THESE NEW TECHNOLOGIES COMING OUR WAY, LIKE AI, WHICH I TALK ABOUT A LOT, INTO MORE OF A SCAFFOLDING APPROACH FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY WORKING BUT NEED THESE SKILLS TO TRAIN UP QUICKLY. AND I THINK WE CAN DO THOSE THINGS AND MEET THOSE NEEDS.

I DON'T WANT US TO MOVE AWAY FROM IT BECAUSE WE NEED TO LEAN INTO IT.

THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF HIGH-PAYING JOBS WE WANT TO SEE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THE KINDS OF EMPLOYERS WE'RE TRYING TO ATTRACT. SO TO THAT POINT, YOU KNOW,

[01:50:02]

THEIR JOB CATEGORIES? >> RAMSEY: SO EMPLOYERS DON'T PARTICULARLY ENROLL IN READY TO WORK. OUR CONTRACTED PARTNERS ESTABLISH RELATIONSHIPS.

THROUGH THOSE EMPLOYER RELATIONSHIPS, THROUGH OUR PRIME PARTNERS, THEY MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS FOR OUR PARTICIPANTS TO THOSE WHO ARE SEEKING WORK.

>> SPEARS: BUT THEY DON'T HAVE TO SUBMIT LIKE JOB CODES OR ANYTHING LIKE INTO

THE APPLICATION THAT WE USE? >> RAMSEY: NO. THEY DON'T HAVE TO SUBMIT ANY JOB CODES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. WE HAVE EMPLOYERS THAT HAVE TAKEN A PLEDGE TO SUPPORT READY TO WORK AND HIRE FROM THE PIPELINE.

AND THOSE EMPLOYERS ARE PLEDGED EMPLOYERS WITHIN READY TO WORK.

BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A PLEDGED EMPLOYER TO HIRE PARTICIPANTS.

>> SPEARS: I HAVE RECEIVED FEEDBACK THAT IT'S HARD TO NAVIGATE THAT PIPELINE.

>> RAMSEY: WE ARE CONSTANTLY WORKING WITH EMPLOYERS AND LISTENING TO THEIR FEEDBACK TO TRY TO FIND WAYS TO ACCESS THE TALENT BETTER.

WE HAVE A READY TO WORK JOB BOARD THAT EMPLOYERS CAN REGISTER FOR AND THEY CAN LIST JOB POSTINGS. AND OUR PARTICIPANTS CAN HAVE THEIR RESUMES UP LOADED TO THOSE EMPLOYERS SEEKING WORK.

USE OUR WORK IN TEXAS SYSTEM SUPPORTED BY TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION.

THEY CAN FIND OUR CANDIDATES THERE AS WELL. >> SPEARS: I THINK THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARING IS THEY ARE HAVING TROUBLE NAVIGATING OUR DASHBOARD.

>> RAMSEY: GOTCHA. THE JOB BOARD, UNDERSTOOD. >> SPEARS: AND TRACKING PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE INTERESTED IN, IF THEY GET PLACED OR NOT.

SO YOU MENTIONED -- OKAY. LET ME FIND THIS. SLIDE 5, I THINK.

HOW DID WE GO FROM -- I'M SORRY. IT'S SLIDE 3.

YOU'VE GOT THE 4,358 PLACEMENT APPROVED JOBS. HERE ON 5 IT SAYS 2,889 IN APPROVED JOBS, AS OF OCTOBER OF '25. WHAT DID WE DO TO INCREASE

SO MUCH IN SIX MONTHS? >> RAMSEY: I THINK, AGAIN, OUR PARTNERS, THEY ARE EXPERTS IN THIS SPACE AND CONNECTING THEIR PARTICIPANTS TO EMPLOYMENT IS WHAT WE BROUGHT THEM ON BOARD TO DO AND THEY GOT BETTER AT DOING THAT.

READY TO WORK IS OPERATING AT SCALE. MANY OF OUR PARTNERS HADN'T SEEN THE VOLUME OF PARTICIPANTS AND IT TOOK SOME TIME TO PERFECT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, SERVING THAT NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS WITH THE RESOURCES THEY HAVE.

>> SPEARS: WE HAVE DONE AN ANALYSIS TO SEE WHAT INDUSTRIES THESE ARE IN?

THAT'S PRETTY SIGNIFICANT TO ME. >> RAMSEY: ABSOLUTELY.

TRUCKING, CDL, HEALTHCARE HAVE BEEN THE BULK OF THOSE HIRES.

>> SPEARS: SO ON THAT -- BACK ON SLIDE 5. THE $125 RETURN FOR EVERY DOLLAR SPENT. DO YOU KNOW WHAT WAGE INCREASES THAT REPRESENTS?

>> RAMSEY: $79 FOR EVERY DOLLAR INVESTED IN WAGE INCREASES ALONE.

THAT'S DIRECTLY INTO FAMILIES HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.

>> SPEARS: OKAY. I JUST WANT TO REITERATE I REALLY THINK THE EMPLOYER-LED MODEL IS GOING TO BE MOST IMPORTANT AND WITH THE TIME LEFT, WE REALLY JUST FOCUS ON THE THINGS WE KNOW WE DO REALLY WELL AND GET AS MANY PEOPLE INTO THAT AS POSSIBLE. TRADES ARE WHAT I'M HEARING ABOUT.

AND USING THAT TIME TO QUICKLY SCALE UP OUR WORKFORCE IN THOSE AREAS, LIKE AI, THAT THEY NEED TO SCALE UP IN. AND I WANT TO ALSO TRIPLE DOWN WITH WHAT MY COLLEAGUE SAID ABOUT OTHER RESOURCES, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR VETERANS.

OBVIOUSLY, I AM MOST CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS WITH OUR VETERANS, OUR ACTIVE DUTY, AND THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR KIDS. BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO SUPPORT THEM WELL. AND HOW WE CAN EFFICIENTLY USE ALL THE RESOURCES THAT EVERYONE HAS AVAILABLE TO THEM. THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF A GROUP. BUT ANY GROUP THAT HAS OTHER RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THEM, HOW WE CAN BE REALLY EFFICIENT WITH WHAT WE DO WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS AND THEN THOSE OTHER RESOURCES AND HOW WE CAN GET ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AS

[01:55:04]

THE BENEFIT OF GOING LATER IS YOUR COLLEAGUES HAVE ASKED A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS ALREADY. I WANTED TO ASK WHAT COUNCILWOMAN MEZA GONZALEZ AND COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE BREAKOUT.

I TOO FIND THAT A LITTLE BIT HARD TO EXPLAIN BECAUSE I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE WE'RE DOING TWO THINGS. WE'RE TRYING TO SCALE UP OUR CHILDCARE WORKERS AND WHAT THEIR ABILITIES ARE BUT ALSO PROVIDE SPOT SEATS.

I AM REALLY INTERESTED -- WELL, FIRST I'M GLAD WE'RE GOING TO GET THE BREAKDOWN FROM YOU, ERIK, THAT SHOWS HOW IT REALLY LAYS OUT PER KID.

BECAUSE THAT, ON ITS FACE, IS VERY EXPENSIVE, LIKE YOU MENTIONED.

BUT I JUST WANT TO SERVE MORE KIDS. PERIOD.

ESPECIALLY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THIS SORT OF IDEA.

I'M IN A BUNCH OF GROUPS IN MY DISTRICT THAT ARE ONLINE. SO WE HAVE THIS MOMS AROUND STONE OAK AND THEY'RE REAL ACTIVE AND THEY TALK ABOUT THEY NEED JOBS WHERE THEY CAN DROP THEIR KID IN. THEY NEED JOBS THAT ARE SUPPLEMENTING WHAT THEY'RE DOING. THEY CAN'T AFFORD CHILDCARE PERIOD, END OF STORY.

THEY MAYBE HAVE TOO MANY CHILDREN OR THE JOB ISN'T PAYING ENOUGH.

A LOT OF SINGLE-PARENT FAMILIES, TO YOUR POINT ABOUT FAMILY VIOLENCE.

WHEN THEY GET PUT IN THESE SITUATIONS AND THEY'RE NOT SKILLED UP ENOUGH -- AND THEY'RE LEARNING. I JUST THINK THAT WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO REALLY LOOK AT HOW WE DO MORE ABOUT OFFERING MORE SEATS -- I MEAN, IF WE'RE TRAINING THESE PEOPLE, YOU MENTIONED THERE'S 4800 KIDS GETTING SERVED BY THE CHILDCARE WORKERS BEING TRAINED UP MORE. RECEIVING MORE TRAINING.

BUT TO ME THAT HAS TO TRANSLATE TO SEATS. BECAUSE YOU CAN ONLY REALLY DO ONE OF THESE -- WELL, I MEAN, YOU SHOULD BE TRAINING THE PROVIDERS WE'RE WORKING WITH, YEAH. BUT IF WE'RE NOT RECEIVING MORE SEATS FROM EVERYONE THAT WE'RE TRAINING UP -- WHILE I KNOW THAT DOES LEVEL SET MAYBE THE QUALITY THAT WE'RE DOING, BUT IT'S NOT PROVIDING MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE WHO NEED HELP WITH THEIR CHILDCARE. SO TO THAT, ALSO, I WOULD SAY -- WE WERE TALKING IN THE OFFICE ABOUT IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAYBE DO A DROP-IN CHILDCARE PILOT THAT WE CAN LOOK AT. WE HAVE ONE OF THOSE OUT IN DISTRICT 9 THAT WE THINK IS WORKING REALLY WELL THAT HAS A STRUCTURED LEARNING CURRICULUM AND TO YOUR POINT, PARTNERING WITH LARGE EMPLOYERS ON THIS. BECAUSE A LOT OF THE JOBS THAT PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO OBTAIN ARE HYBRID JOBS AND THEY'RE NOT TRADITIONAL.

SO HOW WE SERVE THAT SUBSET OF OUR WORKERS. AND THEN ALSO IF THEY HAVE THE TRAINING -- I MEAN, SHIFT WORK, THAT'S HARD. THAT'S REALLY, REALLY HARD.

>> BARAY: YES. >> SPEARS: THAT BASICALLY COVERS EVERYTHING I WAS TRYING TO HIT. AGAIN, I JUST THINK WE'RE TRYING TO DO A LOT OF THINGS. MAYBE NARROW THAT SCOPE TO REALLY GET TO MORE KIDS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO.

>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK Y'ALL BOTH FOR THE PRESENTATIONS. DR. BARAY, APPRECIATE YOU BRIEFING MY TEAM AND OF COURSE THE WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM MEMBERS DO TO SUPPORT PERSONNEL TEACHERS AND PROVIDING HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION, PARTICULARLY WITH THE SCOPE CURRICULUM.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. MANY OF MY QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED THROUGHOUT COUNCIL DISCUSSION. LOOKING FORWARD TO THE STUDY TO DEMONSTRATE WHAT WE KNOW, THE IMPACT OF PRE-K 4 SA. I'M SUPPORTIVE OF EXPLORING WHAT IT COULD LOOK LIKE WITH THE REAUTHORIZATION. THE TREND IS WE KNOW CHILDCARE IS A PRIORITY AND THE NEED TO EXPAND AND SUPPORT IS VERY MUCH NEEDED. I'M EAGER TO SUPPORT THAT, AS WELL AS COUNCILMEMBER MEZA GONZALEZ'S REQUEST THAT WE HAVE A ROBUST LEGISLATIVE AGENDA THAT INCLUDES EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.

THANK YOU FOR BRIEFING MY TEAM AS WELL. MOVING OVER TO READY TO WORK. MIKE RAMSEY, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM DO. I ALWAYS IT'S JASON'S READY TO WORK STORY, WHO HAS BEEN -- WHO HAS HAD A CHALLENGING JOURNEY THROUGHOUT HIS WAY TO SUCCESS. IT HIGHLIGHTS THAT AS A

[02:00:03]

LOOKING AT THE DISTRICT 5 SPECIFIC STATS, WE'RE SEEING DISTRICT 5 RESIDENTS GO FROM EARNING $10,000 TO UP TO $42,000. I HIGHLIGHT THAT STORY IN PARTICULAR, BECAUSE IT REMINDS ME OF A CONSTITUENT WE CONNECTED TO THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM. SHE WAS EAGER, CAME BY OUR OFFICE, SHOWED ME A PICTURE OF HER IN FRONT OF THE ST. PHILIP'S COLLEGE SIGN. SHE IS AN OLDER ADULT AND WAS READY TO GAIN NEW SKILLS. SHE EARNED HER GED WHILE INCARCERATED. GETTING HER TRANSCRIPTS WERE A PAPER COPY VERSUS A DIGITAL COPY THAT MOST UNIVERSITIES OR PROGRAMS REQUIRE.

I HIGHLIGHT THAT IN TERMS OF THE CASE-BY-CASE NATURE. OFTENTIMES WHEN WE LOOK AT THE METRICS FOR READY TO WORK, OFTEN WE ANALYZE THEM. LIKE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE INSTALLATION OF STREETLIGHTS OR FILLING SIDEWALK GAPS BUT THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS WITH UNIQUE AND DIVERSE NEEDS AND IT'S A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS IN TERMS OF HOW ARE WE CONNECTING THEM TO OPPORTUNITY. I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T HIGHLIGHT JOEL, WHO PRESENTED OVER AT BEXAR COUNTY IN FRONT OF EMPLOYERS TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF HIRING INDIVIDUALS, HIGH-BARRIER INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM. BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAM, IT'S HIGHLIGHTING THE QUALITY OF WORK OF THE FOLKS THAT PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM. JUST APPRECIATE MIKE AND YOUR TEAM FOR CONTINUING TO MEET WITH EMPLOYERS BUT ALSO TAPPING INTO THOSE HIGH-BARRIER GROUPS THAT WE SEE THAT THERE ARE CHALLENGES.

AND WORKING WITH EMPLOYERS TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPACT. THIS MORNING, I WAS IN SOMERSET HIGHLIGHTING THE 20 YEARS OF TOYOTA. TTTX.

IT WAS 20 INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN PART OF THE PROGRAM BUT GRATEFUL FOR ALEX AND MIKE FOR INTRODUCING ME TO LESLIE, WHO HAS SHAPED A MODEL IN TERMS OF TAPPING INTO THE TALENT OF FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN RELEASED FROM THE PRISON SYSTEM AND CONNECTING THEM WITH WORKFORCE TRAINING.

THEY'RE ONE OF THE HIGHEST EMPLOYERS. TODAY THERE'S A SECOND-CHANCE JOB FAIR AT THE FROST BANK CENTER AND THEY'RE TAPPING INTO THIS TALENT POOL. GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK. I THINK PART OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH WHY WE HAVE SEEN IT INCREASE. THESE ARE UNIQUE CASE-BY-CASE NEEDS AND IT'S WORKING WITH EMPLOYERS TO DEMONSTRATE THERE ARE POTENTIAL FEDERAL INCENTIVES AS WELL IF YOU HIRE INDIVIDUALS WITH FELONIES ON THEIR RECORDS. SO JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT GREAT WORK THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING. AND THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY OF COURSE FOR US TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE WITH EMPLOYERS TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPACT THAT READY TO WORK IS HAVING. MY QUESTION TO YOU, MIKE, IS HOW CAN WE AS COUNCIL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT YOU ALL WITH HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH EMPLOYERS ABOUT THE VALUE OF TAPPING INTO READY TO WORK GRADUATES. I THINK WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO BEING THE THIRD-HIGHEST EMPLOYER, IT DEMONSTRATES THE QUALITY OF GRADUATES THAT ARE GOING THROUGH THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM AS WELL.

>> RAMSEY: YEAH, THANK YOU FOR THAT, COUNCIL MEMBER. I THINK THE BEST WAY THAT YOU CAN HELP US IN THE COMMUNITY IS BY LETTING EMPLOYERS KNOW THAT READY TO WORK IS A RESOURCE FOR THEM. OUR PARTNERS HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD TO GET TALENT READY SO THEY CAN SHORTEN THEIR TIME TO HIRE AND REDUCE THEIR TURNOVER BY GETTING PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE COMMITTED TO THEIR JOBS.

IF WE CAN CONTINUE TO GET THE WORD OUT THAT READY TO WORK IS WORKING FOR PEOPLE

AND IT CAN WORK WITH THEM AS WELL. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU SO MUCH, MIKE. I WANTED TO THANK ALEX, BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN QUESTIONS WE HAD. IF I HAVE A QUESTION, ALEX WILL HAVE A FULL BRIEF IN TERMS OF HELPING ME UNDERSTAND WHY SOMETHING MAY OR MAY NOT BE.

REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK OF YOU AND YOUR TEAM. AS COUNCILWOMAN MEZA GONZALEZ MENTIONED, THIS DEMONSTRATES THE IMPORTANCE AND THE VALUE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL AND CITY OF SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS HAVE PUT IN TERMS OF SUPPORTING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF OF COURSE CONTINUING TO SUPPORT THIS WORK AS WELL AS THE COUNCILMAN PROPOSED IN TERMS OF THE

MUNGIA. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU. I'LL TRY TO BEAT THE CLOCK.

A LOT OF STUFF HAS BEEN SAID ALREADY. I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAD THESE TWO TOPICS TODAY BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE THAT THE KEY TO POVERTY IS AT THE INTERSECTION OF WORKFORCE, EDUCATION, AND HOUSING.

THESE ARE THREE ITEMS THAT MOVE PEOPLE INTO A BETTER LIFE.

I WANT TO ADVOCATE FOR REAUTHORIZATION OF PRE-K 4 SA SOONER THAN THE

[02:05:05]

I PULLED UP A MAP HERE OF THE CHILDCARE DESERT. INNER WEST SIDE, EAST SIDE, PREDOMINANTLY SOUTH SIDE. THREE, FOUR OF MY ZIP CODES IN MY DISTRICT ARE THE DEEP RED WHERE THERE ARE ZERO SEATS FOR FOLKS. I DO WELCOME TOURING NEW PLACES YOU MIGHT BE WORKING WITH. SO MAYBE WE CAN TALK OFFLINE ABOUT FOLKS THAT ARE THERE THAT ARE DOING SOME GOOD WORK OR HOW WE CAN TOUR AND

JUST KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING IN MY DISTRICT. >> BARAY: FANTASTIC.

BE HAPPY TO DO THAT. >> MUNGIA: APPRECIATE THAT.

MIKE, REAL QUICK. I KNOW IT WAS TOUCHED UPON EARLIER, BUT HOW MUCH OF THE SUCCESS OF READY TO WORK IS DETERMINED UPON THE STATUS OF THE ECONOMY AT THE

FEDERAL LEVEL? >> RAMSEY: IT'S ALL IMPACTFUL.

AS WE CONTINUE TO SHIFT TO THE NEW DYNAMIC THAT EMPLOYERS ARE SEEING.

NOW YOU'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW YOUR WORKFORCE IS GOING TO LOOK AND PROJECT INTO THE UNKNOWN, AS FAR AS HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU'RE GOING TO NEED ON STAFF.

THEN YOU HAVE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE THAT'S GOING TO BE IMPACTING THE WORKFORCE TREMENDOUSLY. I KNOW COUNCILWOMAN SPEARS IS PASSIONATE ABOUT THAT.

THERE'S A LOT OF UNKNOWNS IN THAT LANDSCAPE AS IT RELATES TO HIRING.

IT'S GOING TO BE PRUDENT FOR US TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CONNECTING WITH EMPLOYERS TO HEAR EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE THINKING AND SEEING AROUND THAT CORNER SO WE CAN PREPARE PEOPLE TO TRAIN IN THOSE AREAS WHERE WE BELIEVE THERE'S A HIGHER PROBABILITY

OF THERE BEING JOBS. >> MUNGIA: YOU SAID TARIFFS WERE DETRIMENTAL TO

EMPLOYERS HERE IN TOWN? >> RAMSEY: ANECDOTELY AND WHAT WE HAVE HEARD FROM CONVERSATIONS FROM EMPLOYERS, THEIR GROWTH WAS STIFLED DURING THAT TIME

PERIOD OF UNCERTAINTY. >> MUNGIA: ALSO TIED TO THIS OTHER POINT THAT COMES AFTER READY TO WORK, BECAUSE WE SHOULDN'T WAIT UNTIL 2030 TO START THAT PROCESS.

I SEE SOME FOLKS HERE. THERE'S GOODWILL, PROJECT QUEST, WSA.

WHAT THE NEXT PHASE OF THIS LOOKS LIKE TO CARRY THIS MOMENTUM FORWARD, AS YOU WERE SHOWING US THAT MORE AND MORE FOLKS ARE GETTING THROUGH THE PROGRAM IN AUDIO]. BUT ALSO I WOULD SAY HOW DO WE DRIVE AND INVEST IN SECTORS THAT WE KNOW WE NEED? SO THE GENERAL ECONOMY, NOT PROVIDING A LOT OF DOCTORS FOR US. AND THAT'S ESPECIALLY SO ON THE SOUTH SIDE. SO I'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS. WE HAVE A HUGE FOCUS ON MANUFACTURING, WHICH IS GREAT. WE CAN DO MORE THAN ONE THING. BUT YOU'VE GOT HIGH SCHOOLS ALIGNED WITH MANUFACTURING PATHWAYS. YOU HAVE COLLEGES ALIGNED WITH MANUFACTURING PATHWAYS.

YOU HAVE THE MANUFACTURERS GOING IN REVERSE AND CONNECTING THE DOTS THERE.

HOW DO WE DO THAT FOR INDUSTRIES THAT WE KNOW WE WILL NEED, LIKE HEALTHCARE, BUT THAT ARE ALSO RECESSION AND TECHNOLOGY PROOF. COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ MADE THIS POINT THE OTHER DAY. HOW DO WE KNOW WE'RE NOT PUTTING ALL THESE INCENTIVES TOWARDS JOBS THAT MAY GO AWAY IN THE NEXT 20, 30 YEARS? AS WE TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF READY TO WORK AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE WITH OUR PARTNERS, HOW DO WE REALLY TRY TO DRIVE OUR OWN ECONOMY THAT WE KNOW WE NEED, ESPECIALLY ON AREAS OF TOWN LIKE THE SOUTH SIDE, THE EAST SIDE, THE WEST SIDE WHERE WE HAVE GAPS THAT THE GENERAL ECONOMY IS NOT REALLY PROVIDING FOR US. SO THAT'S JUST MY LAST POINT.

THANK YOU, MIKE. >> RAMSEY: THANK YOU, SIR. >> MAYOR JONES:

COUNCILWOMAN KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THESE PRESENTATIONS. I'LL START WITH WHERE COUNCILMAN MUNGIA STARTED, REALLY TRYING TO ADDRESS POVERTY. I TRULY DON'T THINK THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE INEQUITIES IN OUR SYSTEM UNTIL WE DOUBLE DOWN ON INVESTMENTS FOR EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS TRULY JUST ANOTHER FORM OF EDUCATION FOR ADULTS.

RIGHT, MIKE? AND SO I THINK THAT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS AROUND OUR UNDERHOUSED POPULATION AND HOW WHAT WE REALLY WANT THEM TO DO IS BE IN THE WORKFORCE. WE CAN'T SAY WE WANT THAT IF WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING TO PROVIDE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING.

WE CANNOT SAY WE SHOULD NOT HAVE A CITY FUNDED OR A PUBLIC-FUNDED, CITY-SUPPORTED WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM BECAUSE IT IS TRUE.

WE ARE THE THIRD BIGGEST EMPLOYER. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE, LIKE ANY OTHER LARGE COMPANY, WOULD BE HAVING THEIR OWN PIPELINE.

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE FOLKS IN SO MANY POSITIONS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL, ESSENTIAL WORKERS TO OUR COMMUNITY. THIS WORK TODAY IS VERY IMPORTANT AND I THINK IT IS INCUMBENT UPON US, NOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO NIX THESE

[02:10:04]

I JUST HAD A COUPLE OF QUICK QUESTIONS, DR. BARAY. CAN YOU TELL ME, JUST OUT OF

CURIOSITY, WHAT IS YOUR STAFF TURNOVER RATE? >> BARAY: I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS. IT'S LOW. AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT

CURRENTLY IS. >> KAUR: GIVE ME AN ESTIMATE.

SINGLE DIGITS? >> BARAY: SINGLE DIGITS, YES.

>> KAUR: IN URBAN SCHOOL DISTRICTS AROUND THE STATE, THE STAFF TURNOVER RATE FOR TEACHERS IS AROUND 30%. SO IT IS -- I JUST WANTED TO SHARE IF YOU KNEW WHAT THE LOW RATE WAS. THE STAFF AT PRE-K 4 SA IS HAPPY AND WELL TAKEN CARE OF, WHICH IS WHY WE DON'T HEAR FROM THEM. AND THAT IS ALSO A PART OF WHAT CONTRIBUTES TO THE COST THAT GOES INTO PRE-K 4 SA. WHEN YOU GO BY AND VISIT THE SCHOOL, YOU SEE SHE'S EDUCATORS THAT ARE EARLY CHILDCARE EDUCATORS THAT DON'T GET PAID VERY MUCH IN THE ECOSYSTEM, BEING PAID JUSTLY AND WORKING JUST AS HARD TO EDUCATE THE KIDS. AND THE SECOND COMPONENT TO IT I THINK IS INNOVATION.

WHEN YOU TALK TO AN EDUCATOR, EVERY EDUCATOR WANTS TO BE IN A SPACE WHERE THEY ARE TREATED LIKE A PROFESSIONAL. UNFORTUNATELY, THE COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE CREATED IS EDUCATORS ARE SEEN AS EXECUTORS AND HERE'S A CURRICULUM AND GO TEACH IT. BUT WHEN WE ACTUALLY ALLOW TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS TO BE INNOVATORS, THEY CAN THRIVE. AND IT COMES DOWN TO EVEN IN THE FACILITY WE ARE CREATING. SIMPLE THINGS. WHEN WE GET SCARED BECAUSE OF THREATS TO OUR BUILDINGS, WE BOARD UP AND WE SAY ALL OF OUR URBAN CITY BUILDINGS HAVE TO BE BOARDED UP. YOU CAN'T SEE THROUGH THEM. YOU CAN'T HAVE DANGEROUS ITEMS FOR PLAY ANYWHERE. WHY DID WE NOT THINK OF CUTTING DOORS IN HALF SO THAT KIDS CAN'T GET OUT THROUGH THE BOTTOM BUT ADULTS CAN SEE THROUGH THE TOP? IT WAS MORE EXPENSIVE SO WE VALUE ENGINEERED THAT OUT OF SCHOOLS. WHEN YOU GO TO THE PRE-K 4 SA, YOU SEE THAT ACTUALLY THIS IS POSSIBLE. WHY DO WE NOT THINK OF NATURE PLAY AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR KIDS TO THROW AROUND WITH ROCKS AND FALL ON THE GROUND AND GET HURT AND REALIZE IT'S OKAY TO FALL. WE SAID, NO, LET'S MAKE EVERYTHING RUBBERIZED SO WHEN YOU FALL WE WON'T GET LIABLE, RATHER THAN TEACH KIDS HOW TO SAFELY PLAY IN NATURE. THOSE ARE THE THINGS I FEEL LIKE THROUGHOUT THE YEARS HAVE GOTTEN REMOVED FROM EDUCATION THAT PRE-K 4 SA IS SHOWING US A LITTLE BIT OF LIGHT ON HOW YOU CAN DO THAT WITH OUR LITTLEST KIDDOS.

I ACTUALLY SUPPORT THE COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ'S POINT WHERE WE WERE TALKING RECENTLY WITH SOME OF THE OTHER HOUSING FOLKS THAT WANT PRE-K 4 SA TO BE IN THEIR HOUSING SITES. WE THINK THAT WOULD BE GREAT. WE HAVE SOME PROJECTS THAT WE SUBMITTED FOR LIHTC FUNDING BUT IT'S SCARY BECAUSE WHAT IF THEY DON'T GET FUNDED? HOW DO WE CONTINUE THE PROGRAM GOING? I AGREE IF WE CAN PUT THAT ON THE BALLOT SOONER SO OUR HOUSING PROJECTS AND ALL THE OTHER GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT CAN HAVE SOME SURETY IN THE FACT THAT IT WILL GO ON.

74% APPROVAL RATE FROM THE LAST VOTERS IS VERY HIGH. THERE'S VERY FEW OF US THAT GOT 74% APPROVAL RATE. I KNOW. I THINK THAT IS A LOT TO SAY ABOUT WHAT THE PROGRAM SUCCESS HAS BEEN. THE LAST THING I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS -- I'M SORRY I'M A LITTLE BIT ON A RANT RIGHT NOW.

BUT THE LAST THING I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT IS WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DATA FOR OUTCOMES FOR THIRD GRADE READING FOR PRE-K 4 SA, THE BIGGEST DIFFERENTIATOR IS OUR ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS. IF YOU LOOK AT THE STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED, THEY PERFORM SIMILARLY, BUT THE ONES GETTING THE MAIN IMPACT ARE THE LOW-INCOME, UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS, WHICH IS THE MOST REMARKABLE POINT WHICH IS WHY WE NEED MORE WORKFORCE-BASED SCHOOLS SO YOU'RE ACTUALLY GETTING THAT SOCIAL AND CULTURAL CAPITAL TO LIFT UP, GO TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY, AND GET THE OUTCOMES THAT I'M SURE THIS REPORT THAT WE GET AT THE END OF THE YEAR WE'LL SEE. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT.

THE ONLY THING -- I ALSO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE DATABASE COMING UP THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO FIND SCHOOLS. THAT'S SUPER IMPORTANT.

THE LAST QUESTION I HAD FOR YOU, SO NO NEW NET POSITIONS MEANS OPERATIONS ARE STAYING THE EXACT SAME AS IS. I WAS DISHEARTENED BY THAT. EVERY YEAR WE'RE USED TO HAVING FOLKS SAY -- IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE WE'RE NOT GROWING AND INVESTING INTO THE PROGRAM. IF YOU WANT TO SAY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

>> BARAY: THIS REALLY HAS TO DO -- BECAUSE SALES TAX IS OUR PRIMARILY FUNDING SOURCE AND IT'S MODEST GROWTH. WE BUDGET CONSERVATIVELY.

WE DON'T OVERPROMISE OR OVERCOMMIT. WE CALL THIS OUR KEEP STEADY BUDGET, BUT WE ARE PREPARED IF WE GET ADDITIONAL MONEY. WE WILL BE ABLE TO EXPAND AND DO SOME ADDITIONAL EXCITING THINGS THAT WE KIND OF HAVE IN OUR BACK POCKET

[02:15:01]

TIME IN THE FINANCIAL FORECAST RIGHT NOW. >> KAUR: ERIK GETS THAT.

>> BARAY: ERIK MIGHT HAVE A THING TO SAY ABOUT THAT. WE'RE GOING TO STAY STEADY.

>> KAUR: I WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU GUYS DO DIFFERENT THINGS WITH THAT.

MIKE, I KNOW YOU HAVE EXPLAINED THIS TO ME BEFORE. LOOKING AT THE SLIDE WITH ALL OF THE DATA OF HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH AND WHAT THE 62% COMPLETION RATE. REMIND ME. IT'S SLIDE 3.

REMIND ME HOW WE GET THE 62% CALCULATED. 6500 PLUS 4700 DIVIDED BY

15,000 IS NOT 62%. >> RAMSEY: YEAH, THE 60% OF INDIVIDUALS THAT START TRAINING AND THEY HAVE AN ACTUAL COMPLETION DATE. SO THEY FINISH EITHER

SUCCESSFULLY, THAT'S A PLUS. >> KAUR: IT'S A PORTION OF THE 4700 THAT HAVE A

COMPLETION DATE? >> RAMSEY: THE 4700 HAVEN'T FINISHED YET.

NONE OF THEM ARE IN THAT EQUATION YET. THE 6500 AND SUCCESSFUL COMPLETERS ARE IN THE NUMERATOR. I CAN'T DO THE MATH IN MY HEAD, BUT THE DENOMINATOR INCLUDES ALL OF THOSE WHO WERE UNSUCCESSFUL IN

COMPLETING THEIR TRAINING, WHICH IS ABOUT 38%. >> KAUR: GOT IT.

OKAY. IF YOU WOULD GET ME THAT DENOMINATOR

AUDIO]. >> RAMSEY: ABSOLUTELY. >> KAUR: I WAS JUST TRYING TO DO SOME COMPARISON NUMBERS FOR OTHER WORKFORCE PROVIDERS.

AND MIKE KNOWS I PUSH BACK A LOT ON SOME OF THE PROGRAMMING IN THE BEGINNING. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS -- I WAS A COLLEGE ADVISOR AND WE HAD A COLLEGE FOR ALL. THAT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF MY SENIORS WERE GOING TO GO TO COLLEGE. AT ONE POINT HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELORS WERE TELLING THEM WHERE TO GO AND WHAT THEY SHOULD BE. IF WE START TELLING PEOPLE YOU SHOULD ONLY GO TO THIS JOB BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO GET PLACED IN A JOB IN 30 OR 60 DAYS SO WE CAN MEET A METRIC, WE ARE CREATING SYSTEMS THAT SAY BECAUSE YOU COME FROM THIS BACKGROUND, THIS IS WHERE YOU NEED TO GO.

THAT'S WHY WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN SCHOOLS -- SO WE REVERSED IT SAYING NO.

EVERY KID IS GOING TO COLLEGE SO YOU HAVE THE EXACT SAME OPPORTUNITY AS EVERYONE ELSE. EVERY KID SHOULDN'T GO TO COLLEGE IF THEY DON'T WANT TO BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO KEEP INDIVIDUAL AUTONOMY AND HOW WE DIRECT FOLKS TO WHERE THEY NEED TO GO. IT IS OUR JOB AS THE PROJECT QUEST PEOPLE, AS THE FOLKS DOING THE INDIVIDUAL CASE MANAGEMENT TO GIVE THEM ALL OF THE DATA. IF YOU PICK THIS PATHWAY YOU'RE GOING TO GRADUATE IN 60 DAYS AND WE'LL GET YOU A HIGH-PAYING JOB RIGHT AFTER THAT WITHIN 30 DAYS AND THAT'S GOING TO BE YOUR RUN. IF YOU DON'T PICK THIS JOB, YOU CAN TAKE A TWO-YEAR TRAINING PROGRAM AND IT MIGHT TAKE YOU A YEAR TO GET A JOB AT THE LEVEL -- OR TWO YEARS. AND THAT'S YOUR OPTION HERE. BUT WE SHOULD PRESENT THAT INFORMATION. WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO TRACK THAT WE ARE DOING THAT. I FEEL LIKE IF WE CAN SHOW ON THE FRONT END WE ARE ACTUALLY GIVING FOLKS THIS INFORMATION. AND THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE SELECTING, WE SHOULD NOT BE SAYING UP HERE, OH, YOU DIDN'T PICK THE RIGHT PATHWAY AND YOU'RE MESSING UP OUR DATA. AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE INVESTING IN INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE SOMEWHERE THEY WANT TO GO AND HAVE GOALS.

IT'S NOT OUR JOB TO GIVE US THEIR GOALS, IT'S TO SHOW THEM WHAT OPPORTUNITIES THEY COULD HAVE. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T NIX ALL THESE LONG-TERM PROGRAMS BECAUSE THEY'RE LONGER TERM. THEN WE'RE JUST FORCING OUR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY INTO SEGMENTS OF SOCIETY WHICH IS GOING TO CREATE MORE INEQUITY IN THE LONG TERM. THE GRADUATION RATE FOR ALAMO COLLEGES, WE ALL LOVE ALAMO COLLEGES. 30% GRADUATION RATE. 62%.

THEIR PROMISE RATE IS 70% BUT IT IS 62. AUSTIN COLLEGE GRADUATION RATE IS 30%. AN AVERAGE THE FOLKS GRADUATING FROM PAC, $30,000 FOR ONE YEAR, $40,000 AFTER FIVE YEARS FOR KIDS GRADUATING FROM PAC.

WE'RE THINKING ABOUT PEOPLE THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN INVESTED IN AND I'M GLAD TO

SEE THE PROGRESS THAT'S BEING MADE. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMAN GALVAN. DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING? OH, OKAY.

COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU.

YEAH, I JUST HAD ONE FOLLOW-UP QUESTION FOR READY TO WORK.

I CAN'T REMEMBER WHERE I HEARD THIS BUT I JUST WANTED TO GET CLARIFICATION.

SOMEBODY HAD MENTIONED THAT WHEN IF A READY TO WORK TRAINEE IS GRADUATING WITH, LET'S JUST SAY IN THE I.T. COURSE. BUT THEY GET A JOB WITH AN EMPLOYER IN ANOTHER DEPARTMENT. LET'S JUST SAY -- I'M USING

[02:20:02]

KNOW HOW Y'ALL -- >> RAMSEY: AS AN APPROVED JOB? IF IT'S IN ONE OF THE OCCUPATION AREAS ON OUR LIST OF APPROVED JOBS, IT WILL

COUNT AS A JOB PLACEMENT AND GO ON THE DASHBOARD. >> GAVITO: EVEN THOUGH

IT'S NOT ONE THEY TRAINED FOR? >> RAMSEY: THAT'S CORRECT.

>> GAVITO: I WAS THINKING THAT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE MIGHT GRADUATE WITH A MARKETING DEGREE AND THEN GO TO USAA AND START OFF AT A CALL CENTER. DOESN'T MEAN THEY WON'T GO INTO MARKETING LATER.

THEY COULD. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE WERE ACCURATELY TRACKING THOSE. I MEAN, ANYBODY WHO HAS BEEN IN THE BUSINESS WORLD, YOU KNOW, YOUR PATH CAN BE LIKE THIS. SO YOU CAN GO FROM ONE DEPARTMENT TO ANOTHER. BUT THE POINT IS GETTING YOUR FOOT IN THE DOOR, GETTING A GOOD-PAID JOB AND GETTING THOSE BENEFITS. SO YOU'RE SAYING EVEN IF THEY DON'T GRADUATE WITH THE TRAINING PROGRAM THAT THEY WERE TRAINING FOR, THEY'RE

STILL MARKED AS A QUOTE, UNQUOTE SUCCESS. >> RAMSEY: IF IT'S IN ONE OF OUR APPROVED OCCUPATIONS ON THE TARGET OCCUPATION LIST.

>> GAVITO: I'M CURIOUS HOW MANY ARE NOT IN THAT APPROVED OCCUPATION LIST.

>> RAMSEY: THERE'S ROUGHLY ABOUT 500 INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE NOT IN AN APPROVED JOB.

SO THE DELTA IS ABOUT 500 JOBS. >> GAVITO: YEAH.

THAT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I FEEL THAT IF THEY DO GO THROUGH THE TRAINING PROGRAM AND THEY'RE PLACED IN A JOB, WHETHER IT'S ON OUR LIST OR NOT AND THEY'RE GETTING A GOOD SALARY AND BENEFITS, THAT'S A WIN.

I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THOSE NUMBERS. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR JONES: HAS EVERYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE SPOKEN ON THE SECOND ROUND? OKAY. GREAT.

THANKS AGAIN TO OUR PRESENTERS, MIKE AND DR. BARAY FOR YOUR VERY THOUGHTFUL PRESENTATIONS. DR. BARAY, I HAVE JUST A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS FOR YOU. I THINK THE POINT WAS MADE -- I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO FULLY EXPLAIN THIS TO OUR FOLKS. THE WORK THAT YOU DO, NOT ONLY IN THE CLASSROOM, BUT ALMOST AS IMPORTANT, IF NOT MORE IMPORTANT WORK THAT YOU DO TO INCREASE THE SUPPLY IN OUR COMMUNITY. I KNOW THIS IS NOT ONLY THE SUPPLY BUT THE QUALITY OF THE SUPPLY THAT YOU ALL ARE WORKING TO DO.

AND I THINK HELPING US UNDERSTAND WHAT LEVEL OF INVESTMENT GETS YOU TO THAT IS IMPORTANT. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR THAT.

I THINK THIS DISCUSSION ALSO HIGHLIGHTED -- WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT HOW WE ARE GOING TO UPDATE OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS LATER THIS YEAR AND ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO CONSIDER, AS WE THINK ABOUT THAT CONVERSATION, IS HOW WE ARE THINKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE, IN PARTICULAR, AS PART OF THOSE. COMING INTO THE COMMUNITY, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DO NO HARM. DON'T CONTRIBUTE TO THE CHALLENGE.

FRANKLY, YOU COULD LOOK AT THE ISSUE WITH ADMISSIONS, WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL BUT ALSO THE REAL NEED THAT WE HAVE HERE, ENSURING THOSE EMPLOYERS COMING INTO OUR COMMUNITY ARE NOT CONTRIBUTING TO THE ADDITIONAL CHALLENGE.

CERTAINLY WHAT YOU HAVE HEARD TODAY IS I THINK A DIFFERENCE IN PHILOSOPHICAL APPROACH. THIS GOES FOR MIKE AS WELL. A DIFFERENCE IN PHILOSOPHICAL APPROACH IN HOW WE ARE BEST STEWARDING THE RESOURCES THAT OUR NEIGHBORS SO GENEROUSLY TO AGREEING TO INVEST IN BOTH OF THESE PROGRAMS AND UNDERSTAND. WHAT'S INCUMBENT ON US IS HOW WE BALANCE THE ANECDOTES WITH WHAT WHAT THE DATA IS TELLING US AND WHAT IS GOING TO MOVE THE NEEDLE IN TERMS OF LONG-TERM POVERTY I THINK IS THE SCALE PIECE OF THIS. WHICH IS WHY I THINK YOU HAVE HEARD A COUPLE OF MY COLLEAGUES ALSO TALK ABOUT HOW ARE WE MUCH MORE FOCUSED IN TERMS OF MEETING THE NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY. A THOUGHT EXERCISE FOR YOU, DR. BARAY, I WOULD WELCOME UNDERSTANDING -- YOU JUST LAID FLAT FOR US, MY WORKING ASSUMPTION ON THIS IS THAT THE HIGHEST ROI IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT IS ALWAYS EARLY.

AND AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE. >> BARAY: THAT IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.

>> MAYOR JONES: IT'S LOWER -- IS ZERO. IT'S LOWER THOUGH WHEN IT COMES TO THE UP SKILLING PART. WHAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND -- ERIK, I WOULD WELCOME UNDERSTANDING HOW WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO

[02:25:03]

MIKE, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU MADE A GOOD POINT OF, AND I COMPLETELY AGREE, WHICH IS WE'VE GOT TO MEET THE NEED IN THE COMMUNITY.

WHEN I HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH FOLKS AT REXA, FOR EXAMPLE, OR IF I HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE GREATER SAN ANTONIO BUILDERS ASSOCIATION AND THEY TALK ABOUT THESE SURPRISED WHEN I HEAR FOLKS LIKE REXA SAYING WE'RE GOING TO STAND UP OUR OWN TRADES ACADEMY. IN MY MIND IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE THEY WOULD NEED TO DO THAT WHEN THEY HAVE THIS PROGRAM THAT IDEALLY IS WORKING TO FILL THAT GAP.

SO HELP US UNDERSTAND HOW YOU ENGAGE THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE TELLING US THEY HAVE DEMAND AND YET WE ARE NOT MEETING IT WITH A PROGRAM THAT SAYS WE CAN MEET THAT

DEMAND? >> RAMSEY: IT'S A BALANCING ACT.

WE ENCOURAGE -- >> MAYOR JONES: WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> IT'S A BALANCING ACT BETWEEN WHAT THEY NEED AND WHAT'S IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN.

SO YOU TRY TO BALANCE THOSE TWO THINGS. THE SUPPLY COMING OUT OF READY TO WORK IN THOSE SPECIFIC PATHWAYS. CONSTRUCTION IS A PATHWAY THAT I BELIEVE IS THE QUICKEST WAYS TO THE MIDDLE CLASS AND WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WOULD BENEFIT FROM THOSE OPTIONS AND THEY DO HAVE OPTIONS.

AND WE NEED TO GET MORE PEOPLE PURSUING THOSE TRADE OPTIONS.

WHEN WE TRIED TO CONVINCE THEM THAT EMPLOYERS HAVE THE JOBS THAT WILL BE THERE FOR THEM TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES, AND THEY WANT TO BE PART OF THAT POPULATION AND THEY IDENTIFY EITHER THEIR OWN INTERNAL TRAINING PROGRAMS OR PROGRAMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, WE WANT TO FUNNEL PARTICIPANTS INTO THOSE TO

CREATE THAT BALANCE AND MEET THAT DEMAND. >> MAYOR JONES: I THINK WE MIGHT BE TALKING PAST EACH OTHER A LITTLE BIT. SO WHEN REXA SAYS WE'RE NOT GETTING WHAT WE NEED OUT OF THE PROGRAMS OR READY TO WORK OR WE NEED XYZ AND YET WE SAY WE HAVE A PROGRAM THAT PRODUCES THAT, HELP ME UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN BETTER MEET AN ORGANIZATION LIKE REXA'S NEEDS, LIKE HOWEVER -- TO YOUR POINT, LET'S GO TALK TO THE EMPLOYERS. REXA IS SAYING THEY NEED THIS, AND YET WE'RE PRODUCING SOMETHING THAT WE THINK MEETS THAT AND YET THEY'RE SAYING, NO, WE'VE GOT TO DO OUR OWN THING. HELP US UNDERSTAND WHY THAT IS THE CASE AND HOW WE CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND OUR PIPELINE INTO WHAT THEAVE AN EME HOUSE, WHO HAD A SPECIFIC NEED FOR A SPECIFIC CREDENTIAL THAT WASN'T REALLY AVAILABLE WITHIN OUR ECOSYSTEM. SO WE TALKED WITH OUR TRAINING PROVIDER, ALAMO COLLEGES, WHO ALSO HAPPENS TO ALSO BE A PRIME PARTNER WITHIN READY TO WORK AND THEY ADJUSTED THE TRAINING CURRICULUM TO WHAT THAT EMPLOYER WAS LOOKING FOR AND NOW WE'RE PRODUCING EXACTLY WHAT THEY NEED.

IF YOU TAKE THAT EXAMPLE AND YOU CONVERT IT OVER TO CONSTRUCTION.

WHATEVER THE INDUSTRY IS IT WORKS THE SAME WAY. WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? IS THERE A TRAINING PROGRAM THAT EXISTS CURRENTLY THAT YOU GET PEOPLE FROM THAT IS A SMALL ADJUSTMENT TO GET WHAT YOU NEED AND HOW TO RECREATE MORE PEOPLE INTO THAT PATHWAY SO YOU GET MORE VOLUME OF INDIVIDUALS EXISTING WITH THOSE

CREDENTIALS SO YOU CAN THEN HIRE ON THE BACK END. >> WALSH: MAYOR, I THINK IT MAY BE MORE TO THE QUESTION YOU'RE ASKING. I HAVE YET TO HEAR FROM AN ORGANIZATION -- AND GENERALLY, THEIR GENERAL STATEMENTS AND COUNCILWOMAN SPEARS TALKED ABOUT IT A SECOND AGO. IF SOMEBODY SAYS IT'S TOO HARD, THEN ASKING THEM WHAT'S HARD ABOUT IT, WHAT'S CONFUSING ABOUT IT -- AND FORGET ABOUT THE CITY FOR A SECOND. THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE. GROWING SECTOR IN OUR ECONOMY.

WE HAVE FOUR MAJOR HOSPITAL SYSTEMS. ONE OF THEM IS UTILIZING READY TO WORK TO ENSURE THAT FOLKS THAT ARE GRADUATING ON FRIDAY ARE WORKING ON MONDAY BECAUSE THEY'RE IN DIRECT COMPETITION. AND SO WHAT I HAVE FOUND ON THIS JOURNEY FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IS THAT -- AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE

[02:30:03]

>> MAYOR JONES: YES. >> DID ANYBODY ASK THEM WHAT IS IT THAT YOU'RE DINING READY TO WORK CAN'T DO? BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH -- I THINK THAT PROBABLY IF YOU GUYS COME ACROSS THAT, THEN PLEASE LET ME KNOW BECAUSE I REALLY HAVEN'T HEARD A GOOD ANSWER OTHER THAN MAYBE IT'S ORGANIZATIONAL AND THEY'RE TRYING TO BUILD SOME SORT OF MOMENTUM WITHIN THEIR ORGANIZATION.

I MEAN, FRANKLY, BEFORE WE WENT INTO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH READY TO WORK, THE NOTION OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND THE FRAGMENTED SYSTEM THAT EXISTED HERE THROUGH AGENCIES AND WE WERE JUST TWO MILLION DOLLARS OF A MUCH LARGER ECOSYSTEM SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHATEVER HAPPENS TO READY TO WORK IN 2030, WHATEVER YOU GUYS DECIDE, AT A MINIMUM IT HAS TO BE BETTER COORDINATED.

YOU'RE HITTING THE NAIL ON THE HEAD. THAT STUFF IS HAPPENING NOW.

BEN, MIKE AND I WENT AND SPOKE AT A GREATER CHAMBER BREAKFAST THAT HAD 50 PEOPLE HERE A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO AND IT WAS CONSTANT ABOUT TELL US WHAT YOUR NEEDS ARE, RIGHT? YOU MAY HAVE AS AN EMPLOYER, YOU MAY HAVE DIRECT NEEDS WHEREAS AN INDUSTRY, BUT TELL US BECAUSE THERE ARE CERTAINLY EMPLOYERS AND SECTORS THAT ARE UTILIZING IT BECAUSE THEY SEE READY TO WORK AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET FOLKS THAT NORMALLY BE APPLYING FOR THOSE JOBS? SO THAT'S HOW YOU CAN BE HELPFUL. IF YOU CATCH WIND OF THAT, SHOOT THE FLAREOFF, I'LL CALL THEM AND SEE IF WE CAN BRIDGE THE GAP. BUT I THINK THAT IF WE CHANGE THAT CONSTANTLY WITHOUT ANY REAL SUBSTANCE, IT'S ALMOST LIKE -- IT'S ALMOST LIKE MY NEIGHBORHOOD TELLING ME WE HAVE A BUNCH OF CRIME, AND I'M LIKE WHERE? LIKE WHO CALLED 911? AND NOBODY IS RAISING THEIR HAND AND I CAN'T GET AN ANSWER FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHO SAYS THAT WE HAD A BUNCH OF CRIME. SO IS IT ANECDOTAL OR IS IT REAL AND HOW DO WE BRIDGE

THAT GAP? >> MAYOR JONES: SURE. I THINK TO THAT POINT, I THINK THERE'S NATIONAL REPORTING, THOUGH, THAT SPEAKS TO THE GAP THAT WE HAVE IN THE TRADES, RIGHT, SO WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE HERE LOCALLY -- HENCE MY QUESTION OF HOW DO YOU UNDERSTAND NOT JUST WHAT THE INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYER NEEDS, BUT BIG PICTURE HOW ARE WE UNDERSTANDING WHAT THOSE GAPS ARE.

AND IT'S HARD FOR ME TO -- FRANKLY, I'VE HEARD IT AS WELL FROM NOT ONLY GROUPS LIKE RECSA, BUT THE UNION FOR FOLKS WITH THAT SKILL SET.

SO UNDERSTANDING EVEN WHAT IS THE GAP NUMBER OF PLUMBERS THAT WE NEED BETWEEN NOW AND THE NEXT FIVE YEARS? WHAT IS THE NUMBER OF ELECTRICIANS? WHAT IS THE NUMBER OF HVAC TECHNICIANS? AND IF WE UNDERSTAND THAT THOSE ARE MAJOR GAPS, BUT ALSO AREAS WHERE FOLKS ARE INITIALLY AND OVER TIME GOING TO MAKE A GREAT WAGE, WHICH WOULD WE NOT TRY TO FOCUS OUR EFFORTS IN THOSE AREAS, YOU KNOW, VERSUS THE LIST OF 58? BECAUSE THEN WE'RE PUTTING FOLKS ON A PATH -- AND IT'S NOT TO SAY -- IT'S NOT TO DICTATE TO SOMEBODY WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO, BUT IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF LIKE THIS IS THE REAL WORLD. IF YOU WANT US TO INVEST IN THESE KIND OF THINGS.

AT THE END OF THE DAY THIS IS A SCHOLARSHIP. I VIEW THIS AS A SCHOLARSHIP. I THINK MIKE, YOU AND I HAVE HAD THAT CONVERSATION.

SO SOME FOLKS WILL TAKE THE SCHOLARSHIP AND SOME WILL NOT, AND THAT'S OKAY.

BUT I THINK GIVEN WE'RE USING TAX DOLLARS WE HAVE TO BE COGNIZANT OF AUDIO] AND SEE HOW THAT SKILL THAT WE'RE TRAINING FOLKS FOR HELPS TO FILL A GAP IN OUR COMMUNITY. DID YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING, ERIK?

>> I'D OFFER, MAYOR, THAT IT'S NOT JUST A SCHOLARSHIP, IT IS AN EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE EMPLOYERS. SO THE EMPLOYERS THAT WANT TO USE READY TO WORK AS THEIR HR RECRUITMENT, THAT WILL MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT EASIER FOR THEM. IF THEY WANTING TO DO HR RECRUITMENT THE WAY THEY WANT TO DO IT OR THE WAY THEY'VE DONE IT, THEY'RE KIND OF SWIMMING UPSTREAM.

IT'S A COMPETITIVE EDGE, WHETHER -- REGARDLESS OF INDUSTRY, SMALL, BIG OR MEDIUM EMPLOYER, IT IS WHO CAN I GET TO FILL THESE POSITIONS THAT'S TRAINED AND

READY TO GO? >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. THANKS.

A COUPLE OF DO-OUTS FROM US IN TERMS OF INFORMATION THAT HELPS US BETTER TELL THE STORY. AND NO KIDDING, UNDERSTANDING WHICH OF THESE PROGRAMS HAS THE HIGHEST ROI FOR OUR COMMUNITY. I'D CERTAINLY WELCOME UNDERSTANDING THAT, THANK YOU. AND TO THE EXTENT THAT, MIKE, IF YOU COULD, I MEAN, REACH OUT TO RECSA OR REACH OUT TO GREATER SAN ANTONIO BUILDERS ASSOCIATION, AMERICAN SUBCONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION, WHAT IS THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF OUR COMMUNITY NEED. I KNOW THERE WAS A HOUSING BUILDER CONFERENCE EARLIER THIS YEAR THAT KIND OF TALKED ABOUT THE TRENDS IN THE ASSOCIATION SO I KNOW THEY'RE TRACKING CLOSELY THE SKILLS THAT WOULD BE NEEDED

[02:35:01]

THINGS YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD? >> NO, MA'AM, THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR JONES: OKAY, GREAT. >> WE'LL DO THE FOLLOW-UP

MEMO. >> MAYOR JONES: PLEASE, THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE THAT. A REMINDER TO MY COLLEAGUES THAT WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT.

THANK YOU. 31 FOLKS SIGNED UP, THANKS. THE TIME IS NOW 4:37.

THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.