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Q&A
Addressing seat allocation issues and new RFP development
1:39:25
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157 sec
Council Member Rita Joseph raises concerns about the inability to move vacant seats between providers due to current contract structures and asks about the status of the new RFP to address this issue. Monique Scales from the DOE provides information on the ongoing process to develop a more flexible system.
- Current contracts lack flexibility to move seats where they are needed
- DOE is communicating with providers, families, and communities to understand needs
- Information sessions have been held to gather input for the new solicitation
- The department is working on surveys and outreach to parents, families, and other providers
- The goal is to create a more nimble system that can respond to changing community needs
Rita Joseph
1:39:25
So the following question will also I have a follow-up for you.
1:39:30
For three ks and four ks major issue was moving vacant seats from one provider to another and the inability to move seats where they are needed because of the way the contract is structured.
1:39:41
We are funding vacancies in one location while there's a seat shortage in other areas.
1:39:46
We've been asking for the new RFP to address this.
1:39:50
What is the status of the new RFP?
1:39:52
Will it include the flexibility to to leave seats where they move seats where they are needed?
Monique Scales
1:40:01
So currently, we are communicating with community, with providers, with families.
1:40:10
We're looking to see what is the need.
1:40:13
We've had some information sessions so that we can see what what are what are some of the things that they're looking for, what are some of the things that the current contract, maybe is not nimble enough in and that we can change so they can be more nimble so that we can potentially move seats or move seats across particular contracts, vendors, but currently since we're in the current contract we can't do that.
1:40:39
The contract is not nimble in that manner.
Rita Joseph
1:40:41
In that manner.
1:40:42
How often do you meet with providers and find out what the needs are versus do you plan with them or you just plan for them?
1:40:49
Just a question.
Monique Scales
1:40:50
No.
1:40:50
In this case, again, looking at potentially looking at a new solicitation, we have been since our new deputy chancellor came on of early childhood, we've been meeting with providers.
1:41:03
We've had, I believe, there's been three meetings with providers.
1:41:07
We had them out at an info session and meeting with, the advocates as well as parents and community to have info sessions and determine what we should be looking to put in a new solicitation.
Rita Joseph
1:41:21
Is is it a survey?
1:41:22
How do you gather your data from families and community members?
1:41:26
Are you reaching out to churches, shelters?
1:41:30
Are you on the boots on the ground trying to find that information so you know how to best serve that community?
1:41:36
Where there's usually a need, but sometimes the needs, the message is not reaching the folks that needs the service.
Monique Scales
1:41:41
That is absolutely true.
1:41:43
So, yes, we are doing all of those things.
1:41:45
We have first started with our providers that we currently have, put an information out there.
1:41:50
There's been, there I know that the team is working on a survey to get it out there to the parents and the families as well as to other providers.
1:41:58
So yes, all of those things that you mentioned is things that we are working on.