Travis County Commssioners Court
June 3, 2003
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Item 15
Commissioner Daugherty had a question about --
>> 15.
>> item no. 15.
>> 15, wasn't it?
>> 15 which which is to approve memorandum of understanding (mou) establishing a juvenile justice alternative education program to provide an alternate education program to expelled student in counties with a population less than 125,000 between the Travis County juvenile board and the following independent school districts: Austin, del valle, eanes, gonzales, Lake Travis, lago vista, Leander, luling, manor, knippa, nixon-smiley, Pflugerville, rosebud-lott and Round Rock.
>> um I believe that -- that -- I'm the deputy chief for the Travis County juvenile probation department. This is a document that we have brought before the Commissioners court before. And what it does is memorialize the relationship between the county, the juvenile board, the Travis County juvenile board, who is tasked with the oversight of the operations of the jjp and the relationship with the 8 school districts within the county, that -- that send students to us. It also covers the -- the other school districts that are named, school districts in whichhere are agreements that are made to transfer property-rich school district funds to those property poorer school district funds and we have an opportunity through those arrangements to receive some of those dollars, also. That money is used to help defray the operational cost for running the jjap. The county's contribution is about $150,000 for three staff that work for the juvenile probation department and are assigned to the jjap. However, we -- we also use a limited amount of state dollars and then we use these [indiscernible] funds through the property rich and property poor district school fund agreements to round out the additional cost for operating the jjae. That's the reason why there's so many school districts or entities that are involved in this memorandum of understanding.
>> and you -- the court provides what, $150,000, barbara?
>> approximately, approximately. It's salaries and benefits for three employees that are assigned to the operation. This is a program that's operated off-site to include -- through a contractual arrangement. We also have a lease agreement which I believe went on consent today with the Austin independent school district and we house this program on the campus of the alternative learning center.
>> explain to me one more time, what do we receive from these other 8 school districts? What would the collective dollars be for that?
>> it varies some from year to year. Because it depends upon which school districts are deemed to be property-rich and the amount of dollars that they have to flow to a property poor school district. We would estimate that -- that the most recent dollar amounts have been in the vicinity of about $550,000.
>> that we receive?
>> that the -- yes, well, yes, it comes to -- to the county, but it's specified specifically for the operation of the jjap. So it's not dollars that can be used for any other purpose than that.
>> so we are made whole by just what we have what we have received from these other, these outlying school districts? What I'm really trying to -- let me cut to the chase here. I'm trying to make sure that if we -- as you've heard me state before, I'm not so sure that I'm overly excited about being in the school business, which is kind of what this is. I mean, they are students. But from other school districts outside of Travis County, are we -- are we paid enough money in order to take those responsibilities on?
>> yes, sir.
>> that was short and sweet.
>> okay. Thank you, barbara.
>> thank you.
>> any more discussion? All in favor? That passes by unanimous vote.
>> thank you.
>> thanks.
>> sure.
Last Modified: Wednesday, June 4, 2003 9:52 AM