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Council approves rollover of READ program funds, agrees to SAT/ACT boot camp and scholarship extension
Summary
Following a report from the Education Advisory Board, the council authorized rolling unspent READ program funds into the next fiscal year, approved using $20,000 for an SAT/ACT boot camp, extended the scholarship application period by 60 days and directed staff to add graduate-student scholarships.
The Riviera Beach City Council on Sept. 3 approved several actions recommended by the Education Advisory Board to preserve and expand student supports funded from the city's READ program.
Education advisory board members asked the council to encumber approximately $164,000 in unspent READ funds so the money can be carried forward into FY2025-26. Staff also asked the council to approve using about $20,000 of that amount to run an SAT/ACT boot camp. In addition, the board requested that the scholarship application period be extended by 60 days and that the scholarship program be expanded to allow $2,000 grants for graduate students from Riviera Beach.
City staff said approximately $90,000 had already been expended and that $14,000 remained in the scholarship line; the Education Advisory Board would use remaining READ funds and the encumbrance to meet anticipated demand if applications increase. The board reported only seven scholarship applications had been received to date and asked for a 60-day extension of the application deadline.
Councilmembers supported the proposal and asked staff to return with a plan for timely distribution. The motion to roll forward unspent READ funds, allocate $20,000 for an SAT/ACT boot camp, extend the scholarship period by 60 days and expand scholarship eligibility for graduate students passed on a unanimous roll-call vote.
Ending: Council directed staff and the communications department to expedite outreach so the funds can be used quickly for the boot camp and to support a larger scholarship pool in the coming academic year.
