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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 11/10/1998 - JointI HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Joint Meeting of the Corpus Christi City Council and the Corpus Christi Independent School District Board of Trustees, held November 10, 1998, which were approved by the City Council on November 17, 1998. WITNESSETH MY HAND AND SEAL, this 17th day of November, 1998. 723 71.4-J t Armando Chapa City Secretary SEAL MINUTES JOINT MEETING OF THE CORPUS CHRISTI CITY COUNCIL AND CORPUS CHRISTI INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES November 10, 1998 12:20 p.m. CITY COUJNCIL Mayor Samuel L. Neal Jr. Javier D. Colmenero Alex L. Garcia Jr. Dr. Arnold Gonzales Betty Jean Longoria Dr. David McNichols Edward Martin Staff Present City Manager David R. Garcia Assistant City Attorney Alison Gallaway City Secretary Armando Chapa Dr. Abelardo Saavedra, CCISD Superintendent C.C.I.S.D. BOARD Frank Reyes, President Dorothy Adkins Pinky Brauer Manuel Flores Bill Hamrick Vicki Rothschild Dr. Rene Vela ABSENT Mayor Pro Tem John Longoria Melody Cooper Mayor Neal called the meeting to order in the Basement Training Room of City Hall. He announced that the joint meeting was being held to discuss the Latchkey program, the school crossing guard program, siting of schools, and other matters of mutual interest. City Secretary Chapa called the roll and verified that a quorum was present to conduct the meeting. Mr. Reyes, President of the CCISD Board of Trustees, verified that all members of the Board were present. City Manager Garcia said work sessions such as this are designed to provide a free flow of information and ideas that will serve as a basis for more concrete recommendations that will be brought back for adoption during a more formal session. Dr. Saavedra said that on behalf of the Board they welcomed the opportunity to meet with the Council, and he suggested that they try to have joint meetings on a more frequent basis. Mayor Neal said several Council members have echoed Dr. Saavedra's suggestion. Mr. Dan Whitworth, Acting Director of Park and Recreation, referred to a packet of information about the Latchkey program. He gave a brief history of the program from its beginnings as a pilot program in 1986 to its present formation with 31 afterschool sites in CCISD and Flour Bluff Independent School District. He said the Park and Recreation Department initially took on the responsibility of the Latchkey program because it was similar to the city's existing summer recreation program whereby the city used CCISD facilities during the summer months. He said city Minutes Joint Meeting November 10, 1998 Page 2 staff felt it was important for children to learn lifetime leisure skills at an early age as well drug education and other life skills. Mr. Whitworth said the Latchkey program has utilized CCISD employees where possible as well as college students to help staff the program. Mr. Whitworth said the Latchkey program is not available in every CCISD elementary school. The reason is the program is basically structured so that costs are covered through the revenues received, although a scholarship rate is available. In addition, said Mr. Whitworth, this year city staff began working with Child Care Management Services of the Texas Migrant Council Inc. He said about 89 students on scholarship have been transitioned into that program, which will ensure that the Latchkey program does not have a deficit in this year's budget as originally anticipated. Mr. Whitworth said they believe that working with CCMS will provide future opportunities for growth in the Latchkey program. Mr. Whitworth went on to say that a recent survey indicated some parents want homework assistance or tutoring to be included in the Latchkey program. As a result of that study, a pilot program has been developed at some Latchkey sites to see how that element can be incorporated. City Manager Garcia referred to the budget section of the Latchkey program handout, and he noted that for 1998-99 revenues are estimated at $1.42 million and expenditures are estimated at $1.43 million. He said that over the years the program has been successful in containing costs; however, if the structure of the program changes it will affect expenditures. The City Manager said the city is asking for support from CCISD in two specific areas: to establish liability protection for the Latchkey program at the same limits as that of school districts; and that CCISD continue to work with the city on the pilot programs to continue to enhance them. Dr. Saavedra said that while the school district does not generate any revenue for the Latchkey program, it costs the district about $180,000 a year in facility costs. He said he would recommend that the school board support the city in its efforts with tort reform for the Latchkey program and continue to work with the city on enhancing the program. Mrs. Longoria asked about other sources of funding that might be available for the Latchkey program. Mr. Whitworth reiterated that the city is working with CCMS to help some of the almost 1,000 students who currently receive scholarships to participate in the program. Ms. Brauer said she is a member of the YMCA Board and she suggested they look into possibly working with that organization. Responding to Mr. Flores, Mr. Whitworth described the city's insurance situation as it relates to the Latchkey program. Mr. Flores also discussed the availability of the program, saying that there are schools in his district that are not Latchkey sites because the families there cannot afford it. He said the city and the school district need to look at methods to expand the program. Dr. McNichols Minutes Joint Meeting November 10, 1998 Page 3 said that due to the city's budgetary constraints, it cannot justify subsidizing the Latchkey program beyond a certain point. In reply to Mr. Garcia, Mr. Whitworth described the activities that occur each day in the Latchkey program, including opportunities for the children to have a snack, playing outdoors and indoors (with board games and arts and crafts), as well as some time near the end of the day for doing their homework. Mr. Garcia commented on the idea of hiring school professionals to expand the homework assistance element of the Latchkey program. A discussion ensued about the importance of allowing students to have recreational time following their full school day schedule. Dr. Saavedra emphasized that the school district offers tutorial services for about one hour on Tuesdays and Thursdays at each elementary school site, which is available to Latchkey participants as well. Dr. Gonzales discussed the needs of at -risk students, adding that students do not receive enough educational opportunities; further discussion ensued. City Manager Garcia said staff has been investigating the idea of targeting working parents in the program. Dr. Gonzales suggested that the city and the school district examine the program's philosophy, adding that there is a high drop-out rate that needs to be addressed. Mr. Hamrick reiterated the importance of providing children with recreational activities after school. Mr. Colmenero pointed out that while grants are beneficial they are not permanent solutions to budgetary constraints. Following further discussion, Dr. Saavedra said the Latchkey program is a cooperative effort of the two entities to provide necessary services --both recreational and educational --to the community. He said it is important to continue to improve Latchkey through the pilot programs. Mr. Martin said the real issue that needs to be addressed is the liability issue and how to pay for it. Dr. McNichols said he was not interested in enhancing the educational aspect of the Latchkey program because he is concerned about the cost of the overall program and about liability. Mr. Martin said ideas for educational enhancements can be pursued if they are accompanied by ideas to fund them. Mr. Reyes said he would like to have more information about the Latchkey program as well as an opportunity to study the issues. Dr. Vela commented that many of the areas that do not have Latchkey sites are those with high drop-out rates. Dr. Saavedra said the school district has funds to target at -risk students and he said he is not convinced that the Latchkey program is the best way to address the needs of at -risk students. Ms. Rothschild pointed out that there are students who attend schools which have Latchkey programs who are not able to participate. Following other comments, Mayor Neal emphasized that Minutes Joint Meeting November 10, 1998 Page 4 they are not saying that the city is not going to operate the Latchkey program; rather, they are trying to find ways to deal with such issues as liability and future expansion. He suggested that Dr. Saavedra and City Manager Garcia continue to discuss those issues. City Manager Garcia then introduced Police Cmdr. Bryan Smith, who discussed the adult school crossing guard program. Cmdr. Smith pointed out that the program was initiated in 1962 to provide elementary school children with the safest route to and from school. He said the program has historically been funded by the city through the Police Department's Uniform Division budget, and he noted that $565,885 is budgeted for FY 1998-99. Currently, there are 83 guards (82 of which are funded by the city and one by FBISD) and five alternates. Cmdr. Smith said the criteria used to determine the locations of school crossing guards is developed by representatives of the school districts, Traffic Engineering, and Police Department. The criteria includes the volume of pedestrians, street width, speed limit in the area, and other factors. He added that since 1962, no children have been killed or seriously injured at school crossing guard locations in Corpus Christi. On another issue, Mrs. Longoria requested a report on the status of plans for Oak Park and Crossley elementary schools. Dr. Saavedra replied that facility studies are being conducted throughout the district and one of the issues the consultant will review is the Oak Park/Crossley situation. He said temporary improvements have been made there but not permanent improvements until a decision is made. Mayor Neal suggested that city staff and school district staff continue to review the model sites in the Latchkey program for the next few months, at which time the Council and the School Board could have another joint meeting to make some decisions on the direction of the Latchkey program. Dr. Gonzales said he wanted to meet with Dr. Vela and whoever else wished to discuss the issue. Mayor Neal adjourned the joint meeting at 1:43 p.m. on November 10, 1998.