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SR 10-10-2017 3H City Council Report City Council Meeting: October 10, 2017 Agenda Item: 3.H 1 of 4 To: Mayor and City Council From: Patty Wong, Director of Library Services, Library Services Department Subject: Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute an operating agreement with the Mexican Consulate Plaza Comunitares Recommended Action Staff recommends that the City Council authorizes the City Manager to negotiate and execute a Memorandum of Understanding with the Consulate General of Mexico in Los Angeles to establish terms and conditions under which the City will collaborate with the Consulate General of Mexico in Los Angeles, the Institute for Mexicans Abroad (SRE) and the National Institute for Adult Education (INEA) on establishing Plaza Comunitaria program at the Santa Monica Public Library, Pico Branch. Executive Summary Santa Monica Public Library, dedicated to lifelong learning for all its customers, seeks to establish a Plaza Comunitaria work plan at the Library’s Pico Branch. The Library’s goal as a Vibrant Learning Center is to promote and provide educational opportunities that will help learners live better lives—whether through employment, advanced education, or improved understanding of basic life skills. The Plaza Comunitaria is a free curriculum service in Spanish that supports Latino community members who wish to advance their education and literacy skills in their native language. Establishing the Plaza Comunitaria program in Santa Monica aligns with the City’s values and commitment to the Wellbeing of its community members and supports the City Council’s Strategic Goal of “Learn + Thrive” to ensure all residents have the right to access Library services and programming for lifelong learning. Background The Plaza Comunitarias work plan is based on the MOU on education between the governments of the United States of America and the United Mexican States signed at Washington D.C. on August 8, 1990. The Plaza Comunitarias serve as transitional 2 of 4 programs into English and adult basic education classes as it establishes an academic foundation for Latino immigrants from which to work. The program is a free curriculum in Spanish created by the Mexican National Institute of Adult Education (INEA) to help Latinos learn to read and write in their native language and finish elementary- and intermediate-level education certified by the Mexican Department of Education. All students must take a diagnostic testing provided by SASACE (online testing system) to determine their course of study. The program is open to all native Spanish speakers regardless of their native country. In the State of California there are over 63 Plaza Comunitarias established in different organizations such as schools, non-profit and faith organizations. There are 15 Plazas in Los Angeles County. The Santa Monica Public Library will be the second library in Southern California to establish one. The approval to authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute this MOU will enable staff to establish a partnership between the City of Santa Monica and the Consulate General of Mexico in Los Angeles to support the Latino community members who wish to advance their education and literacy skills in their native language. Discussion 32% of Santa Monica residents in the Pico neighborhood are Latino and 11% speak Spanish as their first language. Currently, the Library has a core group of community members at the Pico Branch through its LEAMOS (Let’s Read) program who are learning to read and write for the first time in their native language. The need for a program that advances native Spanish speakers through elementary and intermediate school certification was brought to the attention of Virginia Avenue Park (VAP) and library staff through the active Latino parent community group, Familias Latinas Unidas. Once learners complete the LEAMOS program, they will transition to the Plaza Comunitaria to continue their studies and possibly complete an elementary and intermediate certification. 3 of 4 In addition, according to Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, approximately 1,100 student households speak Spanish as their primary language in the home. The Plaza Comunitaria directly aligns with Santa Monica Public Library’s strategic focus areas of Vibrant Learning Center and Community Connector. The relationship established with the Mexican Consulate will strengthen our efforts to help our Spanish speaking community thrive by furthering their education in their native language. The Plaza Comunitaria will offer adult literacy classes through primary and secondary education and training for work. The Library’s goal is to help our Spanish speaking community make the transition to learn English and promote educational continuity to broaden their opportunities to obtain employment that is stable and economically viable. The Library and VAP staff members will assist in administering the evaluation of the classes through exams and report grades to INEA’s registration and testing online system known by its acronym SASACE. Staff will also have access to all textbooks (print, online, and PDF files). Once a student completes his or her online course, an official certificate will be mailed to the students. The value and benefit of this program lies in the fact that adult literacy changes the lives of the undereducated. It makes people better citizens and workers; it allows them to be role models to their children and their community. Financial Impacts and Budget Actions There are no direct financial costs to the City for establishing a Plaza Comunitaria in Santa Monica. However, if approved, the program would be co-led by library and VAP staff, along with volunteers. Training would be provided by INEA twice a year for the staff coordinating and running the program. The Library believes it can absorb this workload using existing staff. The online module and compliment of materials available for the program are free of charge. 4 of 4 Prepared By: Priscilla Bouvet, Executive Administrative Assistant Approved Forwarded to Council REFERENCE:    MEMORANDUM OF  UNDERSTANDING NO. 10562  (CCS)