Broward County Commission Regular Meeting

A. MOTION TO AUTHORIZE County Administrator to execute a lease agreement, subject to approval of the same by the Office of the County Attorney, between the School Board of Broward County, Florida (“SBBC”), and Broward County for its Cultural Division to lease space at SBBC’s Gulfstream Early Learning Center for youth, adult, and senior education, training, and community outreach and engagement, effective upon the date of execution and continuing for a period of three years, in the amount of $2,003 monthly, for a three-year amount not to exceed $72,099; authorizing the County Administrator to execute amendments to and renewals of the agreement, subject to the approval of the same by the Office of the County Attorney; and authorizing the County Administrator to take all administrative and budgetary actions to implement the lease agreement.

ACTION:  (T-12:37 PM)  Following discussion of a Substitute Motion as reflected on Yellow-Sheeted Additional Material, dated February 26, 2019, submitted at the request of Commissioner Geller, the Board voted on the Substitute Motion.  The motion failed.  (Refer to minutes for full discussion.)

VOTE:  4-5.  Commissioners Furr, Holness, Sharief, Udine, and Mayor Bogen voted no. 

ACTION:  (T-12:37 PM)  The Board approved the original MOTION TO AUTHORIZE.  (Refer to minutes for full discussion.)

VOTE:  6-3.  Commissioners Geller, Rich and Ryan voted no.

B. MOTION TO AUTHORIZE County Administrator to execute an agreement with The Fort Lauderdale Children’s Theatre, Inc., d/b/a Florida Children’s Theatre (“FLCT”) to provide education, training, professional development, family strengthening, and community outreach and engagement services in the amount not to exceed $40,000; authorizing the County Administrator to renew the agreement for two one-year terms under the same terms and conditions; authorizing County Administrator to execute amendments and renewals to the agreement, subject to the approval of the same by the Office of the County Attorney; and authorizing the County Administrator to take all administrative and budgetary actions to implement the agreement. (Commissioner Furr)

ACTION:  (T-12:37 PM)  Following discussion of a Substitute Motion as reflected on Yellow-Sheeted Additional Material, dated February 26, 2019, submitted at the request of Commissioner Geller, the Board voted on the Substitute Motion.  The motion failed.  (Refer to minutes for full discussion.)

VOTE:  4-5.  Commissioners Furr, Holness, Sharief, Udine, and Mayor Bogen voted no. 

ACTION:  (T-12:37 PM)  The Board approved the original MOTION TO AUTHORIZE.  (Refer to minutes for full discussion.)

VOTE:  6-3.  Commissioners Geller, Rich and Ryan voted no.

Motions A and B: Approval is required by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners (“Board”) for agreements with external agencies.

Motions A and B: Support increased efficiency, effectiveness, and innovation in the delivery of and access to countywide arts education programs and services for (i) children and families; (ii) educators, administrators, artists, and organizations; and (iii) residents and visitors.

CULTURAL DIVISION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTIONS.

This action supports the Board’s values of “cultivating community culture, arts, recreation and life long learning,” and goals to “improve access to business development, educational, cultural, and recreational opportunities and amenities to the economically disadvantaged"; and “provide diverse artistic, cultural, educational, and historical amenities and programs that contribute to a vibrant, multi cultural, and economically viable community, including an annual signature event.”

MOTION A
SBBC’s Gulfstream Early Learning Center (“Center”) is an arm of SBBC that has previously received funds from Broward County (“County”). The Center is a hub for early childhood education, community services, and family strengthening.

The lease of space at the Center will allow the Cultural Division to establish an arts integration training facility to support the Cultural Division’s Kid Culture Early Learning Program (“KCEL”); Arts Education Directory (“AED”); and the Broward Teaching Artist Credentialing Project (“BTAC”). Educators will be able to prepare and present their practicums at the Center and will also have access to the children and families attending other Center programs for hands-on learning.

Arts integration increases teacher success and retention, student engagement, motivation, and academic achievement. It fosters creativity, innovation, positive aging, lifelong learning, community health, and cultural awareness.

KCEL provides children, their families, and caregivers with access to Florida academic standards-based arts experiences at arts and cultural venues throughout the County. KCEL includes arts integration training and demonstration for early learning teachers, youth development providers, and arts and cultural organizations.

The AED is a roster of more than 60 teaching artists and cultural educators approved by the Broward Cultural Council’s Arts Education Committee. Most AED participants are sole proprietorships needing resources such as an office, co-working space, demonstration and teaching space, as well as opportunities to grow their businesses.

BTAC is the only program of its kind in five counties. It trains artists who also teach, how to work effectively with teachers and arts and cultural organizations. BTAC also assists teachers and community providers with integrating the arts into educational and family strengthening programs. It also fosters parent and community engagement efforts.

The proposed lease is for three rooms, totaling 3,564 square feet of space (Exhibit 1). The first room will provide office and co-working space for AED participants. The second room will be configured for lectures and demonstrations. The third room will be configured for teaching movement and performance. Center staff will check-in visitors to the facility and will assist with the coordination of activities involving other facility tenants and their clients. Lease of the space has the potential to provide training that will influence the success of more than 10,000 children throughout the County.

MOTION B
Fort Lauderdale Children’s Theatre (FLCT), a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, is a Broward-based educational center for theatre arts serving children and families throughout South Florida. It is the oldest documented children’s theatre in the State of Florida. FLCT is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale and offers programming at locations throughout the County and beyond, impacting more than 25,000 individuals each year. FLCT’s Artistic Director, Janet Erlick, is a member of the Broward Cultural Council, and is an arts integration specialist with more than 25 years of experience in the field. She currently works with SBBC’s Turnaround Arts program and is one of only two master teaching artists endorsed by the five county South Florida Cultural Consortium through its Teaching Artist Credentialing Project. Due to her master teaching artist qualification, Ms. Erlick currently provides assessment, evaluation, and training for the AED; and lesson plan development and arts integration training for KCEL.

Execution of an agreement will allow FLCT to (i) conduct assessment, evaluation, and training for the AED; (ii) provide lesson plan development and arts integration training for educators, administrators, and arts and cultural organizations participating in KCEL; (iii) train teaching artists participating in BTAC; and (iv) support family strengthening and engagement goals at the Center and throughout the Broward County School District. FLCT will utilize the leased space at the Center to conduct these activities weekly or more often. FLCT will also provide services in other locations including schools, parks, and libraries.