Travis County Commissioners Court
September 23, 2008
Item 45
45, consider and take appropriate action on partnership with del valle independent school district to pursue a grant from the Texas education agency for a collaborative dropout recollection pilot program and authorize the county judge to sign a letter of intent on Travis County's participation. This is good exactly what the backup says.
>> yes.
>> judge, only thing that I would like to maybe bring up is that, you know, as we continue to look at ways to curb and really reduce the dropout rate, it's problematic throughout the county. It appears that the numbers continue to increase. They aren't going down. The numbers are continuing to increase. My concern is this. I can recall years ago when the schools would have something in place called vocational education, distributive education, where at that time persons that were in school could also have a job made available to them and they could also get hours in the curriculum situation, but also work in a job. And it was kind of a tradeoff. You work and go to school and went to work and go to school. It was a tradeoff situation where during that time it appeared that it had some merit because it appeared that the dropout rate was not as significant as it is now. And, of course, we fund many organizations now currently that we are assisting in funding that are geared in trying to -- social services agency, geared in trying to curb dropout and other things that are occurring with our school-aged population. So my concern is that in this particular regard, and I know this is a pilot program as far as the application is concerned, where and when are we really going to maybe address some things that worked in the past, and that is if it's allowed these days, I don't really know, but maybe revisit some of those things that did work as far as reducing dropouts and that was some vocational education things. And so I just -- just throwing that out seeing that this is -- appeared to me there is still some room to address some of those dropout increasing rates throughout the county among our school-aged children.
>> well, I think we need to collaborate more on that with other entities, especially the school districts. And in this particular case, it's the del valle independent school district, who already has the children's partnership in the del valle schools. That is an important part of our health and human services department. And so this will continue to add to the wrap-around services that those students need to address mental health issues as well. And so I think what they are asking of us is to -- as well, I guess not -- well, bring some additional dollars to del valle. Kind of very much like the blackland situation. And with this letter, we'll be able to, I think, utilize the investment of the child partnership that we have in del valle. And it will bring about some additional dollars to continue that wrap-around service.
>> right, and I support --
>> that is required for children and families. It will through the whole family not just the child.
>> I do support it, but I'm just looking at opportunities to maybe revisit some things that worked in the past.
>> we're going to have to in a collaborative manner.
>> worked in the past as far as dealing with this -- with the dropout situation in Travis County. It's up there.
>> it is.
>> so that's why I brought that up.
>> Commissioner Gomez moves approval.
>> second.
>> seconded by Commissioner Davis. Commissioner eckhardt.
>> I wanted to mention one of the components of the children's partnership is a workforce component for for the child in danger of dropout as well as assistance to family for job training and placement services.
>> any more discussion?
>> let me ask, where is sherry? This is her deal?
>> well, it came through her department because of the child partnership.
>> does anybody know, I mean I'd like to have some numbers on what we're spending, what del valle is spending. I mean, I do think we have a dropout problem, you know, in this community. I'm not sure that it's county government that needs to fix the dropout problem. I mean --
>> no, and we're not. What we're doing is utilizing the investment that Travis County h.h.s. Has in that independent school district already as a -- a match for what the grant that del valle can get.
>> I don't have all the details, but I was in one meeting. What this is, it's just allowing the del valle school district to note that the county is currently spending resources in that school district and so it's not a cash match, it's just an in-kind match noting that we're already collaborating on this issue so in a sense we could be a partner and they are noting that on the application. I don't have the dollars, but I think it's around $10,000. But it's in the budget. It's not in addition to.
>> it's not in addition to.
>> no, it's exactly what we're doing and continuing what we're doing. It's just noting this in their application.
>> we're vouching for them with the feds.
>> yes.
>> all in favor? Show Commissioner Davis, Gomez, Daugherty and yours truly in favor. Commissioner eckhardt, she's voting in favor too.
The Closed Caption log for this Commissioners Court agenda item is provided by Travis County Internet Services. Since this file is derived from the Closed Captions created during live cablecasts, there are occasional spelling and grammatical errors. This Closed Caption log is not an official record the Commissioners Court Meeting and cannot be relied on for official purposes. For official records please contact the County Clerk at (512) 854-4722.
Last Modified:
Tuesday, September 23, 2008 3:05 AM