REPORT TO BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES
SUBJECT
Title
Action to Recommend City Council Acceptance of the FY 2024/25 and 2025/26 California Library Literacy Services (CLLS) English as a Second Language (ESL) Grant Awards for Read Santa Clara for a Total Amount of $126,327 and the Related Budget Amendments
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Enhance Community Engagement and Transparency
BACKGROUND
The California State Library, California Library Literacy Services (CLLS) received one-time state budget funding in FY 2021/22 for English as a Second Language (ESL) services, to be allocated over a five-year period to qualifying libraries in the State of California. The Santa Clara City Library Department’s Read Santa Clara program has qualified for these grants since FY 2022/23.
Read Santa Clara was awarded a total of $55,500 in CLLS ESL Grant Award funds in FY 2022/23. This funding allowed Read Santa Clara to hire an ESL Program Specialist and an Assistant as temporary employees, and provide ESL services for adults with the most critical needs. Read Santa Clara's ESL instruction focuses on adult learners at beginning English language levels who are unable to benefit from large group ESL classes due to limited or no English language skills. The program offers tutoring at the library to community members referred by Santa Clara Adult Education, and to diverse immigrants and refugees at beginning ESL levels. Small group ESL tutoring is also offered at two school sites, Scott Lane Elementary and Montague Elementary, for parents who often lack childcare or transportation to get to other ESL classes. With this funding, the Library Department was able to achieve the following:
• Served 71 adult learners since the inception of the program
• Provided learners with 580 hours of instruction in English, with three small groups and 18 one-to-one pairs
• Worked with learners to set goals and track achievements. After making use of Library ESL services:
o 62% of learners were able to communicate with a doctor
o 66% of learners could communicate better with their child’s teachers
o 75% of learners were able to communicate better at work
o 82% of learners were better able to navigate community systems and services
o 83% of learners could communicate essential personal information in English
DISCUSSION
Read Santa Clara was awarded additional grant funding for the Read Santa Clara ESL program for the last two years of the ESL grant funded by the California State Library for FY 2024/25 and 2025/26. The total ESL grant amount awarded to the Santa Clara City Library Department’s Read Santa Clara program for FY 2024/25 and 2025/26 is $126,327. This amount is broken down into $61,618 for FY 2024/25, and $64,709 for FY 2025/26.
The grant funds will be used to fully offset costs for the salaries of two temporary as-needed employees, an ESL Program Specialist and an ESL Program Assistant, as well as instructional resources and other supplies for the ESL program.
The City process requires that all grants be accepted by the City Council. This item is being brought to the Board for its recommendation that the grants be forwarded to the City Council for formal acceptance.
The ESL grant requires that the grant awards be deposited in the City’s accounting system. The FY 2024/25 grant funds are required to be fully expended at the time of the submission of the CLLS Final Grant Report, anticipated to be due in September 30, 2025. The FY 2025/26 grant funds are required to be expended by June 30, 2026. Staff will monitor and evaluate any unexpended funds against budget and expenses to ensure requirements are met.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5) in that it is a governmental organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
Following the Board of Library Trustees’ consideration of this item, the total ESL grant awards of $126,327 will be brought forward to the City Council for final approval and appropriation. These grant funds will fully offset the as-needed employee staffing and operational costs of Read Santa Clara’s ESL Services. Staff will recommend to the City Council an increase in the Other Agencies Revenue estimate and establish a grant appropriation for the acceptance of $61,618 in FY 2024/25 in the Library Operating Grant Trust Fund. Staff will propose the FY 2025/26 grant appropriation of $64,709 in the next FY 2025/26 and FY 2026/27 Operating Budget Cycle.
Budget Amendment
FY 2024/25
|
Library Operating Grant Trust Fund |
Current |
Increase/ (Decrease) |
Revised |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue Other Agencies Revenue |
$0 |
$61,618 |
$61,618 |
|
Expenditures ESL Tutoring Services 2024-25 |
$0 |
$61,618 |
$61,618 |
COORDINATION
This report has been coordinated with the Finance Department and City Attorney’s Office.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Board agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov <mailto:clerk@santaclaraca.gov> or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
That the Board of Library Trustees recommend that the City Council Accept the FY 2024/25 and 2025/26 California Library Literacy Services (CLLS) English as a Second Language (ESL) Grant Awards for Read Santa Clara for a Total Amount of $126,327, including $61,618 for FY 2024/25 and $64,709 for FY 2025/26, and the Related Budget Amendments as described in this Report
Staff
Reviewed by: Sami James, Management Analyst
Approved by: Patty Wong, City Librarian
ATTACHMENTS
1. CLLS ESL 24-26 grant award