Academic Support and Federal Programs Action Item

DATE:	Tuesday, December 5, 2017
TO:	School Board Members
FROM:	Jeff Eakins, Superintendent
SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS
Approve the Competitive Grant Application Submissions Between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2018, from the Grants and Research Operations (GRO) Office; Accept all Grant Funds Generated Through Awarded Grant Applications During That Time Period (Academic Support and Federal Programs Division)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Board approval is requested to apply for all competitive grants that support the Board’s Strategic Plan and priorities released during the specified time period.  As a result of the May 7, 2013, Board Workshop regarding the District’s grant application process, the GRO Office utilizes the Board’s approved process for communication related to grant submissions.    Each quarter, the Director of GRO updates the Board on grant submissions via the Friday/Information for the week of Report.  Each update catalogs grants for which the District applied during that particular quarter in support of the Board’s Strategic Plan. Additionally, the report identifies grants that could potentially be released during the subsequent six-month period (based upon the most current information available and past history), each of which will be analyzed to determine whether or not they will be pursued by the District. Following discussion at the December 15, 2015, Board meeting, a new section was added to the report outlining grants scheduled to sunset in the next two years; this section identifies project directors should Board members have questions related to sustainability of those particular projects.  Upon receipt of the quarterly update, Board members have the opportunity to ask clarifying questions or express concerns by contacting the Director of GRO or the identified Project Director for any grant project.   All grant applications are authored in collaboration with appropriate District staff and under the guidance of District administrators.  The Chief of Staff is the final reviewer of all competitive grant applications prior to their submission to funding agencies.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
All Strategic Objectives
FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted:  Yes)
Competitive grant funds received by the District through the efforts of the GRO Office are dependent on the number of opportunities available, as well as the decision as to whether or not to apply for funding.  These funds are included in the District’s divisional special revenue/federal programs budget.
EVALUATION
Evaluations are performed for all funded competitive grants on a yearly basis and are performed by external evaluators unless required otherwise by the grant funding authority.  The District’s Office of Strategy Management provides oversight of this process and assumes the responsibility for providing external evaluators with required evaluation data.  Copies of all grant evaluations are provided to the Office of Strategy Management, in addition to the grant project directors.
SUBMITTED BY:  Lisa Placko, Director, Grants and Research Operations Tracye H. Brown, Assistant Superintendent, Academic Support and Federal Programs

Gretchen Saunders		Dr. Alberto Vázquez
Chief Business Officer (813) 272-4270		Chief of Staff (813) 272-4986
		C 6.12
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20171205_824 (Board Meeting) * Section C Item# 6.12