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Home My WebLink AboutFS 2014-06-03 Item 2B - Resolution/Report - "Tukwila City of Opportunity Scholarship" ProgramCity of Tukwila Jim Haggerton, Mayor INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor Haggerton Finance & Safety Committee FROM: Scholarship Selection Committee: Mayor Jim Haggerton, Council President De'Sean Quinn, Nate Robinson, Recreation Program Specialist, Cheryl Thompson, Executive Assistant and Jenni Standard, College and Career Counselor Foster High School DATE: May 22, 2014 SUBJECT: Tukwila City of Opportunity Scholarship Annual Report ANNUAL REPORT The City received seven applications for the City of Opportunity Scholarship: one application from Aviation High School in the High line School District and six applications from Foster High School in the Tukwila School District. All applications were forwarded to the selection committee members for review. There was $4,000 available for scholarship awards and two $2,000 scholarships were awarded. ISSUE After going through the scholarship process in 2014 Administration is recommending revisions to the program to include: • Defining Substantial Financial Need; • Make-up and Size of the Selection Committee; • Award Amounts; and • Eligibility of Immediate Family Members of City Employees and Elected Officials. DISCUSSION Defining Substantial Financial Need: The resolution that adopted the City of Opportunity Scholarship indicated that financial need would be demonstrated by the information provided on the FAFSA Student Aid Report. Unfortunately, the Student Aid Report only provides the amount of Expected Family Contribution but does not provide annual family income or the financial information provided in completion of the FAFSA form used to determine need. Eligibility for the Washington State Need Grant is determined by the using the State Median Family Income chart and to be eligible student's family income cannot exceed 70 percent of the state's median income. It is recommended that the scholarship application be modified to include a financial section that provides the annual family income for the previous year and that eligibility is based on a family income that does not exceed 70 percent of the state's median income. Members of the Selection Committee: It is recommended that we modify the make-up of the selection committee to include the Mayor and/or his designee, the Council President and/or a City Council Representative, up to two appointed City employees and School District representative(s). The number of members on the selection committee will not exceed seven people in any given year. Award Amounts: It is recommended that the amount of the annual scholarship fund be increased from $4,000 to $10,000 with the minimum award amount being $1,000 and the maximum award amount being $5,000. This will allow the potential for additional recipients and more substantial scholarship awards. 13 INFORMATIONAL MEMO Page 2 Eligibility of Immediate Family Members of City Employees and Elected Officials: It is a common practice for organizations that issue monetary awards to exclude employees and other individuals who are affiliated with the organization, as well as their family members, from eligibility to avoid a potential conflict of interest or the appearance of impropriety. After consulting with the City Attorney's office it is recommended that we adopt this exclusion. In the alternative, the Council can opt to allow immediate family members of City employees and elected officials, that meet all other eligibility requirements, to apply for the scholarship. FINANCIAL IMPACT Increasing the amount of the scholarship fund from $4,000 to $10,000 will mean an additional $6,000 per year from the general fund. RECOMMENDATION The Council is being asked to consider a resolution amending the Tukwila City of Opportunity Scholarship requirements at the June 9, 2014 Committee of the Whole meeting and the subsequent June 16, 2014 Regular Meeting. ATTACHMENTS Draft Resolution 14 RAFT A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, AMENDING THE "TUKWILA, CITY OF OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP" PROGRAM TO INCREASE THE FUNDING LEVEL AND CLARIFY AND REFINE PROCEDURES; AND REPEALING RESOLUTION NO. 1817. WHEREAS, the City of Tukwila has a scholarship program for high school students living in Tukwila; and WHEREAS, the purpose of establishing the scholarship program is to provide financial assistance and opportunity to deserving students to continue their education beyond high school; and WHEREAS, the scholarship grant shall be known and cited as the "Tukwila, City of Opportunity Scholarship;" and WHEREAS, following the initial implementation and awarding of scholarship funds, the City wishes to increase the funding level for the program and clarify and refine procedures; NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Purpose. The purpose of establishing the scholarship program is to provide financial assistance and opportunity to deserving students to continue their education beyond high school. Section 2. Scholarship Eligibility Requirements. Recipients of the scholarship program shall meet the following qualifications: • Must be a resident of the City of Tukwila. Proof of residency is required at the time of application. • Must be equivalent to a senior in high school. W: \Word Processing \Resolutions \City scholarship program amended 5 -27 -14 CT:bjs Page 1 of 3 15 • Must demonstrate a substantial financial need as indicated on the FAFSA Student Aid Report. Substantial financial need is defined as a household income of less than 70% of the State Median Income. • Must have applied to an undergraduate program at a community college, trade school or university. • Must demonstrate leadership qualities as evidenced by involvement in extra- curricular activities. • Must have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 or higher. • Must have completed a minimum of 15 hours of community service. • May not be an immediate family member of an employee or elected official of the City of Tukwila. For purposes of the scholarship program, "immediate family member" includes dependents, anyone residing in the person's household, and anyone within three generations by blood or marriage of the person or the person's spouse, e.q., within three degrees of relationship by blood marriage. Section 3. Funding. A sum of $4,00010,000 per calendar year shall be appropriated and reflected in the City of Tukwila budget. Scholarships will be awarded in increments of not less than $1,000 nor greater than $4,0005,000. Section 4. Scholarship Selection Committee. A Scholarship Selection Committee shall be created and shall include the Mayor and /or his or her designee, the City Council President and /or a City Council representative, and up to two City staff appointees and a- School District designeerepresentative(s) who can fairly evaluate the level of academic and extracurricular activities represented in the scholarship applications. Section 5. Roles and Authority for the Scholarship Fund. A. City staff shall administer the scholarship fund as directed by this resolution, and it shall be known and cited as the "Tukwila, City of Opportunity Scholarship." B. The Scholarship Selection Committee shall review the program annually and submit a report to Council that summarizes by school district: the applications, available funds, the scholarships awarded, the number of applications that did not result in scholarships, and any recommendations for revisions to the program. C. The Council shall receive the report and request revisions to the program as needed. Section 6. Application Review Process. The deadline for applications to be submitted is March 31 of each year. All applications will be reviewed by City staff to determine that the eligibility requirements have been met. All applications that meet the eligibility requirements will be reviewed by the Scholarship Selection Committee, which will present a recommendation to the City Council for approval of up to four scholarship awards. Scholarship recipients will be notified by April 30 each year. W: \Word Processing \Resolutions \City scholarship program amended 5 -27 -14 CT:bjs 16 Page 2 of 3 Section 7. Repealer. Resolution No. 1817 is hereby repealed. PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, at a Regular Meeting thereof this day of , 2014. ATTEST /AUTHENTICATED: Christy O'Flaherty, MMC, City Clerk De'Sean Quinn, Council President APPROVED AS TO FORM BY: Filed with the City Clerk: Passed by the City Council: Resolution Number: Shelley M. Kerslake, City Attorney W: \Word Processing \Resolutions \City scholarship program amended 5 -27 -14 CT:bjs Page 3 of 3 17