Hillsborough County Public Schools Student Services and Federal Programs
Action Item

DATE: Tuesday, January 17, 2006
TO: School Board Members
FROM: MaryEllen Elia, Superintendent

SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS

Approve Partnership Agreement between Freedom Playground Foundation and the School District of Hillsborough County (Student Services and Federal Programs Division)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The School District of Hillsborough County (SDHC) is partnering with Freedom Playground Foundation to design and construct a playground at Grady Elementary School during the next eighteen months. Stefani Busansky, as Executive Director of Freedom Playground Foundation, submitted and received a grant award from CVS/Pharmacy Charitable Trust and Boundless Playgrounds Foundation to develop a playground at Grady Elementary School during the next eighteen months. As a parent of a student attending Grady Elementary School, she and her foundation are committed to providing a barrier free play environment that integrates traditional play equipment with the elements of art, music, and nature. The purpose of this project is to provide: (1) all students with the opportunity to play together in an unstructured environment, (2) students with disabilities an appropriate environment for weekly therapeutic recreation, and (3) environment for a physical education program focused on inclusion for all students. All 440 students at Grady will utilize the playground, including the twenty-seven percent (27%) exceptional education students. Freedom Playground Foundation, as the recipient of the grant award, will compile evaluation data, including a final project evaluation/report, photos, newspaper articles and video.

ANNUAL DISTRICT GOAL(S) AND CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S)

Goal 5) The district will eliminate the FCAT achievement gap by a minimum of 10 percentage points as reported by No Child Left Behind.

FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted: Yes)

As stated in the agreement, $129,000 will be utilized to design and construct the playground. The source of these funds is Boundless Playgrounds Foundation and CVS Pharmacy Charitable Trust. The monies will be housed in the Special Revenue/Federal Programs Budget in a separate project number.

EVALUATION

SUBMITTED BY: Barbara Anderson, Grants and Research Operations Officer

Gwendolyn L. Luney, Assistant Superintendent
Student Services and Federal Programs
(813) 272-4879
Gretchen Saunders
Chief Business Officer
(813) 272-4270
5.30
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20060117_165 * Section E Item# 5.30