COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Employee and Public Services

DATE:

July 31, 2002

BOARD MEETING DATE:

August 20, 2002

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Mary Welch, EPS Director

Paul Hackleman, Benefits Manager

SUBJECT:

Approval of Administrative Agreement with Marin Day Schools

Recommendation

Adopt a resolution authorizing the President of the Board to execute an agreement with Marin Day Schools for operating services to the County's Child Care Center "Our Place".

Background

Marin Day Schools (MDS) was selected in a competitive Request for Proposal process in 1993 to operate the County's Child Care Center "Our Place". Three year renewal contracts were approved by the Board in 1996 and 1999.

The Center provides care to 89 children in an educational program that is approved by NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children). MDS recently received a three year re-accreditation. Only 7% of early childhood programs in the nation receive such accreditation.

Discussion

The County conducted a full Request for Proposal (RFP) process to solicit proposals from MDS and other qualified child care center operators. Per Exhibit A, the RFP was sent to seven companies, including MDS. Only MDS submitted a response. Other companies either declined to submit a bid or felt they were not competitive with MDS prices.

The Labor-Management Committee that was formed to review proposals consisted of County parents who also represented a number of labor organizations. Because there are a number of non-County children in the Center, a non-County parent also participated in the process. Although only a single proposal was received, the Committee reviewed MDS' response and unanimously recommended the renewal of the contract with MDS. During the process, a number of parents contacted the Committee to compliment MDS' operation of the Center.

Vision Alignment

The contract offers a model for broader solutions in employer-provider child care within the County (Goal # 23) and demonstrates the County's commitment to provide access and early learning opportunities to children (Goal # 3).

Fiscal Impact

The cost of the child care center is primarily paid by tuition of parents with children at the Center. The County does provide $100,000 annually. During the past an unspecified portion of the amount was applied to scholarships and remaining unused funds were used to offset operational expenses to keep tuition low.

In cooperation with MDS and the County Manager's Office, the new contract specifies that $65,000 will be available for scholarships and $50,000 will be available for operating expenses. Since the amount of scholarships fluctuates from year to year, any annual amount less than $65,000 for scholarships will be held in reserve. Any amount above $65,000 will be paid from reserves, then from the County's Care$hares Trust fund which was established by the Board to offset child care related expenses.

The County is also working with MDS and the County Manager's Office to: 1) identify single parent / low income County families who are unable to have a child in the Center because of its cost and 2) actively promote their participation in the child care center through a possible revision in scholarship criteria. We will keep the Board apprized of our program in this outreach effort.