PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to request City Council approval of a request from Burbank, Burroughs, and Providence High schools to contribute $20,000 to aid Burbank resident students with the cost of the annual Close-Up Program.

BACKGROUND

The Close-Up Program is an educational experience designed to acquaint high school students with the operation of the three branches of the federal government.  The Close-Up participants will travel to Washington, D.C. for a weeklong look at the federal government.  This program has served as a tremendous learning experience for students interested in a career in government as well as those interested in community and public service.  The Close-Up Program is run by a nonprofit, nonpartisan foundation that has provided a �close up� experience of government to over 600,000 people since 1971. 

The City Council first began to partially fund Burbank students for the Close-Up program in Fiscal Year 1981-1982.  The original appropriation was $3,100.  This amount was increased to $10,000 in Fiscal Year 1989-1990 due to the increase in participating students.  In Fiscal Year 2000-2001, the City Council again voted to increase the funding for the Close-Up program to $20,000 due to the escalating cost of the programs and continual increase of interested students. 

Currently, the City Council continues to include as part of its budget $20,000 to partially sponsor the participation of local high school students in the Close-Up Program.  The funds are divided equally among the participating students.  Only participates who are both Burbank residents and attend a high school located in Burbank are eligible to receive the City contribution. 

Last year, Burbank High School sent nine, Burroughs High School sent 12, Providence High School sent eight, and Bellarmine-Jefferson sent ten Burbank resident students to the Close-Up Program.  Each of the 39 Burbank resident students who attended the Close-Up Program last year received $512 from the City.

ANALYSIS

This year, Burbank High School expects to send nine Burbank resident students to the Close-Up Program from June 17-June 23 at an estimated cost of $2,024 per student.  Burroughs High School expects to send 18 Burbank resident students from March 25-March 31 at an estimated cost of $1,802 per student.  Providence recently sent their 14 Burbank resident students from January 28-February 3 at an estimated cost of $1,684 per student. 

Bellarmine-Jefferson participated in the Close-Up Program last year, and in the past the Council has also provided support to Burbank resident students from Bellarmine-Jefferson High School to attend the National High School Model United Nations (NHSMUN) conference.  For thirty-three years, the NHSMUN conference has exposed high school students to global issues through a United Nations simulation which provides students with lifelong problem-solving and consensus-building skills. 

This year Bellarmine-Jefferson is planning to send 14 students on a New York City trip from March 10-March 16 at an estimated cost of $2,000 per student.  The New York City excursion will include visits to the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Times Square, the United Nations Building and Ground Zero.  The students are also scheduled to visit two universities, Fordham University and New York University.  There is no doubt that this will be an exciting opportunity for Bellarmine-Jefferson students.  However, City staff feels that this type of excursion does not qualify for partial funding through the City�s Close-Up Program Account.  Funds in this account are specifically geared to assist Burbank resident students with the cost of attending the Close-Up Program and by special exception, the NHSMUN conference.  Staff has spoken with the administration at Bellarmine-Jefferson, and they are accepting of this determination.

With an expected total of 41 Burbank resident students from the three participating schools attending the Close-Up Program, the City�s $20,000 contribution will provide approximately $487 per participant.

FISCAL IMPACT

$20,000 has been included in account number 001.CL01A.62015 � BUSD Close-Up Program as part of the City Council Office budget specifically to fund this program.  As in prior years, the checks will be made out directly to the students of the participating schools.

RECOMMENDATION

Staff recommends that the City Council approve a contribution totaling $20,000 (approximately $487 per student) to eligible students from Burbank, Burroughs, and Providence High Schools to partially offset the cost of the Close-Up Program.

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