The Franklin County Board of Education voted to transfer the Franklin County Prevention Coalition from the school system to Franklin County government after hearing details from Mayor Guest about how the move would align prevention programming with a recently awarded broadband-connected community grant.

Mayor Guest told the board the county won a broadband-connected community grant that included program funding tied to county-owned space and that “it just fits” administratively to house the prevention coalition under county government. He said the change would allow prevention, telehealth and education programs funded by the grant to be based in the county-owned building identified in the grant and would let the county and school system coordinate more closely on service delivery.

The move drew a detailed explanation of operations and funding: Mayor Guest said the coalition’s staff are grant-funded contractors and that “it will not change anything about money.” He told the board the state will update the contract and the employer identification number (EIN) for the coalition within about four to six weeks once the county commission passes its corresponding resolution, and that principal funding sources include the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse and funding tied to drug-endangered-children programs. He also noted opioid abatement funds could offset costs if necessary.

Board members asked whether employees would become county staff and were told the coalition’s workers are contractors; only the director position currently receives benefits paid from grant funds. Mayor Guest described plans to use the building’s lower classrooms and community-facing spaces for prevention, recovery and job-readiness programs and to spend some of the broadband grant money on building upgrades such as kitchen improvements and gym roof repairs already tied to the grant.

The motion to approve the resolution was made by Mr. Williams and seconded by Mr. Cole. After the board was asked for assent, members said “aye” and the motion carried.

Why this matters: Board and county leaders said consolidating the prevention coalition under county oversight will streamline program administration for grant-funded prevention and broadband-linked services, and is intended to improve delivery of education, recovery and workforce-preparation programs that serve both students and adults in Franklin County.

What’s next: Mayor Guest said the county commission had a scheduled vote (October 20) and that once both the board and commission approvals and the coalition governing board letter are sent to the state, contract paperwork and EIN updates would follow, after which program operations will be transitioned to county supervision as described.