COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Sheriff’s Office

DATE:

July 8, 2010

BOARD MEETING DATE:

August 10, 2010

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Greg Munks, Sheriff

SUBJECT:

Agreement with the San Mateo County Office of Education

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a Resolution:

A.

Waiving the Request for Proposal (RFP) process;

B.

Authorizing the President of the Board to execute an Agreement with the San Mateo County Office of Education for prevocational and remedial education programs within the County’s correctional facilities, in an amount not-to-exceed $124,339, funded through the Inmate Welfare Trust Fund, for a one (1) year term commencing July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011; and

C.

Authorizing the Sheriff or Sheriff’s designee to execute amendments and minor modifications to this agreement not to exceed an aggregate of $25,000, on the condition that sufficient funds are available in the Inmate Welfare Fund; and/or to modify the contract term and/or services, so long as the modified term or services is/are within the current or revised fiscal provisions.

BACKGROUND:

The Inmate Welfare Trust Fund has been set up under California Penal Code §4025, which provides that the Sheriff may operate a commissary in the jail, and that profits shall be deposited into an Inmate Welfare Trust Fund. Section 4025 also provides that refund, rebate, or commission received from a telephone company for inmates’ use of telephones shall be deposited into the Inmate Welfare Fund. The fund may only be used primarily for the benefit, education, and welfare of the inmates, and maintenance of county jail facilities, which includes the cost of operating programs to benefit the inmates, including, but not limited to, education, drug and alcohol treatment, welfare, library, accounting, and other programs deemed appropriate by the sheriff.

A committee consisting of the Assistant Sheriff, Captain of the Sheriff’s Corrections Division and a Community Representative oversees the Inmate Welfare Trust Fund operation. Each year the committee receives proposals from service providers outlining their funding requests. The committee makes recommendations for award of contracts, most of which (because of the dollar amount) come before this Board of Supervisors for approval.

DISCUSSION:

The San Mateo County Office of Education provides educational programs in correctional facilities including classes in English, math, social studies, literature/arts, science, and reading. The sentenced inmate population has steadily utilized instructional classes that concentrate on General Education Development (GED) high school equivalency certificate preparation.

The Inmate Welfare Trust Fund Committee is recommending that the County contract with the Office of Education for basic skills instruction, GED certificate testing, vocational counseling, information and referral services, and follow-up services to inmates in the County's correctional facilities. Provision of these services is encouraged under Title XV and by the State Correctional Standards Authority during the Board’s annual jail inspection.

The County has contracted with the Office of Education for these services since 1994. The Office of Education is the lead public education agency in San Mateo County and in that capacity coordinates all special educational programs such as in-custody GED course work. Therefore, it is in the best interest of the County to waive the RFP process and continue to contract with the Office of Education on the basis of being a sole source provider in the County of San Mateo.

The contractor has assured compliance with the County's Contractor Employee Jury Service Ordinance, as well as all other contract provisions that are required by County ordinance and administrative memoranda, including but not limited to insurance, hold harmless, non-discrimination and equal benefits.

County Counsel has reviewed and approved the Resolution and Agreement as to form.

Approval of this Agreement contributes to the Shared Vision 2025 outcome of a Healthy Community by enabling inmates to increase skills which will lead to a broader range of job opportunities, as well as help those inmates who are parents to instill a love of learning in their children.

PERFORMANCE MEASURE:

Measure

FY 2009-10
Actual

FY 2010-11
Projected

Percent of inmates participating in prevocational and remedial education programs who have successfully taken and passed each of the five exams required to qualify for a GED Certificate

8%

10%

FISCAL IMPACT:

In FY 2009-10 the Inmate Welfare Trust Fund Committee noticed a decline in revenue due to a change in inmate spending habits. Considering that this would have a negative impact on the Inmate Welfare Trust Fund, notices were sent to program providers informing them that FY 2010-11 awards would likely be reduced by up to 25%.

The Agreement is for a one-year term commencing on July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011 and for an amount not to exceed $124,339, a 25% decrease from last year’s contract amount. The Agreement is fully funded through the Inmate Welfare Trust Fund and has been included in the FY 2010-11 Sheriff’s Office Recommended Budget. There is no Net County Cost.