Dubuque Community School District's 21st Century Learning Grant ApplicationMasterpiece on the Mississippi
Dubuque
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2007
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Dubuque Community Schools 21st Century Learning Grant Application
DATE: March 2, 2011
Leisure Services Manager Marie Ware is recommending support for the Dubuque
Community School District's 21 Century Grant Application and submission of the
attached letter of support.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager
Marie L. Ware, Leisure Services Manager
Mic 1 2\---
. Van Milligen
THE CITY OF
DUB
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
DATE:
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memo is to share our cooperation in the School District's 21st
Century Learning Grant application and request City Council approval in a letter of
support.
BACKGROUND
Dubuque
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2007
continued
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
Marie L. Ware, Leisure Services Manager
Dubuque Community Schools 21st Century Learning Grant Application
February 28, 2011
In the last month we were approached, along with many other community organizations
regarding our interest in being a partner for the school district's 21st century learning
grant application. Pat Prevenas and Janna Beau attended a series of meetings to
discuss opportunities and possibilities. The target of this specific grant is for out -of-
school time for middle school age students.
As a department we came forward with helping with open gym at Jefferson, exercise
classes (Zumba, Hip Hop, Break Dance, Yoga, Pilates, walking club) once a week at
Washington and Jefferson, Ultimate Frisbee at Allison- Henderson Park, disc golf league
at Veterans' Memorial Park, Broomball at Allison- Henderson Park and soccer league at
Allison- Henderson. In addition we would work on service projects along Grandview,
Heritage Trail Extension and Allison- Henderson and Comiskey Parks.
The cost of the direct services of this project would be covered through the grant. Our
in -kind contribution would be Pat, Janna and Tony's time plus clerical time for support
as well as minor printing costs.
In addition we brought the Mississippi River Museum to the table as a part of their
outreach service through our lease with them. This will be a win /win as it reaches a
target market of young teens and has them coming to the out of school site for service.
We also recruited and referred several of our other partners that have now become a
part of the activity offerings.
21st century learning grant application
page two
The District is working on finishing their application now. We are hopeful as this is an
important age group of students to engage from both Washington and Jefferson Middle
Schools.
The physical activity and service component both meet a number of goals of the city
and department.
ACTION STEP
I request City Council approval of a letter of support to the District for their 21st Century
Learning Grant Application.
MLW:et
attachment: letter of support
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
Dr. Larie Godinez
Dubuque Community School District
2300 Chaney Road
Dubuque, Iowa 52001
Dear Dr. Godinez:
Dubuque
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2007
March 3, 2011
Office of the Mayor
City Hall
50 West 13` Street
Dubuque, IA 52001 -4864
www.cityofdubuque.org
It is with pleasure that I write a letter of support on behalf of the Dubuque City Council
for the District's Iowa 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant Application.
Partnering for a better Dubuque is one of the five -year goals of the City Council. Our adopted
policy agenda items for 2010 -2012 include the top priority of continued work with the Safe
Community Task Force and high priority of Every Child /Every Promise as well as
collaboration between the Leisure Services Department and the school district.
The proposed after school program for middle school students including academic
assistance, education enrichment and family literacy dovetails into our priorities. The
engagement of middle schoolers in after school will have an effect on unsupervised time
youth spend potentially engaging in a variety of unsafe behaviors between the hours of 3:00
to 6:00 p.m. It is a time period of experimentation and potential criminal activity. We see this
in our parks and public areas near the two middle schools.
The collaborative approach of your program bringing the City's Leisure Services
Department's Multicultural Family Center programming and expertise as well as our many
nonprofit partners will build an engaging program for these middle schoolers.
The City's Safe Community Task Force has spent two years taking a holistic look at
both the causes of and solutions to crime in Dubuque. One of their recommendations is to
"encourage and engage parents and youth in out of school time programs." Another
recommendation is related to social capital /volunteerism. The service components of the
program meets the goal "to engage community volunteers of various races and income levels
in a monthly "Day of Caring Initiative ". The Safe Community Advisory Committee at their
meeting last evening recommended our support of this application because it is exactly the
kind of program they want to see happen.
Dr. Larie Godinez
March 3, 2011
Page 2
We are pleased to offer free transportation to students on our "Jule" bus line.
Transportation is often a large barrier to our youth and we are fortunate to have the system
we can offer for student use. We were also pleased to offer through Leisure Services and
Multicultural Family Center a variety of physical activities and service projects.
The City will be a committed, collaborative partner in this grant. Staff from a variety of
departments will be involved in the sustainability of the program. We applaud your efforts
and will be your active partner throughout the five -year grant and beyond. The success of
our collective efforts will make a positive impact on the lives of children and families.
RDB:jh
Sincerely,
Roy D. Buol
Mayor
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