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GOOD MORNING.WELCOME TO THE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING OF FEBRUARY THE 13TH, 2020.
COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREW SULLIVAN.
WELCOME EVERYONE TO OUR CITY COUNCIL, A SESSION AGENDA.
THE TIME IS NOW 9:15 AM UH, BEFORE WE BEGIN TODAY, UH, I WOULD ASK US ALL TO OBSERVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE, UH, FOR TWO YOUNG MEN WHO WERE LOST LAST WEEK, FEBRUARY 8TH IN CAR IN COMBAT SERGEANT FIRST CLASS US ARMY, JAVIER GUTIERREZ, 28 YEARS OLD, WAS LOST ON FEBRUARY 8TH, ALONG WITH HIS COMRADE SERGEANT FIRST CLASS ANTONIO RODRIGUEZ OF NEW MEXICO.
ASK US ALL TO OBSERVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THEIR ULTIMATE SACRIFICE.
TO BEGIN TODAY, UH, I'D LIKE TO CALL ON COUNCIL MEMBER JADA ANDREW SULLIVAN TO WELCOME OUR IN VINDICATOR.
IS THE ORGANIZER AND PASTOR OF THE GREATER LOVE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, WHICH IS LOCATED AT 1534 PECK AVENUE IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.
PASTOR GILLESPIE IS A NATIVE OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, AND HE IS THE SON OF THE LATE REVEREND WG GILLESPIE AND LATE SISTER VERNE GILLESPIE JONES.
HE IS MARRIED TO KIMBERLY ES GILLESPIE, THE FATHER OF TWO SONS AND FOUR DAUGHTERS, AND HE IS THE GRANDFATHER OF 13.
PASTOR GILLESPIE IS THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT OF MINISTERS UNITED FOR MINISTERIAL DEVELOPMENT HOME MISSION BOARD CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL MISSIONARY BAPTIST CONVENTION OF AMERICA, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOME MISSION BOARD OF THE MISSIONARY BAPTIST GENERAL CONVENTION OF TEXAS, AND FOUNDER OF THE REVEREND WG GILLESPIE AND VERNELL GILLESPIE JONES MEMORIAL INSTITUTE SCHOLARSHIP FUND.
HE IS THE FORMER PASTOR OF THE MOUNT OLIVE BAPTIST CHURCH IN CRYSTAL CITY, TEXAS.
THE SECOND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE MINISTER'S CONFERENCE OF THE NATIONAL MISSIONARY BAPTIST CONVENTION OF AMERICA, MODERATOR OF THE UNITED FELLOWSHIP BAPTIST DISTRICT ASSOCIATION, THE CARVER CULTURAL CENTER BOARD MEMBER CHAPLAIN OF THE RIO COUNTY JAIL MINISTRY IN PIOL, TEXAS, AND KERN CITY DETENTION CENTER IN KERN CITY, TEXAS.
AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE GANG INTERVENTION COMMITTEE OF THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST ASSOCIATION OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.
HE RECEIVED THE 1992 PULPIT LEADERSHIP AWARD FROM THE SAN ANTONIO REGISTER NEWS AND WAS THE OUTSTANDING PASTOR OF THE YEAR.
IN 1994, PASTOR GILLESPIE RECEIVED HIS BACHELOR'S AND DOCTORATE OF DIVINITY FROM THE GU GUADALUPE BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, THE DOCTOR OF DIVINITY FROM AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL
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THEOLOGICAL AND SEMINARY, AS WELL AS AN HONORARY DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF LETTERS OF URBAN MINISTRY FROM ASPEN CHRISTIAN COLLEGE AND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.TO GOD BE THE GLORY IS HIS TAGLINE, AND I AM HONORED AND PROUD TO HAVE WHO I CALL MY FATHER IN THE MINISTRY, PASTOR DR.
REVEREND LESTER, J GILLESPIE, SENIOR.
THANK YOU TO ALL THE CONSTITUENCIES.
SHALL WE PRAY GOD OF OUR WEARY EARS, GOD OF OUR SILENT TEARS, GOD WHO HAS BROUGHT US SAVED THUS FAR, THOU WHO HAS BY THY MIGHT CARRIED US EVEN NOW TO THE LIGHT.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORD THAT DECLARES THAT THE STEPS OF A GOOD MAN ARE ORDERED BY THE LORD AND HE DELIGHTED IN HIS WAY.
AS YOU CONTINUE TO GIVE LEADERSHIP TO OUR MAYOR AND TO THIS COUNCIL, TO PARTICULARLY MY COUNCILWOMAN SULLIVAN, WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD CONTINUE DIRECT THE MANAGEMENT OF THIS CITY THROUGH OUR CITY MANAGEMENT AND ALL WHO COMPRISE THIS AUGUST BODY WHO PROVIDES FOR US THE KIND OF VISION THAT HELPS TO MAKE THIS CITY GREAT.
THANK YOU EVEN NOW FOR WHAT YOU WILL DO IN THIS SESSION.
OKAY, THE FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FROM DECEMBER 12TH AND JANUARY 15TH.
I HEARD A MOTION, UH, AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF DECEMBER 12TH AND JANUARY 15TH.
UM, THIS WEEK WE ALSO LOST A DEAR FRIEND, UH, TO THIS BUILDING AND TO MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, AND I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER GRO FOR, UH, A MEMORIAL.
UM, IT IS WITH A SAD HEART THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE PASSING OF DISTRICT THREE TEAM MEMBER IDA RAMOS.
SHE WORKED IN OUR OFFICE STARTING IN 2013 AND WAS OUR SENIOR CENTER LIAISON.
SHE WAS A SOUTHSIDER THROUGH AND THROUGH, AND SHE SERVED AND WORKED FOR OUR SENIORS AND OUR COMMUNITY AND THIS CITY FOR DECADES.
THE MOTHER OF, UH, FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER JENNIFER RAMOS, UM, HAS BEEN WORKING FOR OUR CITY FOR SO MANY YEARS.
SHE STARTED RAMPING UP HER OWN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AGAIN, AND SHE HAS BEEN A FIERCE ADVOCATE FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
SHE LOVED SO MANY OF HER SENIORS THAT SHE SAW, UM, EVERY WEEK FOR SURE, BUT ALMOST EVERY OTHER DAY WE ASK THAT YOU, UM, PLEASE PRAY FOR THE FAMILY.
PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR SENIORS IN DISTRICT THREE AND OUR COMMUNITY AS WE ALL MOURN THIS LOSS.
AND PLEASE LIFT UP HER FAMILY AS WELL AS HER GRANDCHILDREN AND ALL OF HER DAUGHTERS ETERNAL REST GRANDSON TO THEM OH LORD, AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM.
MAY THE SOULS OF ALL THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED THROUGH THE MERCY OF GOD.
OKAY, UH, AS WE MOVE NOW TO OUR BUSINESS AGENDA TODAY, WE DO HAVE ONE ITEM THAT'S LISTED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.
UH, WE ALSO WILL NOTE THAT ITEMS 21 C AND 27 I L M AND O HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THE AGENDA WILL NOT BE HEARD TODAY.
SO AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO ASK MY COLLEAGUES IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER ITEMS FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO HEAR INDIVIDUALLY.
AT THIS TIME ONLY ITEM NUMBER FOUR WILL BE HEARD INDIVIDUALLY.
UH, IF THERE ARE NONE, UH, I'LL ENTERTAIN
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A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.THAT'S ALL ITEMS SAVED FOR FOUR AND ITEMS 21 AND C, AND 27 I L M AND O, WHICH WILL NOT BE HEARD TODAY.
AND WE WILL ALSO REMOVE ITEM 24 FOR RECUSAL.
SO THAT'S ALL ITEMS SAVED FOR 4 21 C, 27 I L M, AND O 20 AND 24.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UH, WE DO HAVE A COUPLE CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, UH, FOR CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. SO I'LL CALL THEM NOW.
MR. FINGER, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL ASH.
UH, MAYOR NURNBERG, OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M FINGER.
COUPLE ITEMS I WISH TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION AT THIS TIME FROM THIS PORTION OF THE AGENDA.
ITEM NUMBER, UH, ITEM NUMBER, UH, 20 AS I RECALL.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THIS SAYS HERE.
BASICALLY APPROVING, UH, ACCEPTING FEES, ACCEPTING FUNDS FROM ABOUT $268,000 FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS THERE FOR HOMELESS HOUSING AND SERVICES.
WHY ARE WE ACCEPTING THESE FUNDS? WELL, BASICALLY IT'S BECAUSE OF THIS RIGHT HERE, MR. AUDI, YOU MAY SHOW THAT IF YOU WOULD THE HIGHLIGHT THE UNDERLINED AREA THERE IF YOU CAN.
WHAT DOES IT SAY? IT SAYS, UH, PRESENTLY THERE ARE LIMITED RESOURCES FOR IMMEDIATE SHELTER SERVICES SPECIFIC TO YOUTH.
HIGHLIGHT THAT WORD, YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
WHAT ELSE IS TO SAY? 18 TO 24 YEARS OLD WITHIN THE BARD COUNTY AREA.
18 TO 24 YEARS OLD, NO WONDERS.
THERE'S NO MONEY FOR, FOR THE 18, 20, 40 YEARS OLD.
THOSE, THOSE MEAN OLD KIDS, UH, ALL THE WAY FROM ZERO TO TO 17.
THEY'RE GETTING ALL THE MONEY.
MY GOLLY, IF I, IF I WERE A 24 YEAR OLD, I I'D, I, I'D RISE UP AND STOMP ALL OVER THE PLACE BECAUSE OF THAT.
THE, UH, ALSO ANOTHER PORTION OF THE OTHER, OTHER ITEM ON YOUR AGENDA, THAT ONE THAT SHOWS, UM, THE, WHAT I CALL WELFARE HOUSING.
THE IDEA OF, UH, 27, THE IDEA OF APPROVING SOME RESOLUTIONS TO MULTIFAMILY MULTI-FAMILY RENTAL HOUSING, WHICH IS ACTUALLY WELFARE HOUSING.
YEAH, I SHOULD SHOW THAT TO MR. UH MANN.
THE, UH, THE HIGHLIGHTED AREA THERE, THE, UH, UNDERLYING AREA.
IT SAYS, SAYS, UH, YEAH, AFFORDABLE, AFFORDABLE MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING.
THAT'S WHAT THE, THESE TAX CREDITS ARE GOING FOR IT.
ANYWAY, THIS MAKES IT EASIER FOR SUCH, WHAT I CALL WELFARE HOUSING TO GO UP.
PLEASE RETURN THE CAMERA, IF YOU WOULD.
AND, UH, WHERE IS THIS GOING? WELL, IT'S GOING IN ALL KINDS OF AREAS.
SO, SO SOME PEOPLE ALREADY PULLED A FEW OF THEM THERE, BUT, UH, IT'S, IT'S STILL GOING UP IN CERTAIN PLACES.
UM, YEAH, I'LL JUST SHOW THE, THE ENTIRE PAGE IF YOU WOULD.
WHERE'S IT GOING? OH, IF, EH, KIND OF BLOW IT UP A LITTLE BIT SO WE CAN SEE, SEE IT BETTER.
UH, BASICALLY VARIOUS PLACES ON THE, THE NORTH SIDE, MR. PAL'S AREA.
SOME OF IT HAVE ALREADY BEEN PULLED.
YOU'RE SMART TO DO THAT THERE.
MY NAME IS MICHAEL ASH, UH, IRVING, TEXAS.
UH, I HAVE ONE OF THE TAX CREDIT APPLICATIONS THAT'S HERE FOR RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT.
I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THE CONSIDERATION, THE TIME YOU'VE GIVEN US TODAY.
UH, WORKING WITH CITY STAFF, WORKING WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS HAS BEEN A PLEASURE AND I'M JUST VERY HAPPY TO BE PART OF IT, JUST TO SAY THANK YOU.
OKAY, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ.
UH, TO NOTE, ITEM 20 IS REMAINING ON CONSENT.
UH, THE COUNCIL MEMBER WILL HIGHLIGHT IT.
UH, SO ANYONE WHO, UH, ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES WOULD LIKE
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TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT ZONING AGENDA? EXCUSE ME, CONSENT AGENDA.NOW JUST GO AHEAD AND TAP YOUR, UH, REQUEST TO SPEAK ITEMS, UH, BUTTON.
UH, I'LL BEGIN BY RECOGNIZING COUNCIL MEMBER VERAN.
I DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 20, I THINK, AND TALK ABOUT THE, UM, THIS, THIS AWARDING THAT WE'RE, WE'RE, UM, MOVING FORWARD WITH.
YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE, UH, GONE THROUGH IS THE RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO HAVE PRIORITIZED SOME OF THE ISSUES.
AND HOMELESSNESS IS ONE OF THOSE ISSUES THAT THEY HAVE PRIORITIZED.
THAT IS WHY WE HAVE THE CONSULTANT WORKING ON COMPREHENSIVE ISSUES, FINDING OUT WHERE THE GAPS ARE IN OUR HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE SERVICES HERE AND ON TUESDAY.
FOR MY COLLEAGUES AT ONE OF THE COMMUNITY INPUT SESSIONS IN DISTRICT THREE, YOU'LL BE HAPPY TO KNOW THERE WAS REPRESENTATION FROM THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO THERE AT THE INPUT SESSION.
UM, DISTRICT ONE, DISTRICT SIX, DISTRICT SEVEN, UM, EVERYONE WAS COMING IN AND GIVING THEIR, UH, INPUT.
AND THIS IS A COMPLEX ISSUE, AND THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT IS AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS, UM, A LOT OF, UH, INFORMATION AND EDUCATION FOR THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS PAR, WHAT HAPPENS WITH A HOMELESSNESS, THAT THERE'S CHRONIC, THAT THERE'S EPISODIC, AND THAT THERE IS SHELTERED AND UNSHELTERED.
AND WE ARE DOING OUR PART WITH THIS.
SO I'M VERY GRATEFUL THAT WE'RE DOING THIS AND, UH, CON AND MAKE SURE THAT WE, WHEN WE MOVE FORWARD, THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE HELPING THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A PROJECT UP ON THE NORTHEAST SIDE THOUSAND OAKS ROAD.
UH, I'M SURE A LOT OF YOU HAVE TRAVELED THAT ROAD.
IT'S UNRAVELING IN CERTAIN AREAS.
AND MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMAN COURAGE, UH, HE, HE'S DONE A PORTION OF A THOUSAND OAKS AND I'M CONTINUING THAT PORTION THAT GOES THROUGH DISTRICT 10, UH, BETWEEN WETMORE ROAD AND PERRIN BIAL, UH, WE'RE GONNA BE WORKING ON THAT ROAD AND, AND BRINGING IT UP TO STANDARD.
AND WE'RE GONNA KEEP WORKING ON THAT ROAD IN ONE OF THESE YEARS.
WE'RE GONNA FINISH THE WHOLE DADGUM THING, BUT, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE BITING OFF PIECES AT A TIME AND I WANT TO THANK T C I FOR PULLING THIS PROJECT TOGETHER, AND IT WAS ONE OF THE BOND PROJECTS BACK IN 2017.
SO, UH, WE'RE FINALLY GETTING THAT PROJECT GOING AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE REALLY GONNA APPRECIATE THAT WORK.
OKAY, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UM, I'M GONNA TAKE ONE ITEM OUT OF ORDER SINCE WE ARE JUST, UH, UH, PULLING IT FOR RECUSAL PURPOSES.
SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL ON ITEM 24.
ITEM 24 IS THE ORDINANCE APPROVING CONTRACTS WITH Y Y W C A OF SAN ANTONIO, BEAR COUNTY FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER FOUNDATION, TEXAS RIO GRANDE, LEGAL AID AND FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION SERVICES FOR PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT THE CITY'S EFFORTS TO REDUCE AND PREVENT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
THE TERM OF THE CONTRACTS ARE FROM MARCH 1ST, 2020 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2021 FOR A COLLECTIVE CONTRACT VALUE OF $1 MILLION WITH A ONE YEAR OPTION TO RENEW.
UM, AGAIN, THIS ITEM WAS PULLED FOR RECUSAL.
THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 24.
UH, BEFORE WE DO VOTE, I DID WANT TO JUST RECOGNIZE, UH, MARTA PALS WHO'S JOINED US, UH, THIS MORNING.
UM, I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY UNANIMOUS AGREEMENT THAT THIS IS SOME OF THE MOST, UH, IMPORTANT AND WELL INVESTED MONEY THAT OUR COMMUNITY CAN SPEND.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO, MARTA.
PLEASE TAP YOUR SPEAKER CUE NOT SAY COUNCIL MEMBER VIRON.
I JUST WANT, BEFORE WE VOTED, UH, SORRY ABOUT THAT.
I THOUGHT I HAD TAPPED IN ALREADY.
UM, THANK YOU MARTA, FOR YOUR WORK.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE AGENCIES THAT, UM, HAVE BEEN A PART OF THIS, THIS PROGRAM.
AND I WANT TO ALSO THANK OUR CITY STAFF WHO HAS BEEN WORKING SO HARD ON THIS AS WELL.
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MY COLLEAGUES, WE ARE TAKING THIS VERY SERIOUSLY.AND I KNOW, UM, IT MAYBE DOESN'T FIT ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO, UH, ADDRESS RIGHT NOW, BUT THIS IS OUR START AND THIS IS OUR PHASING PROCESS AND WE ARE PUTTING INTO ACTION WHAT WE SAID WE WANTED TO DO.
SO THANK YOU MAYOR, AND I'M GLAD WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS.
COUNCIL MEMBER GRA AND COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL.
THANK YOU MARTA, FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
AND I AM, UH, ALSO VERY EXCITED THAT WE'RE FINALLY MOVING FORWARD ON THIS.
COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES, BUT JUST MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE IN THE QUEUE.
'CAUSE I DIDN'T SEE ANYBODY'S NAME.
UM, I THINK THE SPEAKER QUEUE IS CLEAR, SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND VOTE.
MOTION CARRIES ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS AN ORDINANCE ORDERING A SALES AND USE TAX ELECTION TO BE HELD ON THE SECOND DAY OF MAY, 2020.
TO AUTHORIZE THE CONTINUATION OF THE CURRENT ONE EIGHTH CENT SALES AND USE TAX FOR EIGHT ADDITIONAL YEARS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE SAN ANTONIO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION'S.
PRE-K FOR SA PROGRAM, AUTHORIZING A CONTRACT WITH BEXAR COUNTY TO CONDUCT THIS SELECTION IN AN AMOUNT UP TO $900,000.
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDING FROM THE PRE-K FUND BALANCE PENDING APPROVAL OF THE SAN ANTONIO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
UM, WE ARE PLEASED, UH, TO BE BEFORE YOU.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO.
MEMBERS OF OUR BOARD ARE HERE.
I'LL QUICKLY INTRODUCE THEM FROM DISTRICT TWO.
BRANDON LOGAN IS HERE FROM DISTRICT FOUR.
RICHARD BETOS IS HERE FROM DISTRICT SEVEN.
AND FROM DISTRICT NINE, GOGI, UH, DR.
DURING THIS PRESENTATION, WE ARE GOING TO SHARE WITH YOU THE BACKGROUND, THE RESULTS, AND DISCUSS THE FUTURE OF PRE-K FOR SA.
IN 2012, SAN ANTONIO VOTED TO INVEST IN ITS YOUNGEST LEARNERS BY DEDICATING AN EIGHTH OF A CENT SALES TAX TO PRE-K FOUR S A.
AND SINCE OUR LAUNCH, WE HAVE OPENED EDUCATION CENTERS, AWARDED GRANTS, BEEN TRAINING TEACHERS, AND WORKING WITH FAMILIES TO DEMONSTRATE OUR WORTH.
THE END OF THE EIGHT YEAR AUTHORIZATION WILL COME IN 2021.
PRE-K FOR SA IS AUTHORIZED UNDER THE BETTER JOBS ACT, WHICH GIVES CITY COUNCIL THE AUTHORITY TO INITIATE CERTAIN TYPES OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, INCLUDING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.
THIS STATUTE ALSO ALLOWS CITY COUNCIL TO CREATE A MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
FOR THE PURPOSES OF ADMINISTERING THAT INITIATIVE, COUNCIL APPROVES THE CORPORATION BYLAWS, APPOINTS BOARD MEMBERS, AND APPROVES THE CORPORATION BUDGET.
THE BETTER JOBS ACT ALSO PERMITS THE CITY TO LEVY A SALES TAX TO SUPPORT THE INITIATIVE, PROVIDED THAT THE SALES TAX IS NOT LESS THAN ONE EIGHTH OF 1% AND IS APPROVED BY A SIMPLE MAJORITY OF THE VOTERS IN AN ELECTION CALLED FOR THAT PURPOSE.
THE MISSION OF PRE-K FOUR S A IS TO DEVELOP A WORLD-CLASS WORKFORCE IN ONE GENERATION THROUGH HIGH QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.
THE PROGRAM DESIGN INCLUDES MODEL EDUCATION CENTERS, BEST IN CLASS, PROFESSIONAL LEARNING, COMPETITIVE GRANTS, AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT.
THROUGH THESE FOUR PILLARS, PRE-K FOUR S A WILL HAVE DELIVERED $21 MILLION IN GRANTS TO PUBLIC, PRIVATE, PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS.
AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERS SERVED OVER 21,000 CHILDREN IN OUR AWARD-WINNING EDUCATION CENTERS.
PROVIDED OVER 21,000 HOURS OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENT TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS ACROSS THE CITY, AND HAD NEARLY 73,000 INTERACTIONS WITH FAMILIES ALTOGETHER.
BY THE END OF OUR FIRST EIGHT YEAR AUTHORIZATION, WE WILL HAVE BENEFITED OVER 450,000 CHILDREN.
SO OUR BOARD HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE THAT WE WERE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE COMMUNITY, THAT WE WERE MAKING SURE WE WERE DELIVERING ON THE PROMISE, UH, TO THE VOTERS THAT THAT SUCCESSFULLY PA PASSED THIS PROGRAM.
WE'VE BEEN FOCUSED ON STUDENT SUCCESS METRICS, MAKING SURE WE REACHED OUT OUTSIDE OF OUR CENTER WALLS, FAMILY ENGAGEMENT AND SO FORTH.
AND WE'VE BEEN RELYING ON DATA IN PARTICULARLY THIRD
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PARTY EVALUATION TO ENSURE WE HAD THE DATA THAT WE NEEDED TO ASSESS THE VALUE OF THE PROGRAM.THE ANNUAL EXTERNAL EVALUATION SHOWS YEAR OVER YEAR CHILDREN COME INTO PRE-K FOUR S A BELOW THE NATIONAL NORM IN KEY MEASURES, AND THEY LEAVE US WELL ABOVE THE NATIONAL NORM MORE THAN READY FOR KINDERGARTEN.
THIS EVALUATION ALSO SHOWS THAT THE QUALITY OF INSTRUCTION IN PRE-K FOR SA CLASSROOMS IS CONSISTENTLY ABOVE THE RESEARCH THRESHOLD, THE POINT AT WHICH YOU CAN EXPECT LONG-TERM BENEFITS.
A RECENT FAMILY SURVEY SHOWS THAT OUR FAMILIES GIVE HIGH PRAISE TO THE PROGRAM.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE RESULTS SHOW THAT AFTER GOING THROUGH THE PRE-K FOR SA PROGRAM, FAMILIES ARE MORE CONFIDENT IN THEIR ABILITY TO SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION, ARE MORE LIKELY TO ENGAGE WITH THEIR CHILDREN TO SUPPORT ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT, HEALTHY HABITS, AND STRONG RELATIONSHIPS.
LAST YEAR, U T S A RELEASED A LONG-TERM IMPACT STUDY OF PRE-K FOUR S A AND THIS STUDY SHOWS THAT EVEN AFTER CHILDREN LEAVE PRE-K FOUR SS A, THERE ARE LASTING BENEFITS.
CHILDREN WHO WENT THROUGH PRE-K FOUR S A HAD BETTER THIRD GRADE READING SCORES, MATH SCORES, BETTER ATTENDANCE, AND LOWER SPECIAL EDUCATION RATES.
WELL, EVEN WITH THESE RESULTS, THERE IS STILL MORE WORK TO DO, UH, GOING FORWARD.
THE BOARD'S CHALLENGED THE STAFF TO ENSURE THAT WE COULD DEMONSTRATE THE VALUE ADD, UM, OUR VALUE PROPOSITION TO THE COMMUNITY, AND WHETHER OR NOT PRE-K FOR SA STILL HAS A ROLE TODAY.
WHAT IS OUR IMPACT AND WHAT CAN WE DO? SO STAFF RESPONDED.
SO TO CONTINUE DELIVERING ON THE PROMISE OF HIGH QUALITY EARLY LEARNING FOR THE NEXT EIGHT YEAR AUTHORIZATION, PRE-K FOUR S A PROPOSES TO CONTINUE OFFERING HIGH QUALITY PRE-K EDUCATION.
AT OUR FOUR MODEL EDUCATION CENTERS CONTINUE AWARDING GRANTS TO OTHER LEARNING PRO EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS TO HELP BUILD A QUALITY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR YOUNG LEARNERS ACROSS THE CITY.
CONTINUE OFFERING FREE BEST IN CLASS, UH, PROFESSIONAL LEARNING TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE HIGHLY SKILLED TEACHERS IN EVERY CLASSROOM ACROSS THE CITY AND SUPPORTING FAMILIES AND BEING STRONG ADVOCATES FOR THEIR CHILDREN.
IN ADDITION, WE INTEND TO EXPAND ACCESS TO 3000 FAMILIES WHO CURRENTLY DO NOT QUALIFY FOR FREE PUBLIC PRE-K AND CANNOT AFFORD IT IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
EXPANDING SERVICES FOR FAMILIES WHO FALL INTO THIS GAP IS CRITICAL BECAUSE WHILE THE LEGISLATURE INCREASED FUNDING FOR FULL DAY PRE-K LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA DID NOT CHANGE.
SO EVEN THOUGH SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO MOVE FROM HALF DAY TO FULL DAY, THEY WERE NOT GIVEN FUNDS TO SERVE ANY MORE CHILDREN.
AND 40% OF SAN ANTONIO'S FOUR YEAR OLDS DO NOT QUALIFY FOR FREE PUBLIC PRE-K.
AND WHILE WE KNOW THAT SOME OF THOSE FAMILIES CAN AFFORD IT IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, MANY CANNOT.
FOR EXAMPLE, A FAMILY OF FOUR WITH AN ANNUAL INCOME OF APPROXIMATELY $45,000 WOULD NOT QUALIFY FOR FREE PUBLIC PRE-K, BUT THEY WOULD NEED TO BE EARNING AT LEAST $65,000 IN ORDER TO AFFORD IT.
IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THESE ARE THE FAMILIES THAT WE INTEND TO SERVE.
AND THE WAY WE WILL DO THIS IS BY WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT PARTNERS AND OTHER PROGRAMS TO CREATE SEATS FOR THOSE 3000 FAMILIES.
WE'LL SERVE SOME OF THOSE IN OUR EDUCATION CENTERS, BUT THEN WE WILL HELP OUR PARTNER PROGRAMS TO CREATE SEATS IN THEIR OWN PROGRAM.
AND USING THIS MODEL, WE COULD CREATE ACCESS FOR ANY FAMILY IN SAN ANTONIO THAT WANTS ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY PRE-K EDUCATION FOR THEIR FOUR YEAR OLD.
THE NEXT, SO THE AUTHORIZATION ENDS IN JUNE, 2021, WHICH MEANS THAT REAUTHORIZATION WOULD BE REQUIRED IN 2020.
MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS PRE-K FOUR ESSAY HAS MADE A MEASURABLE POSITIVE IMPACT AND CONTINUE TO DO SO.
WE ACCREDITED A COURSE, THE CITIZENS WHO VOTED TO APPROVE THIS PROGRAM, ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO MADE SURE YOU WERE GOVERNING US IN THE RIGHT WAY.
OUR PRE-K FOR SA TEAM, OUR PARTNER DISTRICTS, THE GRANT RECIPIENTS, EVERYBODY THAT IS FOCUSED ON EDUCATING 40 YEAR OLDS ACROSS THIS COMMUNITY.
THEREFORE, THE BOARD RESPECTFULLY REQUESTS YOUR CONSIDERATION TO PUT PRE-K FOUR SA BEFORE THE CITIZENS FOR REAUTHORIZATION.
AND OF COURSE, INCLUDE, INCLUDE PRE-K FOUR SA ON THE MAY, 2020 BALLOT.
UH, AND, UH, WE ALSO HAVE A CLERK, EXCUSE ME, PRESENTATION REGARDING THE ELECTION CRITERIA.
UH, SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE THAT AND THEN WE'LL GET INTO COMMENT.
SO THIS ORDINANCE OFFICIALLY CALLS A SPECIAL ELECTION FOR SATURDAY MAY 2ND, 2020 FROM 7:00 AM TO 7:00 PM VOTERS WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE, OF COURSE, ON THE ADOPTION OF THE SALES AND USE TAX AT THE RATE OF ONE EIGHTH OF 1%
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FOR THE PURPOSE OF FINANCING AUTHORIZED PROGRAMS FOR THE SAN ANTONIO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, KNOWN AS PRE-K.THE ORDINANCE ALSO ESTABLISHES EARLY VOTING SITES, EARLY VOTING, UH, SITES TIMES, AS WELL AS ELECTION DAY SITES.
AND OF COURSE, ON ELECTION DAY AT SEVEN TO SEVEN, WE'LL PROVIDE FOR THE PUBLIC NOTICE THAT'S REQUIRED BY LAW, AND ALSO AUTHORIZES THE CITY TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH BEXAR COUNTY SO THAT THEY CAN CONDUCT THE ACTUAL ELECTION UTILIZING THEIR EQUIPMENT.
BEXAR COUNTY WILL FINALIZE THE EARLY VOTING AND ELECTION DAY VOTING CENTERS AT A LATER DATE.
AS YOU KNOW, TOMORROW IS THE LAST DAY TO FILE FOR A PLACE ON A BALLOT WITH, UH, OTHER ENTITIES THAT ARE HAVING GENERAL ELECTIONS.
SO THEREFORE, THAT INFORMATION IS NOT AVAILABLE TODAY.
THE MAY 2ND, 2020 ELECTION IS ESTIMATED TO COST APPROXIMATELY $900,000.
THESE ARE THE DRAFT, UH, SITES AT THIS MOMENT.
UH, A FINALIST, AS I SAID, WILL BE PROVIDED AT A LATER DATE BY BEXAR COUNTY.
AND OF COURSE, THE ELECTION CALENDAR SHOULD ONE, UM, DECIDE TO REGISTER TO VOTE, WHICH WE ENCOURAGE, THEY WILL HAVE TO DO SO BY APRIL THE SECOND 2020 TO VOTE IN THIS PARTICULAR ELECTION.
THE FIRST DAY OF EARLY VOTING BY PERSONAL APPEARANCE BEGINS APRIL 20TH.
AND THE LAST DAY FOR EARLY VOTING BY PERSONAL APPEARANCE IS APRIL 28TH.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE IS A CITY AND COUNTY HOLIDAY ON APRIL 24TH.
AND SO NO VOTING WILL BE CONDUCTED THAT DAY.
AND OF COURSE, THE ELECTION IS MAY 2ND, UH, FROM SEVEN TO 7:00 PM THIS, UH, ORDINANCE HAS BEEN COORDINATED WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AS WELL AS THE PRE-K FOR SA OFFICE, AND WE RECOMMEND APPROVAL.
UH, SARAH AND ELAINE FOR THE PRESENTATION.
WE DO HAVE A FEW FOLKS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, UH, ON THIS ITEM.
UH, AND FOR THE NOTE, UH, UH, TO NOTE FOR, UH, THE FOLKS IN ATTENDANCE TODAY, WE'RE GONNA GO THROUGH, UH, THE, THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM.
WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA TAKE A BRIEF RECESS, UH, FOR A TIME CERTAIN PRESS CONFERENCE, AND WE'RE GONNA COME IN FOR DELIBERATIONS ON THE COUNCIL.
WELL, MAYOR NUREMBERG, OTHER MEMBERS OF THE SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M.
FINGER, WHAT ARE WE GETTING FOR OUR MONEY? AND PRE-K FOUR SA HOW MUCH ARE WE SPENDING ON EACH AND EVERY SINGLE KID THAT GOES THROUGH THE PROGRAM? FROM WHAT I'VE LEARNED, PUT THAT RIGHT THERE.
THIS IS WHAT, FROM WHAT I, $11,470 PER PRE-K FOUR STUDENT.
PLEASE RETURN THE, UH, THE CAMERA NOW THAT'S ABOUT TWO OR 3000 MORE THAN THE AVERAGE.
UH, PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENT GETS TWO OR 3000 MORE FOR A CHILD, A TODDLER THAT ISN'T EVEN IN KINDERGARTEN YET.
WHAT ARE WE GETTING FOR THAT? WELL, THE, THE, THE INFORMATION THAT THE, UH, YOUR DEPARTMENT SAYS IS THAT THE PRE-K FOUR CLOSES THE GAP IN KINDER READINESS AND HAS LASTING EFFECTS, INCLUDING BETTER ATTENDANCE, DECREASED NEED FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES, AND BETTER THIRD GRADE MATH AND READING SCORES, THIRD GRADE MATH AND READING SCORES.
WELL, IT'S BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH.
WHAT ABOUT THE FOURTH GRADE MATH AND READING SCORES? WHAT ABOUT THE SECOND GRADE? MATH AND READING SCORES? I'M LOOKING FOR THESE THINGS.
LOOKING AT THE BACKUP DOCUMENTS FOR THE, UM, THE DOCUMENTATION FOR ALL THIS STUFF.
WE TODAY THE ONLY DOCUMENT, THE ONLY SOURCE WE HAVE IS, UH, BLOW UP THAT CIRCLED AREA.
WHAT'S, WHAT'S, WHAT'S THE SOURCE OF ALL THIS FROM THE, UH, EXPAND A LITTLE BIT MORE IF YOU CAN.
U T S A URBAN EDUCATION INSTITUTE.
I WOULD LIKE A MORE NEUTRAL ORGANIZATION OTHER THAN A GOVERNMENT AGENCY LIKE U T S A
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TO EXAMINE THIS STUFF.REALLY, I WOULD LIKE A NEUTRAL NON-PROFIT IT ORGANIZATION.
MAYBE LIKE THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
THAT CAN TELL US WHAT THE REAL EFFECTS ARE ON PRE-K S A FOR OUR KIDS.
FROM WHAT WE'VE LEARNED, IT'S REALLY JUST A GLORIFIED DAYCARE CENTER FOR THEM.
I MEAN, I MEAN THEY, THEY TAKE NAPS.
THEY GET, THEY EAT LUNCH AND THAT'S ABOUT HALF, HALF THE, THE PROGRAM FOR THE DAY FOR THEM.
AND, UH, THE OTHER QUICK QUESTION IS, WHY DIDN'T WE ASK THE STATE TO DO THIS FOR US? WHEN, WHEN THEY SAID THEY WERE OFFERING IT AND THEY DONE AND WE HAD TO ADD MORE TO IT? THANK YOU MR. FINGER.
STEPHANIE ADAMS. MS. ADAMS, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY MONICA STAR SPARKS.
OKAY, WELL, HELLO, MY NAME IS STEPHANIE ADAMS AND I AM A MEMBER OR I LIVE IN, SORRY, I LIVE IN DISTRICT 10.
UM, I'D LIKE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT MY DAUGHTER MADELINE.
MADDIE IS A STUDENT AT PRE-K FOUR SA ON THE EAST SIDE.
UM, SINCE STARTING THERE IN THE FALL, SHE HAS GROWN TREMENDOUSLY.
UM, SHE STARTED THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, A VERY TIMID, UM, SOCIALLY EMOTIONALLY WEAK CHILD.
UM, SHE WOULD GO INTO FULL HYSTERICS.
UM, SINCE STARTING THEN WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO, UM, LEARN HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH HER.
SHE USES, SHE USES WORDS LIKE, UM, I'M FRUSTRATED RIGHT NOW, MOM, AND THAT ALONE IS MORE THAN ANYTHING I COULD HAVE EVER ASKED FOR.
YES, SHE IS AMAZINGLY AVAILABLE.
AND, UM, SHE IS ABLE TO GO INTO A KINDERGARTEN CLASS RIGHT NOW AND BE WELL ABOVE WHATEVER SHE NEEDS TO DO.
SHE KNOWS HER A, B, C, SHE KNOWS HER 1, 2, 3.
SHE CAN SAY HER NAME, SHE CAN WRITE HER NAME, BUT IF THAT, SHE CAN DO THAT.
BUT IF SHE CAN'T CONTROL HER EMOTIONS AND SHE CAN'T LEARN HOW TO BE A STUDENT, THERE'S NO POINT.
SHE HAS THE ABILITY TO WALK IN AND SAY, HEY, THIS DOESN'T WORK FOR ME.
WHAT CAN I DO AS A STUDENT, AS A PERSON TO CHANGE THAT? AND THAT'S JUST WHAT WE'VE BEEN THERE FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS.
THIS IS OUR SECOND MONTH INTO THE SECOND SEMESTER.
UM, THE, THE FACT THAT WE ARE THERE.
I CHOSE THIS SCHOOL BECAUSE OF THAT, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW THAT WHEN I WENT INTO THAT SCHOOL I WAS GOING TO, I WAS GOING TO GAIN.
I HAVE PARENTS AS PARTNERS AND I'M ABLE TO WALK INTO THOSE CLASSROOMS AND HELP THIS, HELP THE TEACHERS HELP.
I VOLUNTEER AND DO SCHOOL DANCES WITH THEM.
I'VE DONE THE H E B UH, PRODUCE GIVEAWAY.
THERE'S NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT TO ME THAN MY, MY ADULT CHILD, EVENTUALLY MY CHILD GROWING UP TO BE AN ADULT AND NOT HAVING TO HAVE ANY EXTRA, UM, ANY EXTRA HELP ON THE BACKEND BECAUSE WE'RE FIXING IT NOW.
WE'RE DOING IT NOW WITH THE FOUR YEAR OLDS.
THE FOUR YEAR OLDS ARE THE FUTURE.
PRE-K FOUR SA IS THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION.
AND IT'S STARTING HERE IN OUR HEART IN SAN ANTONIO.
THERE IS NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN A CHILD GROWING UP TO BEING A SUCCESSFUL ADULT AND KNOWING HOW TO CONTROL THEIR EMOTIONS AND BEING ABLE TO WALK INTO GROUP AND KNOW HOW TO FIX WHAT'S GOING WRONG.
NOT LOOKING TO SOMEONE ELSE, BUT BEING ABLE TO DO IT BY THEMSELVES.
THERE'S NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT.
AND I JUST, I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT WE WERE ABLE TO COME IN AND BE A PART OF THIS PROGRAM.
MS. SPARKS, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY BRANDON LOGAN, I HAVE A LOUD VOICE.
I WANNA MAKE SURE I DON'T OVERPOWER THIS.
I AM A PARENT FROM PRE-K EAST.
UH, PRE-K IS MORE THAN JUST A PRESCHOOL.
IT'S A COMMUNITY, NOT JUST FOR THEIR STUDENTS, BUT FOR THE FAMILIES.
UH, WE HAVE A GROUP OF MOMS AND DADS WHO GET TOGETHER IN THE MORNING AND WE HELP OUT THE SCHOOL.
WE DO DANCES, WE DO SNOW FEST.
WE ARE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE WITH OUR KIDS IN THAT ENVIRONMENT.
AND A LOT OF PRESCHOOLS, YOU WON'T GET THAT.
UM, I HAVE AN EARLY CHILDHOOD BACKGROUND AND I KNOW FROM WORKING IN SOME OF THOSE PRESCHOOLS THAT THEY DON'T REALLY HAVE A LOT OF PARENT INVOLVEMENT, WHICH IS REALLY NICE FOR ME.
'CAUSE I LOVE BEING WITH MY KID AND KNOWING EVERYTHING SHE'S DOING.
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AND I LOVE KNOWING THAT THE TEACHERS ARE CONTINUING THEIR EDUCATION AND I LOVE KNOWING THAT THEY HAVE BACHELOR'S AND ASSOCIATES IN THIS FIELD.IT MEANS A LOT TO ME AS AN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATOR.
UH, MY HUSBAND'S A DISABLED VETERAN, UH, WITH HIS PAYCHECK, WE WEREN'T ABLE TO LOOK AT PRE-K I MEAN, LOOK AT FULL-TIME PRE-K FOR HER, IT WASN'T GONNA BE AN OPTION.
WE WERE LOOKING AT SENDING HER ONCE A WEEK FOR THE WHOLE MONTH FOR A HUNDRED DOLLARS.
THAT'S ALL SHE WAS GONNA BE ABLE TO GET.
'CAUSE THAT'S ALL WE COULD AFFORD.
WITH PRE-K FOR SA BEING ABLE TO BLESS US WITHOUT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT TUITION, IT WAS A BIG RELIEF ON MY HUSBAND AND ME.
'CAUSE MY HUSBAND CAN'T WORK AND I CAN'T WORK WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF MY HUSBAND.
SO THAT BENEFITS A LOT JUST FOR OUR FAMILY.
UM, RAELYN LOVES HER TEACHERS.
SHE WAS HAVING PROBLEM LEARNING HOW TO CONTROL HER EMOTIONS.
SHE WOULD GET SO EXCITED TO SEE HER FRIENDS ONCE A WEEK THAT SHE COULDN'T UNDERSTAND THE BOUNDARIES.
AND BEING ABLE TO GO TO PRE-K FOR ESSAYS HELPED HER WITH THAT.
SHE'S LEARNING TO NOT HUG PEOPLE SO TIGHT, NOT TO JUMP ON PEOPLE, BEING ABLE TO TALK AND JUST BE IN A SETTING WITH OTHER KIDS, WHICH WAS ONE OF MY MAIN CONCERNS FOR HER GOING TO KINDERGARTEN.
IF SHE DIDN'T HAVE THAT STRUCTURE YET, HOW IS SHE GONNA BE ABLE TO LEARN AND STILL WANT TO LEARN WITH OTHER KIDS IN THE ROOM WITHOUT OVERPOWERING THE TEACHER? THERE'S OTHER PROGRAMS THAT ARE OFFERED THAT I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT DOING WITH MY CHILD AS A TEACHER, LIKE THE CHEF PROGRAM, I GET TO GO IN ONCE A MONTH WITH MY DAUGHTER, WATCH THE OTHER STUDENTS LEARNING HOW TO MAKE HEALTHY FOOD HEALTHY OPTIONS.
AND IT MEANS A LOT FOR ME AS A PARENT KNOWING THAT MY CHILD'S LEARNING NOW WHAT SHE NEEDS TO LEARN IN ORDER WHEN SHE STARTS HER EDUCATION INSTEAD OF LEARNING AT KINDERGARTEN, THE STUFF SHE NEEDS TO LEARN EMOTIONALLY AND PHYSICALLY, LEARNING THAT SHE CAN DO HER LETTERS OR LEARNING HER NUMBERS BEFORE SHE GETS TO THAT POINT.
AND IT ISN'T ALL JUST ON ME AS A PARENT.
PRE-K FOR ESSAY HAS ALSO HELPED ME.
I USUALLY AM WITH MY KIDS 24 7 AND HAVING A PARENT CAFE THAT WE CAN GO TO.
I GET TO BE WITH OTHER PARENTS THAT HAVE THE SIMILAR THINGS GOING ON WITH THEIR CHILDREN.
LIKE I SAID, IT'S NOT JUST FOR THE STUDENTS.
PRE-K FOR ESSAY IS ALSO FOR THE FAMILIES.
AND I HOPE MY DAUGHTER IN TWO MORE YEARS GETS TO GO FOR PRE-K FOR SA.
SO IT'S NOT JUST FOR THE STUDENTS NOW, IT'S ALSO FOR THE STUDENTS IN THE FUTURE.
BRANDON LOGAN, MAYOR BERG, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.
GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
UH, I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T THANK, UH, DISTRICT TWO REPRESENTATIVE COUNCILWOMAN JADA ANDREW SULLIVAN, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE THIS IMPORTANT WORK.
UH, I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MY COLLEAGUES FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR PRE-K FOR SA IN FAVOR OF THE CONTINUANCE OF, UH, PRE-K FOR SA.
UH, JUST TO LEVEL SET, I WANT TO, UM, PUT A COUPLE POINTS IN PLACE SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND THIS, UM, CRITICAL JUNCTURE THAT WE'RE AT IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY.
UH, PRE-K FOR SA HAS PUT SAN ANTONIO ON THE MAP FOR THE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION FIELD.
SINCE 2012, SAN ANTONIO HAS LED THE NATION IN COMPREHENSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT IN HIGH QUALITY EARLY LEARNING.
PRE-K FOR SA HAS PROVEN THAT HIGH QUALITY PUBLIC PRE-K IS SCALABLE AND DRIVES RESULTS.
UH, IT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER BY CHAIRMAN MENDOZA AS WELL AS, UH, OUR C E O SARAH BERET ABOUT THE RECENT IMPACT STUDY THAT WAS CONDUCTED BY DR.
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATED IN PRE-K, UH, PERFORMED BETTER IN MATH AND READING.
UM, THEY'VE ALSO INCREASED ATTENDANCE, WHICH IS ESTIMATED TO GENERATE $23.2 MILLION OVER FIVE YEARS FOR SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
FROM A DISTRICT TWO PERSPECTIVE, UH, 263 STUDENTS SERVED IN THE 20 19 20 20 SCHOOL YEAR AS WELL AS 1,832 STUDENTS.
OVERALL, THAT'S NEARLY $250,000 AWARDED AND COMPETITIVE GRANTS TO EAST SIDE SCHOOLS, AS WELL AS IMPACTING OVER 3,600 STUDENTS.
WE'VE HAD 164 EDUCATORS SERVE THROUGH PROFESSIONAL LEARNING TOTALING MORE THAN 1000 INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS AND IMPACTING 56 CAMPUSES.
SO HERE'S THE VALUE PROPOSITION.
EVEN WITH THE ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT FROM THE STATE THROUGH HB THREE, MORE THAN 40% OF SAN ANTONIO'S FOUR YEAR OLDS REMAIN INELIGIBLE FOR PUBLIC PRE-K, INCLUDING 3000 CHILDREN WHOSE FAMILIES CANNOT AFFORD HIGH QUALITY PRE-K IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO FILL THAT GAP.
REAUTHORIZATION WILL ALLOW PRE-K FOR SAN ANTONIO TO CONTINUE DELIVERING RESULTS AND PROVIDE EVEN MORE SAN ANTONIO'S FOUR YEAR OLDS.
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QUALITY FULL DAY PRE-KINDERGARTEN, SAN ANTONIO'S FOUR YEAR OLDS WILL HAVE ACCESS TO CONTINUE TO SERVE SAN ANTONIO'S CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITH THE GREATEST EDUCATIONAL NEED AT FOUR BEST IN CLASS DEMONSTRATION SITES, WE WILL CREATE 3000 PLUS ADDITIONAL FREE SEATS FOR CHILDREN FROM MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES WITH A RANGE OF 45 TO $65,000.WE'LL ALSO OFFER FREE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING TO STRENGTHEN SAN ANTONIO'S EARLY LEARNING TEACHER CORPS.
WE'LL SUPPORT AND STRENGTHEN FAMILIES AS ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN AND INCREASE ACCESS TO THE WORKFORCE AND HIGHER EDUCATION THROUGH FAMILY ENGAGEMENT.
LASTLY, WE WILL AWARD GRANTS TO SUPPORT QUALITY EARLY LEARNING INFRASTRUCTURE ACROSS THE CITY.
WITH THAT, I ASK YOU TO CONSIDER VOTING TO PLACE PRE-K FOR ESSAY ON THE MAY BALLOT.
THANK YOU MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
UM, WE HAVE HEARD FROM ALL THE CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
UM, AND SO AT THIS POINT I'M GOING TO RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA TO START OFF OUR COUNCIL DELIBERATIONS.
I WANTED TO TAKE, UH, SOME TIME TO SAY THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE WHO STAYED BY THE WAY ALSO.
AND THANK YOU TO MS. MENDOZA AND DR.
UM, MY APPOINTEE, RICHARD PEREZ WAS, WAS HERE EARLIER.
UM, AND, UH, OF COURSE MY L S A 300 CLASSMATE, BRANDON LOGAN, UH, WHO I'M ALWAYS A FAN OF THE WORK HE DOES IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO, UM, I DO THINK THAT PRE-K FOR ESSAY IS, IS GREAT FOR OUR CHILDREN.
I THINK WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW OUR CHILDREN THAT WE LOVE THEM BY CONTINUING PRE-K FOR ESSAY.
UM, I JUST, I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
AND SO THE, UH, AND IN THEY'RE MINOR QUESTIONS.
SO THERE WAS A STAT THAT WAS GIVEN TO US EARLIER AND IT WAS AN INVESTMENT PER CHILD.
CAN YOU REMIND ME WHAT THE INVESTMENT PER CHILD IS? YES.
SO PRE-K FOR A, UM, SPENDS ABOUT $11,500 PER CHILD, UM, WHICH IS ABOUT $2,000 MORE PER CHILD THAN, UH, AN AVERAGE IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
BUT THAT INCLUDES THE EXTENDED DAY PROGRAM AS WELL.
SO WHEN YOU LOOK OUR AT AN HOURLY RATE, WE ACTUALLY ARE QUITE EFFICIENT AND LESS THAN MANY OF THE PROGRAMS. GREAT.
WHAT ABOUT THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THAT WE OFFER? I KNOW IT'S CRITICAL FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND OUR EDUCATORS.
CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHO'S ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THOSE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS? HOW OFTEN DO WE HOLD THEM, ET CETERA, AND AND WHAT DOES IT COST TO DISTRICTS? RIGHT.
SO OUR PROFESSIONAL LEARNING IS FREE OF CHARGE TO ANY EARLY LEARNING EDUCATOR IN SAN ANTONIO WHO'S WORKING WITH YOUNG CHILDREN BIRTH THROUGH AGE EIGHT.
SO THAT MEANS, UH, TEACHERS AND LEADERS IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, BUT ALSO IN OUR CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERS.
AND THAT'S OFFERED IN A VARIETY OF WAYS.
WE HAVE, UM, IN CLASSROOM, UH, COACHING FOR TEACHERS.
WE ALSO OFFER CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS TO HELP, UM, PEOPLE WHO ARE ASPIRING TO BE EARLY LEARNING TEACHERS GET INTO THE, UM, TO THE FIELD.
WE HELP DISTRICT LEADERS UNDERSTAND WHAT HIGH QUALITY EARLY LEARNING LOOKS LIKE.
SO WE PROVIDE, UM, WE'VE ALL TOLD OVER 21,000 PEOPLE HAVE PARTICIPATED IN OUR PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OVER THE EIGHT YEAR PERIOD.
UM, ACTUALLY THOSE WERE MY ONLY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE TEAM AND THANK YOU MAYOR.
OH, AND I'D LIKE TO MOTION THAT WE, UH, PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA OR, OR THAT WE, UM, PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT FOR MAY, 2020.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
UH, AS A LOT OF MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS KNOW, AND MAYBE SOME OTHER PEOPLE THAT, UH, I WAS A TEACHER FOR 27 YEARS AND FOR MANY OF THOSE YEARS I WAS A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER.
AND I TAUGHT STUDENTS, UH, OVER THE COURSE OF MY CAREER FROM EVERY GRADE, FROM KINDERGARTEN ALL THE WAY UP THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL.
AND AS A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER, I RECOGNIZED A LOT OF THE STUDENTS I TAUGHT HAD LEARNING DISABILITIES, UH, BUT A LOT OF 'EM HAD EMOTIONAL DISABILITIES OR EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS AS WELL AS THOSE LEARNING DISABILITIES.
SO I WAS REALLY TOUCHED BY THE PARENTS WHO SPOKE THIS MORNING AND TALKED ABOUT HOW THEY FELT, OR IT APPEARS HOW THEY FELT THAT, THAT THIS PROGRAM HAS REALLY HELPED THAT CHILD'S EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
AND, UH, I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT INGREDIENT TO THINK ABOUT AS, AS WE LOOK AT WHAT PRE-K FOUR SA DOES, THERE WAS, THERE WERE SO MANY TIMES THAT I WAS, UH, LITERALLY HEARTBROKEN WHEN I FOUND STUDENTS IN THE EIGHTH GRADE, NINTH GRADE, 10TH GRADE, 11TH GRADE THROUGHOUT MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL WHO WERE EMOTIONALLY HAVING PROBLEMS COPING WITH SCHOOL AND WHO WERE WAY BEHIND ON THEIR GRADE LEVEL WORK.
THEY WERE MAYBE TWO OR THREE OR FOUR GRADES BELOW WHERE THEY SHOULD BE BASED ON THEIR AGE.
AND IT OFTEN FRUSTRATED ME AS A
[00:50:01]
TEACHER TRYING TO HELP THOSE STUDENTS TRY TO HELP THEM CATCH UP.AND NOW I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A PROGRAM THAT SO FAR HAS, UH, HELPED 12,000 YOUNG CHILDREN MOVE AHEAD, NOT JUST CATCH UP, BUT GO AHEAD OF, UH, WHERE THEY SHOULD BE, UH, OVER THE COURSE OF THEIR EDUCATION AND APPROVING THIS PROGRAM FOR ANOTHER FIVE YEARS.
UH, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ANOTHER 10 OR 12,000 ADDITIONAL STUDENTS WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM THIS.
AND WE TALKED ABOUT CHANGING THE OUTCOME IN A GENERATION, AND THAT'S WHAT THIS GOAL IS.
AND A GENERATION IS PROBABLY ABOUT 20 YEARS.
AND SO SEEING A LOT OF THESE STUDENTS WHO NOW ARE IN THIRD GRADE OR FOURTH GRADE WHO'VE GONE THROUGH THE PROGRAM AND KNOWING ANOTHER FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, MANY OF THOSE CHILDREN WILL BE THROUGH NINTH AND 10TH GRADE, AND FIVE YEARS LATER THEY'LL BE GOING OUT INTO THE WORKFORCE.
THIS IS WHAT IS GOING TO TURN THE TIDE AND THE EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT LEVEL IN SAN ANTONIO AND WHAT IS GOING TO CREATE THE ECONOMIC DRIVER THAT WE NEED AN EDUCATED WORKFORCE THAT IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO ATTRACT GREAT COMPANIES TO COME TO SAN ANTONIO.
THIS IS A WONDERFUL PROGRAM AND IT'S HAVING GREAT SUCCESS.
AND WE WOULD BE CHEATING OURSELVES AS A CITY IF WE DIDN'T CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM AND HELP IT GROW BECAUSE IT'S REALLY SPREADING OUT INTO THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS THAT AREN'T PART OF PRE-K FOR SA THROUGH OUR TRAINING PROGRAMS, THROUGH OUR COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS TO HELP OTHER SCHOOLS START SIMILAR, UH, PROGRAMS WITHIN THEIR SCHOOL SYSTEMS. UH, AND SO, UH, I AM WHOLEHEARTEDLY BEHIND THIS PROGRAM.
I HOPE EVERYBODY IN MY PART OF THE COMMUNITY WILL BE BEHIND THIS.
AND, UH, I'M APPRECIATIVE OF THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE ARE BOARD MEMBERS WHO HAVE SUPPORTED THAT YOU, DR.
BERE, WHO WHO'VE REALLY BEEN INSPIRATIONAL IN DRIVING THIS IN THE YEARS YOU'VE BEEN THERE.
AND, UH, I WILL WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT THIS.
AND I, I BELIEVE, AND I'M SURE THE ENTIRE COUNCIL WILL, AND IT'LL BE THE BENEFIT, THE BETTERMENT OF THIS COMMUNITY OVER THE NEXT FIVE TO 10 YEARS.
AND, UH, NOT DOCTOR, BUT, UH, CHAIR, UH, MENDOZA.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR, UM, DEDICATION AND YOUR COMMITMENT ALL OF THESE YEARS AND FOR STANDING THIS PRE-K FOR ESSAY UP.
BERE, AND FOR THIS PRESENTATION AND ALL THE DATA THAT YOU'VE PROVIDED US AS WELL, VERY IMPORTANT.
AND ALSO THANK YOU FOR JUST REALLY LAYING OUT THE REALITY, UM, AND THE LAY OF THE LAND OF, EVEN WITH THE CHANGE AT THE STATE LEVEL, JUST THE, THE CONSTRAINTS THAT ARE STILL, THAT ARE STILL SET ON OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THAT WITH THIS EXPANSION, REMIND ME AGAIN, IF WE EXPAND THIS PRE-K AND IF IT GETS SELECTED BY THE VOTERS, HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO REACH IN THAT MIDDLE, UH, IN THE MIDDLE CLASS, IF YOU WILL? SO WE ESTIMATE THAT THERE ARE ABOUT 3000 FAMILIES THAT FALL IN THE, THAT HAVE A FOUR YEAR OLD THAT FALL IN THE 45,000 TO 65,000 ANNUAL SALARY.
AND WE INTEND TO REACH ALL OF THEM.
WE WON'T DO THAT THE FIRST YEAR.
BUT WITHIN SHORT ORDER WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE HEADED.
AND CLARIFYING FOR ME AGAIN, THIS RE REAUTHORIZATION WILL BE FOR HOW LONG? FIVE OR EIGHT, EIGHT YEARS IS THE PROPOSAL.
SO IT'LL BE AN EIGHT YEAR PROPOSAL, UM, FOR OUR ONE A SALES TAX.
UH, THANK YOU TO OUR, TO THE MOMS AND OUR, OUR PARENTS AND OUR SPEAKERS FROM PRE-K FOR ESSAY, BECAUSE I THINK YOU ALL ARE THE BEST ADVOCATES AND THE BEST AMBASSADORS FOR PRE-K HERE.
AND I DO WANNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU SHARED, UM, AS WELL ABOUT WHAT YOU SHARED THAT YOU SAW YOUR DAUGHTER GOING THROUGH, THAT SHE USED THE WORD FRUSTRATED AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE STATUS OF WOMEN REPORT, WE HAVE THE STATUS OF POVERTY REPORT.
WE'RE LOOKING AT ADVERSE CHILD EXPERIENCES AND ACES.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT OVER AND OVER AGAIN IS HOW ARE WE ADDRESSING THESE NEEDS UPSTREAM? THIS IS HOW WE ARE ADDRESSING THESE ITEMS UPSTREAM WITH THESE CONVERSATIONS, WITH TEACHING THESE SKILLS AND THESE, THESE LIFE SKILLS TO OUR FOUR-YEAR-OLDS WHO THEY ARE GOING TO STEP INTO CLASSROOMS PROBABLY WHEN THEY GET TO WHICHEVER OTHER SCHOOL FOR KINDER OR FOR FIRST GRADE, THEY'RE GONNA STEP IN AND PROBABLY TEACH THEIR TEACHERS SOMETHING ABOUT HOW TO USE THEIR WORDS AND WHAT TO SAY.
UM, AND THAT IS, THEY COULD TEACH US SOMETHING FOR SURE AS WELL UP HERE.
AND I APPRECIATE THAT AND I SEE HOW WE ARE, UM, ALREADY ADDRESSING THESE NEEDS.
AND LET'S CONNECT THE DOTS TO WHAT WE ARE DOING
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WITH OUR, UM, ACES AND OTHER PROGRAMS AND OTHER ITEMS ALREADY IN PRE-K FOR SA.UM, AND THAT THE, UH, THANK YOU FOR ALSO HIGHLIGHTING THAT THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA, UM, DID NOT CHANGE AT THE STATE LEVEL.
SO THAT'S ANOTHER REASON WHY WE NEED TO, I BELIEVE, CONTINUE TO INVEST IN PRE-K FOR SA ALSO, UM, IN, IN A, IN A SAME ACCORDANCE WITH WHAT MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE JUST MENTIONED, WE DID HAVE OUR ECONOMIC DEV, UH, WORKFORCE AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE YESTERDAY, AND THE S A E D F, THE SAN ANTONIO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION PRESENTED, YOU KNOW, THE REGIONAL, THEIR REGIONAL BUSINESS PLAN.
AND ONE OF THE ASSESSMENTS OF THE SCORECARD THAT THEY'VE GIVEN US IS STILL OUR EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT.
ONE OF THE COMMENTS MADE YESTERDAY WAS EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT WAS 10 YEARS AGO, AND IT'S STILL ONE OF OUR BIGGEST, UM, THINGS THAT WE NEED TO WORK ON IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
THIS IS PART OF THAT, THAT WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO INVEST IN OUR CHILDREN IN ORDER TO BREAK THAT CYCLE OF POVERTY AND HELP CONTINUE TO BUILD UP THOSE, UM, THOSE WORK SKILLS THAT WE NEED.
UM, SO WE KNOW THAT THE POVERTY REPORT ALSO SAYS THAT EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, BUT BECAUSE OF WHAT OUR FOUR YEAR OLDS ARE GONNA GAIN AND BECAUSE OF WHAT OUR PARENTS ARE ALSO EXPERIENCING, THIS IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO BUILD AND THAT GROUNDSWELL OF SUPPORT.
UM, I THINK I HAVE A QUESTION FOR CLARIFICATION FOR YOU.
CITY CLERK, UM, ON THE ELECTION, ON ELECTION DAY IN MAY 2ND, I BELIEVE IT WAS ON ELECTION DAY, IS THAT ALSO, UM, WHAT IS ALSO NEW IS THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO VOTE ANYWHERE ON ELECTION DAY, NOT JUST IN THEIR PRECINCTS.
IS THAT CORRECT? SO YES, THAT IS CORRECT.
UM, UH, DURING EARLY VOTING AS WELL, THIS, THE COUNTY HAS GONE TO VOTING CENTERS MM-HMM.
SO NOW PEOPLE WILL GET TO VOTE AT ANY OF THE VOTING CENTERS THAT ARE OPEN.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE, UM, A CENTER OR A POLLING SITE IN THEIR, IN THEIR DISTRICT OR THEIR AREA, UH, OR PRECINCT.
IT CAN BE AT ANY VOTING CENTERS THAT THE COUNTY HAS NOW OPENED UP.
AND WE'LL, UM, AS IT GETS CLOSER TO THE DATE, WE'LL HAVE THE DESIGNATED LOCATIONS FOR THOSE VOTING CENTERS.
UM, SO I WANT TO, AND THANK YOU AGAIN, I'LL SAY THIS AGAIN ALSO FOR YOUR WORK, FOR OUR EARLY C CHILDCARE CHILDHOOD CENTERS THAT YOU ALL ARE WORKING ON, BECAUSE IT WAS MENTIONED, WE ARE WORKING ON ZERO TO THREE YEAR OLDS TOO, AND YOU ALL ARE PART OF THAT, UM, HELP.
AND, UH, JUST FOR, AND I KNOW THAT THIS WILL BE CONTINUING AND, AND I DO FULLY SUPPORT THIS GOING ON THE BALLOT IN MAY BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY SEEN THE GREAT FRUITS AND OF THE LABOR THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING, AND WE KNOW THAT THERE'S STILL MORE WORK TO DO.
BUT WHAT I WOULD, UM, ENCOURAGE YOU AND, UM, AS WE DO SET UP, AND I THINK THIS IS FOR ERIC AS WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IS THAT THE CITY IS, WE'RE DOING OUR PART RIGHT NOW WITH THIS, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT WE ALSO NEED TO START SETTING OUR SIGHTS, THE BOARD, THE CITY, UM, TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT AFTER THESE EIGHT YEARS.
I'M VERY HOPEFUL, BUT BY THAT TIME, IF IT'S NOT AT A FEDERAL LEVEL, IT'S AT THE STATE LEVEL THAT WE WILL HAVE PRE-K, UM, NATIONALLY OR FEDERALLY OR STATEWIDE.
SO I WOULD HOPE THAT IN THIS NEXT EIGHT YEARS THAT THE BOARD, THE CITY IS START, IS STARTING TO TAKE THE APPROPRIATE STEPS TO LOOK AT OUR EXIT STRATEGY FROM PRE-K FOR SA, THAT WE EITHER TURN IT OVER TO, UM, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THAT WE ALREADY WORK ON OUR STRATEGY TO TURN IT OVER TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS OR TO THE STATE, OR TO WHATEVER OTHER COMBINATION THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.
BUT THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, THE LOCAL MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, WOULD START STEPPING AWAY FROM THAT BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN THE NEXT EIGHT YEARS THAT WE WILL BE, UM, THERE WILL BE SOMETHING ELSE AT A FEDERAL POLICY OR OTHER POLICY THAT WILL NOT NEED US TO BE THERE OR THAT WE REALLY NEED TO BE WORKING ON THAT.
AND THAT SHOULD BE OUR END GOAL, THAT WE STEP AWAY WHERE THE FEDERAL OR THE STATE CAN STEP IN.
UM, BUT LET US SERVE AS THAT SHINING EXAMPLE AND SAY, HERE, HERE YOU GO, WORK ON THIS.
BUT I THINK WE AS A CITY DO NEED TO START STEPPING AWAY AFTER THESE NEXT EIGHT YEARS.
AND, UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR, UH, EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING.
I ESPECIALLY WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO BRANDON LOGAN FOR ALL HIS WORK WITH THE ICE SKATING RINK AT TRAVIS PARK.
I I SAW KIDS FROM ALL OVER OUR CITY, SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT TO SAN ANTONIO, AND WE HOPE THAT WE CAN HAVE THAT AGAIN NEXT YEAR.
UH, SO, UM, JUST REGARDING THE PRE-K FOR SA, I AM A BIG SUPPORTER.
I HAVE BEEN FOR A LONG TIME, ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL FOR ME BECAUSE I HAVE THREE CHILDREN, UM, UNDER THE AGE OF FIVE.
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PRESCHOOL IS, UH, VERY, UM, POIGNANT IN MY LIFE.UH, AND THE EXPENSE OF IT ALL, UH, CAN BE VERY OVERWHELMING.
UH, I KNOW THAT, UM, CHILDCARE, UH, COSTS NEARLY A THOUSAND DOLLARS A MONTH PER CHILD, UH, FOR AN A C ACCREDITED CENTER.
UM, AND IF YOU CAN JUST DO THE MATH QUICKLY, THAT MEANS $3,000 A MONTH IN MY HOUSEHOLD JUST FOR CHILDCARE.
SO IT IS AN INCREDIBLE BURDEN FOR FAMILIES, UM, TO HAVE, TO PAY FOR, UH, FOR THIS KIND OF, OF SUPPORT.
UM, AND WE KNOW THERE ARE MULTIPLE PROGRAMS AVAILABLE, HEAD START FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE, UM, A VERY LOW INCOME.
UH, AND THEN WE HAD OUR PRE-K CENTERS THAT WERE KIND OF COVERING, UM, THE MIDDLE RANGE OF THAT.
AND THEN FOR EVERYBODY ELSE, WE JUST HAVE TO PAY PRIVATELY.
UM, AND WHAT I, THE NUMBERS I MENTIONED ARE ON THE HIGH END, BUT THEY'RE NOT SO, UM, OUT OF REACH FOR MOST WHAT MOST FAMILIES ARE PAYING.
UH, SO, BUT I, I DO AND, AND SO I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROGRAM.
I ESPECIALLY, UM, WANT TO, UM, I HAVE A REPORT HERE.
THERE'S A COUPLE OF AREAS, UH, THAT PRE-K SUPPORTS.
IT'S THE CENTERS, UH, PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES AND ADVOCACY, WHICH WE KNOW IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
AND THEN THE AWARDS, UH, AND GRANTS SUPPORT FOR EARLY LEARNING CENTERS AND INFRASTRUCTURE ACROSS THE CITY.
WE HAVE GREAT EXAMPLES LIKE GARDENDALE ELEMENTARY, BUT THE ONE PART THAT DOES GIVE ME PAUSE, UM, IS THE ADDITIONAL FREE SEATS FOR CHILDREN FROM MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES, UH, 45 TO 65,000.
UH, AND WE KNOW THAT CURRENTLY, UM, A FAMILY THAT IS, DOESN'T FALL INTO THESE CATEGORIES, DOES PAY, BUT ON A SLIDING SCALE.
SO WHY NOT CONTINUE THE MODEL OF A SLIDING SCALE FOR FAMILIES THAT HAVE, UM, SLIGHTLY HIGHER INCOMES? YEAH.
SO, UM, THE IDEA THOUGH IS THAT, AS YOU MENTIONED, THERE ARE LOTS OF COSTS WITH YOUNG CHILDREN, AND THIS IS THE SPACE IN WHICH WE COULD HELP FAMILIES TAKE, REDUCE THAT BURDEN SO THAT THEN THEY HAVE INCOME THAT THEY CAN SPEND ON OTHER THINGS, THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT FOR THEIR CHIL CHILDREN'S DEVELOPMENT AS WELL.
AND AS YOU, YOU MAY HAVE SEEN IN THE PAPER TODAY, THERE WAS A, UM, ARTICLE ABOUT, UH, A DONOR WHO GAVE $5,000 TO ONE OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO ERASE THE LUNCH DEBT FOR CHILDREN WHO DON'T QUALIFY FOR FREE PRE-K OR FOR FREE LUNCH, BUT, BUT HAD, SO THEY WERE PAYING FOR IT EVEN AT A REDUCED RATE, STILL HAD DEBT.
IT'S THAT THERE'S A GROUP OF FAMILIES THAT EVEN A SLIDING SCALE TUITION IS TOO MUCH FOR THEM TO PAY.
AND WE SEE THIS EVEN WITH OUR FAMILIES WHO ARE ON SLIDING SCALE.
WE WORK WITH A LOT OF THEM TO SAY, HOW CAN YOU PAY THIS OFF? BECAUSE THEY'RE UNABLE, EVEN WITH A VERY SMALL AMOUNT TO MAKE THAT PAYMENT BECAUSE IT'S A CHOICE BETWEEN PAYING THIS BILL, OR IF A CAR BREAKS DOWN OR THEY HAVE A MEDIC UNEXPECTED MEDICAL BILL, THEN THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY THE TUITION.
SO THIS IS A WAY TO HELP THOSE FAMILIES THAT WE KNOW ARE IN THAT GAP AND REALLY STRUGGLING EVEN WITH SMALL SLIDING SCALE TUITION BENEFITS.
SO THE POVERTY REPORT WAS MENTIONED.
I, I KNOW THAT YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THAT, AND THOSE NUMBERS ARE NOT NEWS TO YOU ALL WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING IN THE EDUCATIONAL FIELD FOR A LONG TIME.
UM, THE STATUS OF WOMEN REPORT, WE KNOW THAT MANY OF, UH, THE FAMILIES THAT, UH, ESPECIALLY IN THE HEAD START PROGRAM, UH, ARE SINGLE MOMS WHO NEED A LOT OF SUPPORT.
UM, BUT I I, I RATHER THAN FOCUS ON THIS AREA OF THE EIGHT, 3000 SEATS, UH, FOR CHILDREN OF, OF MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US DO THAT ON A SLIDING SCALE AS YOU CURRENTLY DO, AND REALLY FOCUS THE ATTENTION ON THE THREE-YEAR-OLDS.
SO, UM, I KNOW THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LOT OVER THE YEARS ABOUT EXPANDING THE PROGRAM TO THREE AND FOUR YEAR OLDS.
UH, MANY OF THE, THE PROGRAMS THAT MY CHILDREN ARE PARTICIPATING IN ARE FOR THREE, FOUR, AND FIVE YEAR OLDS.
THAT'S VERY HELPFUL BECAUSE IT MEANS I ONLY HAVE TO MAKE ONE DROP OFF BECAUSE THE CHILDREN ARE SIMILAR IN AGES.
IT'S AN INCREDIBLE SUPPORT AS WELL.
IF YOU CAN HAVE CHILDREN, UH, IN DIFFERENT AGES, UH, IN THERE, BECAUSE YOU COULD HAVE A CHILD WHO JUST TURNED THREE AND A CHILD WHO'S NOW FIVE BECAUSE THEY START AT FOUR AND WILL TURN FIVE IN THAT SCHOOL YEAR.
UM, AND ALSO REALLY FOCUS ON THE CURRENT AREA THAT YOU'RE SERVING, WHICH IS THE PEOPLE AROUND $45,000 OR LESS, AND EXPAND TO THREE YEAR OLDS.
UM, ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I THINK THIS IS SO IMPORTANT, UH, ASIDE FROM THE EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT AND, AND THE QUALITY PROGRAMMING, WE KNOW ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT, BUT WHAT I THINK IS MOST IMPORTANT FOR, FOR OUR FAMILIES, AND I CAN SAY THIS VERY HONESTLY AS A MOTHER, IS THE SUPPORT SYSTEMS AROUND, UH, HAVING YOUR CHILD IN A SCHOOL OR IN A CENTER WHERE YOU HAVE THE FAMILY SUPPORT.
[01:05:01]
KNOW I HAVE A NO LESS THAN FIVE PEOPLE I CAN CALL ON AT ANY GIVEN DAY TO HELP ME.UM, AND I COULDN'T DO EVERYTHING THAT I DO, UH, HERE ON THE COUNCIL, UH, AND AT HOME AND IN MY BUSINESS, AND THEN IN MY LIFE, IF I COULDN'T IMMEDIATELY CALL ON THOSE PEOPLE TO HELP ME.
AND SOME OF THOSE, THOSE PEOPLE ARE THE MOMS AT THE CHILDREN'S SCHOOL.
SO IF WE COULD GET OUR CHILDREN AT THE EARLIEST AGE POSSIBLE, CONNECTED TO THOSE SERVICES, I THINK IT WOULD BE A GREATER BENEFIT THAN THIS AGE GROUP, UH, OR, OR RATHER INCOME LEVEL.
UM, UH, AND, AND SUPPORTING THAT, UM, A THAT PART OF IT.
SO I WOULD ASK FOR YOUR BOARD TO RECONSIDER, UH, THAT AS YOU MOVE FORWARD, I, I WANNA CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAM.
UM, AND, BUT IT WOULD REALLY, I BELIEVE, BE MUCH MORE HELPFUL TO FAMILIES IF YOU WOULD START AT THREE, UH, AND THEN ONCE YOU HAD THEM AT THE THREE YEARS OLD.
UM, SO I MEAN, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, TWO AND 11 AND A HALF MONTHS, I MEAN, A YEARS OLD, I MEAN, A WHOLE OTHER YEAR OF WHICH WE COULD BE SUPPORTING FAMILIES IF YOU CONCENTRATED ON THREE-YEAR-OLDS AND NOT CLOSING THAT GAP OF INCOME.
UM, I, I, I, I UNDERSTAND, UM, THE BURDEN THAT IT PLACES ON FAMILIES TO HAVE TO PAY, BUT THE GREATER BURDEN IS NOT HAVING THE SUPPORT.
UH, SO PLEASE RECONSIDER THAT, UH, AS YOU GO THROUGH YOUR, UM, YOUR, UH, BOARD, UM, RECOMMENDATIONS.
UM, THE STATISTICS, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION THIS MORNING.
THE STATISTICS AND OUTCOMES YOU PRESENTED ARE ENCOURAGING AND ENLIGHTENING AND, UM, VERY IMPRESSIVE.
SO I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAM.
UM, WILL YOU PLEASE GIMME THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS OR FAMILIES FROM DISTRICT SIX THAT PARTICIPATE IN PRE-K FOUR S A? I DON'T HAVE THOSE OFFHAND, BUT I CAN GET, CERTAINLY GET THOSE FOR YOU.
THEY'RE IN THE, WE ISSUE THEM IN THE QUARTERLY REPORT, AND SO I CAN, AND ONE IS DUE OUT, SO WE'LL, WE'LL GET THAT FOR YOU.
UM, I ALSO AM CURIOUS ABOUT THE NUMBER OF THOSE, THOSE SAME STUDENTS OR FAMILIES THAT ARE PARTICIPATE IN PRE-K FOR S A THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR, UH, PRE-K FROM IN MY DISTRICTS, IT'S NORTHSIDE OR EDGEWOOD, I S D.
DO YOU HAVE THOSE NUMBERS AS WELL? I, WE DO HAVE THOSE, AND I CAN CERTAINLY PROVIDE THOSE TO YOU.
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA OF HOW, HOW MANY OF THEM OVERLAP OR WHAT PERCENTAGE OR, SO THE MAJORITY OF CHILDREN WE SERVE ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FREE PUBLIC PRE-K, BUT INCREASINGLY WE'VE BEEN SERVING THOSE THAT ARE NOT ELIGIBLE AS THE DISTRICTS ARE RAMPING UP THEIR PROGRAMS AND THEY'RE ABLE TO SERVE MORE ELIGIBLE, THAT ALLOWS US TO SERVE MORE OF THOSE CHILDREN WHO FALL IN THE GAP.
AND SO THAT'S SHIFTING A LITTLE BIT.
ON AVERAGE, WE SERVE ABOUT 80% OF OUR CHILDREN ARE ELIGIBLE AND ABOUT 20% ARE NOT ELIGIBLE.
ARE YOU WORKING WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO TRANSITION THEM OVER AS, AS THEIR PROGRAMS RAMP UP? YEAH.
SO SOME OF THE DISTRICTS ARE ALREADY, THEY HAVE CAPACITY AND OTHER DISTRICTS DON'T YET HAVE CAPACITY, YOU KNOW, WITH HB THREE JUST PASSED IN JUNE.
SO THEY'RE RAMPING UP TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
AND AS THEY DO, THAT'S, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A MEETING SCHEDULED TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? GREAT.
UM, BECAUSE MY CONCERN IS THE ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES, RIGHT? IF, IF THEY'RE ABLE TO GET, UM, FREE PRE-K AT THEIR PUBLIC SCHOOL, THEN WE HAVE MORE ROOM AT PRE-K FOUR SS A FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO, TO PREVIOUSLY FIND PRE-K, MY, MY PARTICULARLY MY CONSTITUENTS HAVE EXPRESSED A CONCERN ABOUT A PIPELINE FROM PRE-K FOUR SS A TO NOT THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, UM, TO CHARTER SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT.
SO CAN YOU CLARIFY THE PARTNERSHIP THAT IN ONE OF THE SLIDES YOU MENTIONED PARTNERSHIPS WITH SCHOOL, NOT JUST SCHOOL DISTRICTS, BUT OTHER, UM, ENTITIES.
CAN YOU CLARIFY THE PARTNERSHIP FOR, UM, WITH PRE-K FOR SS A AND SPECIFICALLY FRONTIER? YEAH.
SO WITH OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, WE HAVE AN M O U THAT LAYS OUT THE CONDITIONS OF THAT.
AND, AND THERE'S SPECI, WE DO SPECIFIC WORK WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AROUND THEIR PROFESSIONAL LEARNING, BUT ALSO HELPING FAMILIES TO MATRICULATE FROM PRE-K FOR S A INTO THEIR LOCAL DISTRICT.
THEIR CHILDREN ARE ACTUALLY DUALLY ENROLLED IN THEIR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND PRE-K FOR S A, SO THEY'RE ACTUALLY ALREADY THE DISTRICT'S STUDENTS.
UM, AND WE'RE RIGHT NOW IN THE MIDDLE OF WHAT WE CALL OUR WELCOME TO KINDER EVENTS.
SO WE'VE INVITED DISTRICT FOLKS TO COME OUT AND TO TALK WITH FAMILIES ABOUT WHAT PROGRAMS THEY OFFER, UM, TO HELP FAMILIES UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PROCESS IS OF TRANSITIONING TO KINDERGARTEN.
AND THEN NEXT MONTH, UM, FAMILIES WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO WITH THEIR CHILD TO VISIT AN ACTUAL KINDERGARTEN CLASSROOM IN THEIR DISTRICT SO THAT THEIR, WE REALLY TRY TO DO A WARM HANDOFF, HIGH QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION REQUIRES THAT WE HAVE, UM, A, A CLEAR TRANSITION PLAN TO KINDERGARTEN.
NOW, SOME OF THE FAMILIES DO CHOOSE TO EXERCISE OTHER OPTIONS.
WE DON'T HAVE DIRECT PARTNERSHIPS WITH, UM, MOST OF THE OTHER PROGRAMS. AND SO WE SUPPORT FAMILIES IN, IN WHAT THEY WANT TO DO, BUT WE DON'T PROVIDE, LIKE THE, THE CHARTER PROGRAMS DON'T COME IN AND RECRUIT OR GET TO HAVE THAT, UM, RELATIONSHIP WITH FAMILIES.
'CAUSE WE DON'T HAVE FORMAL PARTNERSHIPS.
THE EXCEPTION TO THAT IS, UM, THE NEW FRONTIERS CHARTER SCHOOL, WHICH IS A SMALL CHARTER SCHOOL NOT
[01:10:01]
FAR FROM OUR SOUTH CENTER.AND WE ENTERED INTO THAT PARTNERSHIP TO KIND OF EXPLORE WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE BECAUSE NEW FRONTIERS DOESN'T OFFER PRE-K, AND YET THEY HAD FAMILIES THAT NEEDED IT.
AND SO THE FAMILIES WERE ALREADY COMING TO PRE-K, FIRST AID, BUT THEY WEREN'T ELIGIBLE BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T EN, THEY WEREN'T CONNECTED TO A A SCHOOL.
AND SO THIS WAS A WAY TO SAY, WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE IF WE DID PARTNER TO FIGURE OUT, UM, FOR SOME OF THESE SMALLER CHARTERS, IS THERE POTENTIAL THERE? AND IT'S, IT'S STILL, WE DON'T SERVE THAT MANY FAMILIES FROM NEW FRONTIERS 'CAUSE IT'S A VERY SMALL SCHOOL.
AND WHETHER THAT WILL CONTINUE, UM, REMAINS TO BE SEEN JUST BECAUSE WE'RE KIND OF EVALUATING.
HOW DOES THAT WORK? WHAT IS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT, UM, IN THAT, IN THAT AREA THAT YOU MENTIONED? IT WAS SOUTH EDGEWOOD, I BELIEVE.
UM, AND I KNOW I, I SHOULD JUST RECENTLY MET WITH AN EDGEWOOD BOARD MEMBER WHO WAS TALKING ABOUT THEIR, UM, PRE-K PROGRAM AND HOW IT'S MORE RECENTLY, UM, UM, THEY'VE INCREASED THEIR MEMBERSHIP AND NOT MEMBERSHIP, I GUESS, THEIR STUDENTS.
UM, SO I'D LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THAT.
UM, AND I DID, I HEAR YOU CORRECTLY THAT THE DUAL, THERE'S DUAL, EVERY STUDENT AT PRE-K FOUR SS A IS DUALLY ENROLLED IN A PUBLIC SY SYSTEM.
STUDENTS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE AND WHO LIVE WITHIN ONE OF OUR PARTNERING DISTRICTS ARE DUALLY ENROLLED.
AND THAT ALLOWS THE DISTRICT TO GET CREDIT FOR THE STUDENTS AND ALSO TO PULL DOWN STATE FUNDING.
AND THEN WE ASK FOR THE MAJORITY OF THAT FUNDING IN RETURN FOR PROVIDING THE, UM, EDUCATION, UH, TO THEM.
AND FINALLY, CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE, THE RETENTION SUCCESS OF EACH COHORT? I'M SORRY, THE RETENTION, THE RETENTION SUCCESS OF EACH COHORT? ARE THEY STAYING WITHIN THE PROGRAM? UM, WHERE ARE THEY GOING AFTER? OH, WHERE THEY'RE GOING AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE, WELL, SORRY, I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU.
BUT FIRST ARE THEY STAYING IN THE PROGRAM? THEY START, UM, DO THEY, DO THEY STAY WITHIN OH, FROM THE BEGINNING OR FROM THE, OF THE SCHOOL YEAR TO THE END? I MEAN, WE HAVE SIMILAR, UM, FAMILIES MOVE AND SO SOMETIMES THEY'LL MOVE FROM CENTER TO CENTER OR, AND IT IS ONE OF THE CHALLENGES.
OFTENTIMES WHEN FAMILIES MOVE, THEN THEY DON'T WANT TO GO ENROLL SOMEPLACE ELSE.
SO WE HAVE VERY, OUR FAMILY ENGAGEMENT TEAM, THAT'S PART OF WHAT THEY DO, IS CONNECT WITH THE FAMILIES TO SAY, EVEN IF YOU HAVE TO MOVE, UM, YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME AND MAYBE THERE'S TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS FOR YOU OR CONNECTING YOU TO A PROGRAM THAT'S WITHIN CLOSER TO WHERE YOU ARE.
UM, AS YOU'RE WELL AWARE, MANY OF THE, THE FAMILIES WE SERVE, UH, LIVE IN POVERTY, WHICH MEANS THEY'RE OFTEN CHASING RENT AND, AND FREQUENT MOVES ARE VERY COMMON, BUT YES.
UM, BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR CHILDREN DO STAY WITH US.
BUT WE ACCEPT CHILDREN ALL THE WAY UP UNTIL THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL, HONESTLY, BECAUSE EVEN ONE DAY OF PRE-K IS VALUABLE.
AND SO WE CONTINUE EVEN NOW TO ENCOURAGE FAMILIES TO ENROLL THEIR CHILDREN IF THEY HAVEN'T BEFORE.
SOME FAMILIES, PARTICULARLY IF IT'S THEIR FIRST FOUR YEAR OLD OR THEIR FIRST CHILD, THEY DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW AND SOMEONE ABOUT THE, THAT THIS IS AVAILABLE.
AND SO WE DO A LOT OF OUTREACH TO LET THEM KNOW AND CONTINUE TO ENROLL WITH THEM.
I KNOW THAT YOU'RE TRACKING THE ACADEMIC SUCCESS OF THE, THE STUDENTS THAT LEAVE, UH, PRE-K FIRST SAYING GO ON TO, UM, WHAT WHATEVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THEY GO ON TO.
BUT ARE YOU, UM, WELL, AND I ASSUME THAT PART OF THAT IS TRACKING WHERE THEY'RE GOING.
SO DO YOU, CAN YOU TELL ME MORE OR LESS WHERE THEY GO? IS IT TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM? IS IT THE MAJORITY OF 'EM GO TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS, BUT IT'S, IT'S SIMILAR TO WHERE IF YOU LOOK AT, UH, DEMOGRAPHICS ACROSS THE CITY, I MEAN, SAN ANTONIO HAS A NUMBER OF FAMILIES THAT ARE ENROLLING IN CHARTER SCHOOLS, AND WE ALSO HAVE A VERY STRONG PAROCHIAL SCHOOL SYSTEM.
AND SO OUR FAMILIES DO WHAT THE FAMILIES DO AT OTHER GRADE LEVELS.
UM, EXERCISE THEIR OPTIONS AROUND THOSE, UM, DIFFERENT, UM, OPPORTUNITIES.
BUT THE MAJORITY OF THEM DO GO TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
I ACTUALLY HAVE, THEY, THEY'VE PULLED UP THE OH, GREAT.
THE WONDER OF, UH, OF, OF DIGITAL DATA.
SO THERE ARE CURRENTLY 213, UM, CHILDREN ENROLLED IN OUR CENTERS IN TWO, IN THE 20 19, 20 SCHOOL YEAR.
UM, THE TOTAL OVER UP TO DATE IS, UM, 1,546 FROM MY FOUR.
SO TWO 13 CURRENTLY, AND THEN TOTAL 1546.
AND THANK Y'ALL FOR COMING BACK AGAIN.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE'VE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS NOW AND, UH, UH, I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT WE WERE GONNA GO THROUGH THE MERITS OF THE PROGRAM AGAIN, I THINK WE'VE DISCUSSED THAT AND I'VE GIVEN YOU MY CONCERNS.
UM, I THINK IT NEEDS TO STAY IN NOVEMBER.
AND, AND SOME OF MY COMMENTS TO THAT IS, UH, LEMME START WITH SOME QUESTIONS.
I DON'T KNOW LETICIA OR ERIC, UH, NUMBER ONE, DID WE BUDGET FOR THIS NINE, ALMOST A MILLION DOLLARS FOR THIS YEAR, COUNCILMAN? UH, NO, WE DIDN'T.
BUT AS PART OF THIS ORDINANCE TODAY, WE'RE ALLOCATING, UH, MONEY FROM THE PRE-K FOR SA FUND TO PAY FOR THE COST OF THAT ELECTION.
SO MONEY OUT OF OUR ALREADY 8 CENT SALES TAX
[01:15:01]
WILL BE PAYING FOR THIS.SO WE'RE TAKING A MILLION DOLLARS AWAY FROM THIS PROGRAM TO PAY FOR THE, UM, PLACING IT ON THE BALLOT.
WE, OUR, OUR RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WE UTILIZE THE FUNDS FROM THE PRE-K FOR SA PROGRAM TO PAY FOR THE COST OF THAT ELECTION.
UM, YEAH, I GOT A PROBLEM WITH THAT.
YOU KNOW, WOULD WE BE PAYING THIS MILLION DOLLARS IF IT WERE TO REMAIN IN NOVEMBER? COUNCILMAN? UH, IF, IF, UH, IF THE COUNCIL CHOOSES TO ADD IT TO THE NOVEMBER BALLOT, THEN THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION WILL LIKELY BE THE, WILL BE THE SAME THAT WE FUND, UH, THE COST THAT ELECTION OUT OF THE PRE-K FOR SA BUDGET.
UM, YEAH, I, I, I DON'T, I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT BECAUSE WE, WE DO OTHER BALLOT BALLOTS OUT OF THERE, AND WE WE'RE NOT REALLY TAKING 'EM FROM ANY PARTICULAR PROGRAM.
SO IT USUALLY COMES OUT OF OUR, EITHER OUR GENERAL FUND OR, UH, OUT OF CONTINGENCY FUNDS IN THE CITY.
I, AND, UH, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT DO WE GO INTO DIFFERENT ACCOUNTS TO PAY FOR ELECTIONS? CER CERTAINLY FOR, UH, ELECTIONS, FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS OR BOND ELECTIONS? THOSE ARE FUNDED OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND, BUT I THINK IT'S COMPLETELY APPROPRIATE IN THIS CASE TO UTILIZE THE FUNDS FROM THIS DESIGNATED PROGRAM AND DESIGNATED REVENUES TO FUND, UH, THE COST OF THAT ELECTION.
UH, WELL, I, I GUESS I'M HAVING A
AND WOULD THAT, WOULD THIS INDIVIDUAL ITEM CO BEAR THE ENTIRE COST OF THAT ALMOST MILLION DOLLARS FOR NOVEMBER IF WE LEFT IT IN NOVEMBER? OR WOULD IT BE A PORTION? WELL, I, I, AND LETICIA CAN JUMP IN, BUT WE PAY A PORTION DEPENDING ON WHAT'S ON THE ENTIRE BALLOT.
UM, THE, UH, WE PAY A PORTION OF THAT COST.
SO, UM, THE PRELIMINARY CONVERSATIONS THAT THE CLERK'S OFFICES HAD WITH THE ELECTIONS OFFICE AT THE COUNTY IS THAT, UH, OUR CURRENT, UH, PORTION IS ESTIMATED TO BE $900,000 FOR MAY.
BUT WHAT ABOUT IN NOVEMBER? SO FOR NOVEMBER, IT WOULD DEPEND ON THE TOTAL ENTITIES THAT ARE GOING TO JOIN IN, IN THAT PARTICULAR JOINT ELECTION.
AND AT THIS TIME, WE DON'T KNOW WHO THOSE ARE, BUT IT'S A, A NATIONAL ELECTION, WHICH THAT'S CORRECT.
WILL BE A NUMBER OF THAT'S CORRECT.
SO WE KNOW, WE KNOW THAT COMPONENT, BUT WE DON'T KNOW THE REST.
SO JUST LIKE TODAY WHEN I PRESENTED, WE DON'T KNOW WHO THE OTHER ENTITIES ARE UNTIL THE LAST FILING DATE.
THAT'S NEXT WEEK, OR THAT'S TOMORROW.
SO THEN WE WILL HAVE A BETTER IDEA OF OUR COSTS.
WE ARE ESTIMATING TODAY 900,000 FOR MAY, FOR MAY.
IT COULD BE LESS, DEPENDING ON HOW MANY ENTITIES JOIN IN AND HAVE THEIR ELECTION IN MAY VERSUS NOVEMBER.
DO WE KNOW WHAT OTHER ENTITIES RIGHT NOW FOR MAY, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS AS WELL AS THE ALAMO COLLEGE DISTRICT, AND I BELIEVE, UH, THERE MAY BE SOME, UH, BOND, UH, PROGRAMS ON THERE, BUT WE DON'T KNOW FOR CERTAIN AS FAR AS THE GENERAL ELECTIONS FOR CITIES WHO WILL BE IN THIS ELECTION, BECAUSE THE FILING PERIOD IS NOT UNTIL TOMORROW.
UM, UH, I, I THINK IT, WHETHER IT'S 900,000 OR A LITTLE BIT LESS FOR MAY, WE DID NOT HAVE IT BUDGETED FOR DR.
DID Y'ALL HAVE IT BUDGETED FOR IN MAY? THE, THE LAW WITH THIS IN YOUR, THE LAW, CAN I, SURE.
CAN I INTERJECT? THE LAW DOES ALLOW FOR THE CITY TO TAP INTO THOSE RESOURCES TO PAY FOR THAT ELECTION.
BUT, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE DOING THIS.
BUT DID Y'ALL HAVE THAT BUDGETED FOR MAY TO SPEND FOR THAT EXPENDITURE TO PUT IT ON THE MAY BALLOT? WE DID NOT HAVE THAT SPECIFICALLY BUDGETED, BUT WE DO HAVE THE AVAILABLE FUNDS IN OUR FUND BALANCE NOW.
WE'VE GOT A MILLION BUCKS AVAILABLE.
WE WILL MAKE IT AVAILABLE IF THAT'S NECESSARY.
BOTTOM LINE IS, I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH JUST YANKING 900,000, CLOSE TO A MILLION DOLLARS OUT OF SOMEBODY'S BUDGET TO PAY FOR A SPECIAL ELECTION IN MAY.
WE DON'T, IT COULD BE A LITTLE BIT LESS, DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF OTHER ENTITIES THAT'S GOING ON THAT BALLOT.
IT, IT COULD BE MORE, UH, SAME THING IN NOVEMBER, BUT I GUARANTEE YOU IN NOVEMBER, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A LOT MORE ENTITIES INVOLVED IN THE BALLOT THAN WHAT WE WOULD HAVE IN MAY.
SO THAT'S MY WHOLE ISSUE HERE.
AND WHAT THIS ORDINANCE IS TALKING ABOUT, NOT THE MERITS OF THE SYSTEM ITSELF, BUT SHOULD WE MOVE IT UP INTO MAY? AND I'M THINKING, MY RATIONALE IS THAT WE'RE SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY THAT WE DON'T NEED TO BE,
[01:20:01]
WHETHER IT COMES OUTTA YOUR BUDGET OR OUR BUDGET, IT'S REALLY ALL OF OUR BUDGETS, BECAUSE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TAX DOLLARS, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT ARE PAYING PART OF THAT EIGHTH CENT SALES TAX TO FUND THIS PROGRAM.AND I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S NECESSARY TO BRING THAT UP TO MAY.
UM, I MEAN, NOVEMBER, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A MUCH LARGER PARTICIPATION RATE ACROSS SAN ANTONIO BECAUSE MORE PEOPLE VOTE IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTIONS THAN THEY WOULD IN MAY.
I MEAN, WE, WE TALK ABOUT THIS ALMOST EVERY YEAR ABOUT, HEY, WE NEED TO MOVE OUR COUNCIL ELECTIONS AND MAYOR ELECTION TO NOVEMBER BECAUSE WE GET A LARGER PARTICIPATION AUDIENCE IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.
BUT HERE WE'RE TALKING, WE'RE PUTTING IT JUST THE OPPOSITE.
LET'S MOVE IT TO MAY SMALLER AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAN IN NOVEMBER.
SO THAT, THAT REALLY, THAT REALLY CONCERNS ME.
AND WHY ARE WE, WHY ARE WE REALLY DOING THAT? BECAUSE IF THIS WERE MOVED TO NOVEMBER, AND LET'S JUST TAKE WORST CASE SCENARIO THAT IT DOESN'T GET APPROVED, UM, ISN'T PRE-K FOR SA FUNDED THROUGH THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR, THE ENTIRE SCHOOL YEAR THROUGH MAY? WE ARE, BUT THE ADDITIONAL TIME WHERE WE NOT TO BE APPROVED WOULD ALLOW US TO ROLL DOWN THE PROGRAM.
UM, IT ALSO GIVES OUR EMPLOYEES NOTICE ABOUT WHETHER THEY CAN ANTICIPATE HAVING, UM, CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT BEYOND THAT TIMEFRAME, WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO THEM, OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE THEY HAVE FAMILIES TOO.
AND, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THE PROGRAM IS FUNDED THROUGH MAY, THAT'S AN ADDITIONAL, IF IT GETS VOTED DOWN, THAT'S, UH, STILL SIX MONTHS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF OTHER FOLKS IN THIS CITY THAT GET A LOT LESS TIME THAN THAT WHEN A COMPANY GOES BANKRUPT OR THEY MOVE THEIR OPERATION OR WHATEVER, A LOT LESS TIME THAN SIX MONTHS.
SO I THINK THERE'S PLENTY OF TIME IF IT'S KEPT IN NOVEMBER, TO STILL MAKE THOSE ARRANGEMENTS IF IT DOESN'T GET PASSED BY THE VOTERS.
AND, AND YOU KNOW, IT'S A TRANSPARENCY ISSUE ALSO, BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT SALES TAX, WHICH IS AN EIGHTH CENT.
WE'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT DOING SOMETHING WITH ANOTHER EIGHTH CENT SALES TAX.
AND I THINK IT'S MORE TRANSPARENT TO HAVE 'EM TOGETHER ON ONE BALLOT THAN SPLITTING THEM OUT ONE IN MAY AND ONE IN NOVEMBER, BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GETTING THE WHOLE PICTURE JUST PIECES.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S MY OTHER CONCERN ABOUT THIS.
SO, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M HAVING A TOUGH TIME SAYING, HEY, LET'S, LET'S SPEND ADDITIONAL MONEY WHEN WE'RE ALREADY GONNA BE SPENDING THAT MONEY IN NOVEMBER FOR THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER, BUT WE'RE GONNA ADD TO THAT COST BY BRINGING IT UP TO MAY.
SO TO ME, WE'RE DOUBLE PAYING FOR SOMETHING THAT WE ONLY NEED TO PAY ONCE.
AND I'M, I'M LOOKING AT MY COLLEAGUES THAT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T, I DON'T SEE, SEE WHY WE HAVE TO DO THAT.
REMEMBER, WE WILL NOT BE PAYING IN NOVEMBER AGAIN, IF YOU CHOOSE TO CALL THE ELECTION TODAY.
SO IT'S JUST WHEN THE CITY CALLS AN ELECTION, THAT IS THE ONLY TIME THE CITY WILL PAY FOR THE COST OF AN ELECTION.
AND WHETHER THE CITY CAN GET REIMBURSED OR NOT.
AND IN THIS CASE, THEY CAN, UH, WE WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT.
THAT'S ASSUMING THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE ANYTHING ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER.
BUT SOMETHING COULD COME UP BETWEEN NOW AND THEN TO PUT ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER.
RIGHT? THAT WOULD BE UP TO THE COUNCIL.
SO TO ME, THAT'S A POSSIBILITY AND WOULD BE DOUBLE PAYING FOR AN ELECTION HERE.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S RIGHT.
SO I, I'M NOT SURE THAT I CAN, UH, SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE OF THOSE REASONS.
AND I'VE GOT BIG CONCERNS ABOUT THAT, SPENDING MONEY THAT ISN'T NECESSARILY WARRANTED.
AND LOOKING AT MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, I'D REALLY LIKE TO HAVE THAT RECONSIDERED.
SO I JUST, AGAIN, WANT TO THANK YOU.
UH, I THINK, UH, THIS IS A, A PROGRAM THAT I WILL SUPPORT WHOLEHEARTEDLY.
[01:25:01]
YOU KNOW, DON'T MEAN TO REPEAT, UH, MORE COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN SET UP HERE, BUT CONGRATULATIONS TO, TO ALL YOUR HARD WORK.UM, KNOW YOU HAVE MY SUPPORT AND, UH, WE'LL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP COMMUNICATE WHAT THIS PROGRAM'S ALL ABOUT AND WHAT PEOPLE ARE VOTING ON IN MAY.
COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREWS SULLIVAN.
THANK YOU, MS. MENDOZA, FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO FOR OUR YOUNG GIFTED MINDS THAT CAN TRULY BE TAPPED INTO.
THANK YOU, BRENDAN, FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING, UM, FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AS A WHOLE, AND ESPECIALLY YOUR WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING FOR DISTRICT TWO.
WHEN IT COMES TO PRE-K FOR SA, WE ALL KNOW THAT THE YOUNGEST MINDS ARE THE MOST, UM, ABSORBED MINDS.
AND SO WHEN YOU FEED THEM WITH THE POSITIVE THINGS THAT THEY NEED TO KNOW, THEY GROW AND THEY FLOURISH.
UM, AS MENTIONED, THE POVERTY REPORT IS OUT, AND THIS IS A WAY TO TRULY BREAK THOSE GENERATIONAL, UH, ECONOMIC SEGREGATION HOLDS THAT WE HAVE HERE IN OUR CITY.
AND IF WE CONTINUE TO DELAY A PROCESS THAT WILL TAKE AWAY FROM THOSE MINDS TO BE PUT INTO A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN FLOURISH AND GROW INTO SOMETHING BETTER, THEN WE AS A CITY ARE NOT DOING WHAT WE ARE PUT HERE TO DO WITH THE TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
SO WE KNOW THAT EITHER WAY IT GOES, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO PAY FOR AN ELECTION, WHETHER IT'S IN MAY OR IN NOVEMBER, BUT WE HAVE TO PUT FORTH THE EFFORT TO SAY, THIS IS WHAT COMES FIRST.
AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE BREAKING THOSE GENERATIONAL CURSES.
GENERATIONAL POVERTY IS WHAT WE ARE PUT HERE TO DO.
I STAND IN FULL SUPPORT OF PRE-K FOR ESSAY BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND WHAT IT DOES WHEN A CHILD ACTUALLY IS ABLE TO EXPRESS WHOLEHEARTEDLY WHAT THEY ARE LEARNING, WHAT IT MEANS WHEN THEY CAN TELL YOU THAT I CAN WRITE MY OWN NAME, WHAT IT MEANS WHEN, WHEN THEY LEAVE FROM THAT PRE-K CLASS, THEY CAN GO INTO A CLASS KNOWING THAT THEY ARE EDUCATED, TO THE POINT THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE TO FEEL ASHAMED.
SO I STAND WHOLEHEARTEDLY FOR SUPPORT FOR PRE-K, FOR ESSAY, WHETHER IT'S IN MAY OR NOVEMBER.
WE HAVE TO PUSH THIS FORWARD AND DELAYING THE EDUCATION OF THOSE THAT NEED IT MOST IS NOT DOING SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY WE HAVE BEEN ELECTED TO SERVE.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS BEING ON THE BALLOT IN MAY.
I LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS EDUCATED TO WHY THE DOLLARS THAT THEY ARE USING AND SPENDING IN THEIR CITY ARE BEING PUT FORTH FOR THE LEGACIES THAT WE ARE GONNA CONTINUE TO HAVE HERE IN OUR CITY.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, MAYOR, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING OUT THERE WHEN YOU CONTINUE TO OPEN YOUR NEW SCHOOLS, AND WE SEE THE SMALLER LITTLE FACES COMING IN, EXCITED TO DO SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN ONLY IMAGINE.
COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREW SULLIVAN, COUNCIL MEMBER ELAS.
BERE, FIRST OF ALL, I'LL TELL YOU THAT I, I THINK YOU'RE A ROCKSTAR.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, NOT REALLY.
YOU'RE LIKE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING BRAINS I'VE EVER MET.
UM, AND I KNOW THAT YOU WORK VERY, VERY HARD.
UH, AND I ALWAYS TELL YOU HOW IMPRESSED I AM BY YOU, BUT I, I ALWAYS FEEL ON THE WAY HOME, I ALWAYS SAY, MAN, I WISH I WOULD'VE SAID, UM, THAT WHO REALLY IMPRESSES ME IS THE TEAM WHO WORKS FOR YOU.
UH, THOSE TEACHERS AND THOSE VOLUNTEERS AND YOUR STAFF, UM, THEY DO A LOT OF HEAVY LIFTING.
AND I GOT TO LOOK INTO ALL THE TRAINING THAT THEY GO THROUGH.
UH, AND IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DENY THAT THEY ACTUALLY GO THROUGH WAY MORE TRAINING THAN ANY OTHER TEACHER IN SAN ANTONIO.
UM, AND I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THAT THAT BENEFITS THE, THE LITTLE STUDENTS WHO HAVE THERE, UM, IN IMMEASURABLE WAYS.
AND SO THANK YOU FOR, FOR DOING ALL THAT.
UH, ONE THING I'LL REMIND EVERYBODY IS THAT WE ELECTED OFFICIALS.
WE WALK A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, AND WE KNOCK ON A LOT, A LOT OF DOORS.
AND WHEN OUR CONSTITUENTS ANSWER, UM, AND THEY DON'T SLAM THE DOOR IN OUR FACE,
UM, PLEA, YOU KNOW, I'M WORRIED ABOUT HEALTH OUTCOMES IN SAN ANTONIO.
I'M WORRIED ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
I'M WORRIED ABOUT GANG ACTIVITY.
I'M WORRIED ABOUT SUBSTANCE ABUSE.
UH, PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT HOMELESSNESS.
UH, AND THEN THEY ALSO INSIST THAT WE NEVER FORGET THAT OUR JOB INCLUDES, UH, SUPPORTING OUR ECONOMY AND MAKING SURE THAT IT THRIVES, UM, BY WAY OF WORKFORCE TRAINING AND OFFERING, YOU KNOW, THE FUTURE WORKFORCE, UH, OPPORTUNITIES.
RIGHT? AND SO, YOU CORRECT ME IF I GET THIS WRONG, AND YOU AND I HAVE DONE THIS EXERCISE BEFORE, BUT CORRECT ME IF I GET IT WRONG, OKAY? UM, PRE-K DOESN'T JUST BENEFIT THE STUDENTS WHO ATTEND YOUR SCHOOL.
IT BENEFITS THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR SIBLINGS, RIGHT? YES.
UM, AND IF, IF I GET ANY OF THESE WRONG, YOU TELL ME, UH, PRE-K, UH, AT AN EARLY AGE FOR THESE, FOR THESE
[01:30:01]
KIDS AT THIS, YOU KNOW, FOR THESE, UH, LOW INCOME AND MIDDLE INCOME FAMILIES, UM, WILL PRODUCE BETTER LONG-TERM HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR THEM.IT'LL, UM, LIKELY RESULT IN THEM NOT BEING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS OR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PERPETRATORS.
UM, IT WILL, UH, ALMOST ELIMINATE THE CHANCES OF THEM BECOMING MEMBERS OF A GANG, RIGHT? OR HAVING, UM, BAD INTERACTIONS WITH POLICE, UH, WILL ALMOST GUARANTEE THAT THEY DON'T BECOME SUBSTANCE ABUSE.
UM, VICTIMS, UH, YOU KNOW, REDUCES DRAMATICALLY THE CHANCES THAT THEY'LL, THEY'LL EVER BE HOMELESS, UH, AND INCREASES THE CHANCES THAT THEY'LL MOVE ON AFTER HIGH SCHOOL TO SEEK WELL, INCREASES THE CHANCES THAT THEY'LL GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL, BUT ALSO INCREASES THE CHANCES DRAMATICALLY THAT THEY'LL SEEK HIGHER EDUCATION, AND THAT THEY'LL, UH, END UP GETTING BETTER JOBS, BUT FOR RIGHT, THEIR ATTENDANCE AT PRE-K.
SO, UM, ADDITIONALLY, IS IT FAIR TO SAY, UM, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN SITTING UP HERE GOOGLING THE RESEARCH, THAT IN ALL LIKELIHOOD, STUDENTS WHO DO ALL THOSE THINGS AND STAY OUT OF THAT KIND OF TROUBLE ARE MORE LIKELY TO RAISE THEIR OWN CHILDREN IN THE FUTURE TO DO THOSE KINDS OF THINGS AND, UM, STAY OUT OF THAT KIND OF TROUBLE, RIGHT? ABSOLUTELY.
NOT JUST THEIR CHILDREN, BUT THE RESEARCH AND SAY THEIR GRANDCHILDREN.
UM, I GO TO MY CONSTITUENTS AND THEY TELL ME, I NEED YOU TO SOLVE ALL FOR ALL THESE PROBLEMS. WE NOW SEE THAT PRE-K
AND THAT'S WHY THE ECONOMISTS SAY THAT EARLY EDUCATION IS THE BEST INVESTMENT A COMMUNITY CAN MAKE, UM, TO REDUCE ALL OF THOSE COSTS THAT YOU MENTIONED.
SO WHAT, WHAT I'M, WHAT I'M GONNA ASK YOU TO DO IS, UM, SEE IF MAYBE YOU, YOU AND I CAN GO TAKE JANO, UM, FOR A CUP OF COFFEE.
UM, SHE DID, SHE SHOWED, UH, COUNCILWOMAN VIA GRAND'S COMMITTEE YESTERDAY.
UH, NO, IT WAS THE DAY BEFORE YESTERDAY, I THINK, UH, A FASCINATING REPORT CARD AND, AND COUNCILWOMAN GRO, UH, COVERED IT FOR YOU, UM, VERY ELOQUENTLY.
BUT REAL SIMPLE IS THAT, UM, SHE CAME TO WARN US QUITE EXPLICITLY THAT OUR SAN ANTONIO LOW EDUCATION ACHIEVEMENTS IS WHAT IS KEEPING BIG COMPANIES FROM COMING TO SAN ANTONIO.
AND THEY ARE, THEY TELL US LOUD AND CLEAR, WE AIN'T COMING TO SAN ANTONIO.
INSTEAD, WE'RE GOING TO DENVER.
WE'RE GOING TO AUSTIN, WE'RE GONNA SEATTLE.
UM, EVEN THOUGH IT MAY COST MORE TO SET UP SHOP THERE, BECAUSE WAY TOO MANY A DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT OF SAN ANTONIANS CAN READ, WRITE AT, OR SUBTRACT.
UM, TO PUT IT EVEN MORE SIMPLY, YOU KNOW, OTHER CITIES ARE EATING OUR LUNCH.
UM, AND WE HAVE NEVER REALLY DONE MUCH ABOUT THAT OTHER THAN TALK ABOUT IT.
SO, UH, I'M, YOU HAVE MY SUPPORT BECAUSE HEURISTICALLY PROVIDING AN INSURANCE POLICY FOR SAN ANTONIO FROM HAVING TO INVEST IN, YOU KNOW, FIXING PROBLEMS FOR BROKEN PEOPLE IN THE FUTURE, BUT ALSO BECAUSE YOU'RE HELPING US CREATE JOBS AND BRING, YOU KNOW, SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT TO SAN ANTONIO.
UM, SO LASTLY, I'LL END WITH THIS, IS THAT ANYBODY WHO DOESN'T SEE THE POTENTIAL FOR COST SAVINGS AND THE POTENTIAL FOR CREATING BENEFITS GENERATIONALLY, RIGHT? FOR, UM, ALL SAN ANTONIANS IS, IS EITHER REALLY OBTUSE OR IS CHOOSING NOT TO SEE THOSE BENEFITS.
AND SO, UM, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AND PLEASE PASS MY THANKS ALONG TO ALL THE TEACHERS AND THE PARENTS, RIGHT? 'CAUSE THEY, THEY INVEST THEIR TRUST IN YOU GUYS.
THE PARENTS THAT SPOKE TODAY ARE JUST REPRESENTATIVE OF THE THOUSANDS OF PARENTS THAT WE HAVE EVERY YEAR.
THEY'RE REALLY OUTSTANDING, COMMITTED, FANTASTIC CITIZENS.
COUNCIL MEMBER BLAS, COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL, COUNCIL MEMBER AZZ WAS READING OVER MY SHOULDER AND HE READ OUT ALL MY, ALL MY NOTES THAT, UM, THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT YOU DID IN SCHOOL.
'CAUSE YOU DIDN'T GO TO PRE-K FOR
BERE CHAIRMAN, AND ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD THAT ARE HERE, ESPECIALLY, UH, MY APPOINTEE, MS. FMA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
UM, I, I REALLY DO WANNA ECHO WHAT THE COUNCILMAN SAID IN, IN TERMS OF, UM, THE, THE SOLUTIONS THAT YOUR CURRICULUM PRESENTS FOR MANY OF THE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE PLAGUED US IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR GENERATIONS.
UM, EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT, HEALTH OUTCOMES, RELATIONSHIP BUILDING, CONFLICT RESOLUTION, AND PARENT PARTICIPATION, HOW THAT CAN BE ABSOLUTELY TRANSFORMATIVE.
WE KNOW THAT THE PLAYING FIELD IS NOT LEVEL ACROSS THE STATE OR EVEN ACROSS OUR OWN CITY.
AND IT'S NOT JUST THE REVENUES THAT COME IN FROM PROPERTY VALUES, BUT IT'S ALSO THE ENGAGEMENT OF THOSE PARENTS THAT, THAT LEAVES, UH, THE CHILDREN IN POVERTY AT A, AT A TREMENDOUS DISADVANTAGE.
UM, IT'S, IT'S ALMOST EXPONENTIAL,
[01:35:01]
REALLY, UH, COMPARED TO WHAT YOU WOULD, UH, WOULD SEE IN A, IN A HIGHER INCOME AREA.SO, UM, GENERATIONAL POVERTY DOES REQUIRE GENERATIONAL SOLUTIONS.
AND WE NEED, UH, THIS INVESTMENT AND WE NEED THE PATIENCE TO SEE THAT COME TO FRUITION.
AND YOU'RE ALREADY SEEING IT IN THE, IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
SO I, I WILL BE A STEADFAST SUPPORTER OF THIS ALWAYS, UM, UNTIL, UNTIL THIS CITY IS LIFTED OUT OF POVERTY.
UM, BUT THAT DOESN'T ABSOLVE US OF SOME OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES THAT WE HAVE.
NOT NECESSARILY YOU, YOU'RE DOING EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING, BUT I THINK THIS COUNCIL, UH, NEEDS TO CONTINUE, CONTINUE PRESSURING THE STATE TO ENSURE IT MAKES THE NECESSARY INVESTMENTS SO THAT OUR INVESTMENTS, UH, MAKE GOOD, RIGHT? IF WE DO THIS, BUT THE STATE IS NOT DOING THEIR PART, WE STAND TO LOSE SOME OF THOSE GAINS.
SO, UM, I KNOW CARLOS IS HERE AND TAKES THAT VERY, UH, VERY SERIOUSLY WITH HIS LOBBY TEAM.
AND, UH, I HOPE THIS COUNCIL WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
AND I HOPE OUR DELEGATION, UH, IS LISTENING TO THAT.
AND I HOPE OUR VOTERS ARE LISTENING TO THAT TOO, BECAUSE WE NEED TO PUT PEOPLE IN, UH, IN THOSE OFFICES THAT ARE GOING TO CARE ABOUT EDUCATION AND MAKE GOOD ON THE TAX INVESTMENT TAX DOLLAR INVESTMENT THAT WE'RE MAKING.
UM, I WANTED TO, UH, TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UH, THE TIMING, UH, FOR THE ELECTION.
AND, UH, I, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERN FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES.
OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, IF WE DON'T GET REELECTED, OUR EMPLOYEES DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH TIME TO KNOW THAT THEY'RE, UH, THAT THEY'RE OUT OF A JOB.
SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERN, BUT, UM, WOULD YOU SAY IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE FAMILIES OF, UH, YOU KNOW, TODDLERS TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THIS PROGRAM IS GOING TO BE AVAILABLE? YEAH, SURE.
FAMILIES ARE, UM, ALWAYS LOOKING AHEAD AND WE BEGIN TO DO OUR OUTREACH TO FAMILIES EVEN IN OCTOBER, UM, OF THE PRIOR YEAR.
AND SO, YES, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY WANNA KNOW WHERE THEIR CHILDREN ARE GONNA BE AND WHAT OPPORTUNITIES THEY HAVE.
AND WITH THE LANDSCAPE, UM, IN EDUCATION, DIVERSIFYING IN TERMS OF OPTIONS, THAT'S EVEN MORE AND MORE CRITICAL.
SO YES, THE ADDITIONAL TIME LETS FAMILIES KNOW THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE AN OPTION FOR THEM WHEN THEIR CHILD GETS TO FOUR YEARS OLD BE BECAUSE OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT HAVE TO FIND THE $3,000 A MONTH THAT COUNCILMAN GONZALEZ IS, IS, UH, REFERRING TO.
SO, I I, I DO THINK IT'S, I MEAN, IT'S A BIG ORGANIZATION YOU WANNA PLAN AHEAD.
UM, SO, UM, AND I APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO SPEND THE MONEY FROM YOUR PROGRAM.
YOU REALIZE IT'S A, IT'S A NECESSARY INVESTMENT.
HOWEVER, I DO WANT TO, UM, I DON'T BELIEVE I'M SAYING THIS ECHO ONE CONCERN FROM
UM, AND, UH, AND I'VE, I'VE SHARED THIS COMMENT WITH SOME OF MY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE STAFF IS THAT, UH, PEOPLE DON'T ALWAYS KNOW THAT THERE IS AN, VOTERS DON'T ALWAYS KNOW, OR WOULD BE, VOTERS DON'T ALWAYS KNOW THAT THERE'S AN ELECTION GOING ON IF THEY'RE NOT SEEING ALL THE ADS, ALL THE SIGNS.
UM, SO WHAT IS IT WE CAN DO, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC KNOWS THERE'S AN ELECTION? I KNOW WE CAN'T TELL THEM HOW TO VOTE RIGHT? WITH, WITH THIS, UH, WITH OUR FUNDING, BUT HOW CAN WE ENSURE THAT THEY'RE INFORMED THAT AN ELECTION IS ON ITS WAY? THANK YOU.
UM, BASICALLY WE'RE LOOKING TOWARDS SOME COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT ARE VERY MUCH PROPONENTS OF THE PROGRAM, WHO WILL GET THE WORD OUT, WHO WILL DO THE WORK, THE GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT TO LET FOLKS KNOW THAT THERE'S ELECTION COMING UP.
BUT WE'VE GOT SEVERAL COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT ARE VERY, VERY INTERESTED IN MAKING SURE THAT, UH, VOTERS TURN OUT AND THAT, UH, ULTIMATELY, YOU KNOW, THAT SUPPORT IS THERE TO, TO PUT IT OVER THE FINISH LINE.
FORTUNATELY, BECAUSE OF THE RESULTS THAT THE, UH, PROGRAM HAS GENERATED AND PUBLISHED, UM, LIKE I SAID, THERE'S SEVERAL COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO ARE READY TO TAKE THAT NEXT LEVEL.
WELL, NEXT MONDAY, UH, I'M HEARING AN UPDATE AT, AT MY COMMITTEE MEETING FROM A, A YOUTH COMMISSION THAT WE HAVE, AND THEY WILL BE, UH, ISSUING TO CITY COUNCIL A VOTER TURNOUT CHALLENGE.
AND I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD PAIR THAT WITH THE, WITH THE MAY ELECTION.
SO HOPEFULLY YOU CAN, UH, YOU CAN SEND SOMEONE, WE COULD TALK ABOUT THAT AFTERWARDS.
I JUST WANTED TO, UH, CHIME BACK IN TO MENTION THAT NEW FRONTIERS A SCHOOL IS ACTUALLY IN DISTRICT THREE.
IT'S ON FAIR AVENUE, AND IT'S WITH S A I S D.
IT'S WITHIN S A I S D AND ON THE, ON THE TOPIC OF VOTING, JUST TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT EARLY VOTING IN THE MARCH PRIMARY BEGINS FEBRUARY 18TH,
UH, AND I TOO WANTED TO CHIME IN ONE MORE TIME, UH, BUT IT'S BACK TO THIS ELECTION
[01:40:01]
BUSINESS AND, UM, ERIC, DON'T, WE HAVE ANOTHER BIG ISSUE COMING UP IN NOVEMBER THAT WILL FOR SURE BE ON THE BALLOT, AND THAT'S THE OTHER EIGHTH CENT SALES TAX ISSUE WITH THE MAYOR'S CONNECT SA PROGRAM.UH, COUNCILMAN, IF THE COUNCIL DECIDES TO DO THAT, UM, WE, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF PRESENTATIONS SCHEDULED, BUT THAT'S, UH, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE DECISION THAT THE COUNCIL WILL, WILL BE ENTERTAINING THIS SPRING.
BUT THE EXPECTA THAT, THAT SALES TAX EXPIRES IN NOVEMBER AS WELL, RIGHT? NO, THAT, THAT, UH, SALES TAX FOR THE, UH, AQUIFER PROTECTION AND LINEAR CREEKS EXPIRES ONCE WE COLLECT THE DOLLAR AMOUNT.
SO I THINK IT'LL, RIGHT NOW, BASED ON CURRENT ESTIMATES, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'LL RUN THROUGH PROBABLY FEBRUARY OR MARCH OF 2021.
SO YOU'RE SAYING THAT THAT PROBABLY WON'T BE ON THE NOVEMBER ELECTION? UH, NO, I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY THE ISSUE THE COUNCIL WILL BE DEBATING HERE SOON.
WELL, MY PREDICTION IS IT WILL PROBABLY BE ON THE BALLOT.
AND TO MY POINT, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA BE PAYING FOR TWO DIFFERENT ELECTIONS HERE.
THAT WOULD BE A REDUCED COST IN NOVEMBER BECAUSE A MUCH BIGGER BALLOT AND A MUCH MORE LARGER AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT IT'S GONNA BE GOING TO ACROSS SAN ANTONIO.
AND, UM, AGAIN, UH, WE'RE DOUBLE, DOUBLE DIPPING HERE INTO AN ELECTION PROCESS THAT WE CAN COMBINE THAT AND STILL HAVE THE NOTIFICATION AVAILABLE FOR THE TEACHERS AND FAMILIES A GOOD SIX MONTHS BEFORE, YOU KNOW, THE PROGRAM ENDS.
AND EVEN IF THE FUNDING ENDS, THERE'S STILL A RAMP DOWN.
I MEAN, YOU'RE NOT GONNA, I'M ASSUMING THAT YOUR PLAN WILL BE TO RAMP THAT PROGRAM DOWN, FACILITIES AND ALL THAT STUFF MUCH LONGER THAN THE MAY TURNOUT OF SCHOOL.
I MEAN, YOU CAN'T JUST SHUT EVERYTHING DOWN ON ONE DAY, RIGHT? N NO, BUT THAT WOULD BE RAMPING DOWN IN THE LAST SEMESTER.
WE WOULD END OPERATIONS IN JUNE, 2021, WE WOULD CEASE TO EXIST.
WELL, AGAIN, UH, I'M, I'M STRUGGLING WITH THIS.
ALL RIGHT, WE'LL, WELL, WE'LL VOTE ON IT.
COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL, I A QUESTION FOR MS. VASIC THAT I FORGOT TO ASK EARLIER.
UM, WE HAD A NOVEMBER ELECTION IN 2018.
CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT THE COST OF THAT WAS? I, I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT, BUT IT WAS ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT OKAY.
AS THE $900,000 THAT WE'RE BUDGETING.
AND JUST TO ADD, THERE ARE GOING TO BE 19 ENTITIES IN THE MAY ELECTION, AND THE LARGEST ARE GONNA BE, OF COURSE, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, UH, ALAMO COLLEGES AND NORTHEAST INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
SO WE WON'T BE GOING IT ALONE, IS WHAT, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
THEN I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE, UH, FOR THE ATTORNEY OR MAYBE FOR ERIC, IF THIS, UM, IF ANOTHER THING DOES GO ON THE BALLOT THAT HAS TO DO WITH TRANSPORTATION, WHO CALLS THAT ELECTION AND WHO PAYS FOR IT? UH, COUNCILWOMAN.
UH, IF, UH, IF YOU'RE REFERRING TO THE, UH, A T D, THE A T D WOULD CALL THAT ELECTION.
USUALLY THERE'S A RESOLUTION FROM THE COUNCIL, WHICH HAS TRADITIONALLY BEEN GIVEN IF THE A T D WAS GONNA PUT A TAX ON.
SO, BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION DIRECTLY, IT'S THE A T D AND THE A T D WOULD PAY FOR IT.
UM, AND, AND IT'S PRETTY CLEAR, UM, NOT JUST UP ON THIS DIOCESE, BUT THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, UH, PEOPLE RECOGNIZE WHAT A REMARKABLE SUCCESS PRE-K FOR SA HAS BEEN.
AND IT SOMETIMES GETS A LITTLE PAINFUL, UH, TO HEAR, YOU KNOW, GRASPING AT REASONS WHY NOT TO SUPPORT WHAT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE EDUCATIONAL SUCCESSES OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECENT MEMORY.
UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN THIS PROGRAM STARTED AND THE MOOD AT THE TIME WAS DIFFERENT, UH, THERE WAS CERTAINLY A LOT MORE SKEPTICISM ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING.
AND SO I, NOW THAT WE'RE HERE AT THE VERGE OF REAUTHORIZING IT, UH, WITH A PUBLIC VOTE, I DO WANT TO, AGAIN, RECOGNIZE ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT'S TAKEN PLACE UNDER THE TENURE OF, UH, CHAIR CHAIRMAN, UH, MENDOZA, UH, THE FOLKS ON THE STAFF, THE TEACHERS, THE ADMINISTRATORS, THE COUNSELORS, THE ALL OF THE PROVIDERS, UH, AS WELL AS OUR CITY STAFF.
UH, OUR CITY MANAGEMENT TEAM DID, UH, A HERCULEAN EFFORT TO GET THIS PROGRAM UP AND STARTED AND THE WAY IT DID, AND CONSIDERING HOW
[01:45:01]
NARROW A VICTORY, UH, THERE WAS BEFORE, AND TO SEE WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT IS OUT THERE NOW, UH, I, THERE THERE IS NOTHING BUT, UH, COMPLIMENTS TO GO AROUND.AND I, I APPRECIATE, UH, THE TRUSTEE LOGAN'S COMMENTS ABOUT HOW THIS HAS BECOME A GOLD STANDARD NATIONWIDE.
WE STILL GET DELEGATIONS FROM OTHER CITIES COME TO SAN ANTONIO DE VIEW OPERATIONS LIKE HAVEN FOR HOPE.
AND THE ONE THAT'S RIGHT UP THERE WITH THEM IS PRE-K FOR SA.
UH, SO, UH, I DON'T NEED, UH, TO, TO SPEAK ANY FURTHER.
MY COLLEAGUES SAID IT WELL, ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT THOSE DOLLARS HAVE, NOT JUST ON THE FAMILIES, BUT ALSO ON THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, GIVEN THE, THE GREAT RESIDUAL, UM, POSITIVE, UM, IMPACT OF, OF STUDENTS WHO ARE NOW ENTERING GRADE LEVELS READY TO LEARN.
UM, BUT IT, IT IS, UH, WITH GREAT PRIDE, UH, THAT I CAN SAY WE'RE, WE'RE NOW GOING INTO THE SECOND PHASE OF PRE-K FOR SA.
SO I'LL PROUDLY BE SUPPORTING THIS AND LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PHONE CALLS, UH, THE FOLKS WHO ARE NOT, UH, ON STAFF, WHO CAN TELL ME HOW I CAN BE OUT THERE WITH YOU CAMPAIGNING TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PROGRAM AND WHAT A REMARKABLE SUCCESS IT'S BEEN.
SO, UH, WITH THAT, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM FOUR.
UM, AND THAT IS THE BALANCE OF OUR AGENDA, OUR BUSINESS AGENDA.
WE DO HAVE A CITY MANAGER'S REPORT.
REAL QUICK, TWO ITEMS, UM, WANTED TO SHARE WITH THE COUNCIL THAT OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT DIVISION OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, UH, HAS, UH, RECENTLY BEEN ACCREDITED BY THE INTERNATIONAL ACCREDITATION SERVICE.
UM, AS THE COUNCIL KNOWS, UH, D S D, UH, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT RECENTLY HAVE ALL BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR, UH, INTERNATIONAL, UH, ACCREDITATIONS.
UH, THE, UH, THE ACCREDITATION IS AWARDED BY THE INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL, WHICH IS A LEADER IN BUILDING SAFETY AND PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION THAT DEVELOPS, UH, INTERNATIONAL CODES, UH, THAT ARE ADOPTED BY MANY MUNICIPALITIES, UH, THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
I DID WANT TO, UH, RECOGNIZE, I THINK HE'S STILL HERE, MIKE SHANNON, AND, UH, HIS TEAM OUTTA D S D.
UM, THIS WAS A, UM, A LOT OF WORK.
UM, BUT THE, THE DEPARTMENT HAS CONTINUED TO, UH, EVOLVE AND, UM, NOT ONLY BE REACTIVE IN TERMS OF, OF CODE CASES, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, PROACTIVE IN WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MIKE AND YOUR TEAM.
UH, THE SECOND, YEAH, LET'S GIVE 'EM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
I DON'T KNOW IF SOME OF THE COUNCIL MAY HAVE SEEN IT.
LAST WEEK, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THIS, UM, OFFICER AT, UM, HER GRADUATION, UM, ABOUT, I THINK IT WAS IN DECEMBER.
COUNCILMAN PERRY WAS THERE AS WELL.
UH, BUT ON FEBRUARY 3RD, UH, CASE SAT SPOTLIGHTED, UH, ONE OF OUR PROBATIONARY POLICE OFFICERS, UH, A YOUNG WOMAN BY THE NAME OF RHIANNON ANDERSON.
UH, RHIANNON, UH, IS A MOTHER OF, UH, FIVE WHO, UH, SPENT 17 YEARS SUPPORTING HER HUSBAND, UH, DURING HIS MILITARY CAREER.
UM, SHE HAS, UH, SHE'S EIGHT WEEKS INTO THE, UH, HER PROBATIONARY POLICE OFFICER PHASE, UH, BUT IS QUICKLY FINDING OUT, AND YOU'LL SEE IN THE VIDEO THAT, UH, THE JOB, UM, IS, UH, MANY OF THE SAME SKILLS THAT SHE'S LEARNED, UM, UH, AS A MOTHER, UM, ARE EQUALLY, UH, APPLICABLE TO, UH, A POLICE OFFICER ROLE.
UM, SHE'S A, ALSO A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVOR, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD PIECE AND I WASN'T SURE IF THE COUNCIL HAD SEEN IT AND I WANTED TO SHOW IT.
UM, SHE CERTAINLY IS GONNA USE HER PAST EXPERIENCE, UH, TO HELP CONNECT, UH, WITH OUR PUBLIC AND OUR FAMILIES AND THE FOLKS THAT'LL BE CALLING 9 1 1 AND, UH, NOT HAVING A GOOD DAY.
AND I'M, UH, PROUD TO HAVE HER AS PART OF THE, THE TEAM AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THE MOTHER OF FIVE IS ADJUSTING TO LEAVING BEHIND HER STAN HOME MOM.
TITLE TO SAN ANTONIO PROBATIONARY POLICE OFFICER.
I WOULDN'T SAY I'VE NECESSARILY LEFT THE APRON AT HOME.
UM, I WAS ALMOST LATE TODAY BECAUSE I WAS HANDLING SOME THINGS AT HOME.
EVERY WORKING MOM KNOWS WITH THE SUPPORT OF HER HUSBAND AND KIDS, THE 38 YEAR OLD IS EMBARKING ON HER DESIRE OF HELPING OTHERS.
IT JUST FELT RIGHT, LIKE IT FEELS LIKE WHERE I NEED TO BE AND WHAT I NEED TO BE DOING.
[01:50:01]
A THEFT CALL.DO WE TAKE THAT AND BOOK INTO EVIDENCE OR THERE'S A LOT TO LEARN, BUT SHE'S FEELING CONFIDENT AFTER MORE THAN EIGHT WEEKS ON THE FIELD.
SHE'S DISCOVERED HER MOM SKILLS ARE HANDY ON THIS JOB.
SOMETIMES I'LL JOKE AND SAY THAT I SPENT THE FIRST 17 YEARS IN CORRECTIONS, BUT MY FAMILY DOESN'T LIKE IT WHEN I CALL IT THAT.
THE JOB REQUIRES PATIENCE AND TOUGH LOVE.
I THINK THERE A LOT OF POLICE WORK IS, UM, CUSTOMER SERVICE AND CARING ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE.
YOU KNOW, SOME OF IT IS, UM, TOUGH CUSTOMER SERVICE BECAUSE OF HER AGE AND LIFE EXPERIENCES.
I UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE MARRIED.
I UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE KIDS.
I UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE KIDS THAT DON'T WANNA LISTEN.
HER OWN PERSONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVAL STORY GETS VICTIMS TO OPEN UP.
I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE IN A SITUATION THAT YOU SHOULDN'T BE IN, BUT GETTING TO THIS POINT IN HER LIFE WASN'T EASY.
HER FAMILY GOT HER THROUGH THE HARDEST PARTS.
I REMEMBER LEAVING AND GOING TO MY CAR AND JUST THINKING LIKE, CAN I REALLY DO THIS? NOW SHE WANTS TO TELL HER DAUGHTERS AND OTHER WOMEN, YES YOU CAN, BUT I FEEL LIKE IF I CAN DO THIS, THEN OTHER PEOPLE CAN TOO.
PATTY SANTOS, CASE AT 12 NEWS.
THAT, AND I WANNA THANK KSAT FOR, UH, PROACTIVELY, UH, WORKING WITH US ON THAT.
AND WHEN I SAW IT ON THE NEWS, UM, AT HOME, UM, I THOUGHT IT WAS, UH, IMPORTANT TO SHARE WITH YOU.
UM, THAT IS THE DURATION OF OUR MEETING.