The Hollister City Council recently heard a request for funding from Krystal Lomanto, county superintendent of schools, for the Footsteps2Brilliance program, a free literacy program for all families and students in the community. According to the city agenda, the county received a grant of nearly $4.3 million and is seeking an additional $25,000 from the city, “…in order to fill the gap,” according to Bill Avera, city manager.
Lomanto told the council that the county is hoping to kick off the program in August.
“We have received the grant through federal funding of over $4 million that offsets the cost of this,” she said. “In order for this to work, we need complete support from all of our community agencies. It cannot just the San Benito County Office of Education.”
She said that children in kindergarten who come from families that read or have access or finances to provide reading have a greater chance at success.
“When you have a kindergartener who comes in from a low, socioeconomic disadvantaged family, that does not have access to literature or is read to, there is a 30-million word gap by age 3,” Lomanto said. “When that happens, it takes a long time in that child’s education to make up for that gap, if ever.”
Lomanto said that being relatively new to the position at the education office, she is concentrating on literacy throughout the county. She said she is collaborating with the Napa County Office of Education, which already has the program in place. She brought its director to San Benito County to make a presentation to nearly 40 community leaders to see if there was any interest in the program. Afterward, she said there were many who wanted to know how to move forward with the program.
“The matching funds through the San Benito County Office of Education for this five-year program is $412,000,” she said, adding that the county does not have the money that is required up front. She said the $412,000 has to be paid as an off-set toward the $4 million grant.
Lomanto described the program as an app that, once downloaded, does not need data in order to run. It is in English and Spanish and tracks data for families and schools.
“We would like to launch this zero to third grade,” she said. “A lot of other areas did in in specific small groups. I want to go big. Literacy is an issue in our community and we have issues within literacy, reading, English language arts. If we can make a difference within our community by providing access to all families, for free, they can download the app anywhere.”
The County Office of Education will work with the schools, but Lomanto’s interest is to make it available to families. She said the app can recite nursery rhymes, write books, and help with vocabulary.
“I’m coming before you humbly, respectfully, and begging for some contribution so we can move forward as a complete community,” she said. “You are not the only agency. I’ve written a grant to the Community Foundation. I will be asking to go before our (county) supervisors. Probation wants to enter into an agreement with some of their preventative funds. And our school districts will also support this.”
Councilwoman Mickie Luna asked if the app is downloaded into a phone. Lomato said it is, or it can be put onto a computer or tablet, and Luna asked about families that don’t have computers or phones. Lomanto cited Napa County as an example of what could be done by purchasing tablets so families that cannot afford them can check them out. AT&T in Napa offered a low rate to support the program, the superintendent said, adding that the city of Palmdale conducted a drive to collect old phones that could be recycled and donated to families. Lomanto said, however, that 92 percent of the populace do have some sort of device that can download the app.
“We can make it whatever we want,” Lomato said.
Luna commented that many of the county agencies are acquainted with corporations that assist with technology needs and she wondered if Lomanto was prepared to reach out to these corporations. Lomanto said that once she knows her department has the funds to move forward with the program, then the Footsteps2Brilliance Inc. will provide marketing and other expertise, and connections needed to move forward.
“We just need to know we can get to the point that we can afford it and once we do that we put together a task force to come up with ideas as we roll it out in our community,” Lomato said.
Councilman Karson Klauer asked if there were unlimited app downloads. Lomato said downloads were based on an area and it would be free anywhere in the county, including Aromas and San Juan Bautista. Klauer questioned if it was the licensing of the books and other materials on the app that makes it possible to get free downloads.
Councilman Victor Gomez wanted to know how Internet accessibility would be handled for those who don’t have it in the county. Lomanto answered by giving Palmdale as an example in that the city worked with corporations to set up hotspots that people could use. She said once the app is downloaded, people can use it as much as they want offline. She said the company, Footsteps2Brilliance, will come to a community to also set up hotspots so people can use its product.
“Those are things we will work on as we come across them and I’m confident we can tackle them with the best interest of the kids in our community,” she said.
Gomez said he knows that in some communities that Comcast will sometimes offer free or low-cost access to low-income families.
“That would be great to have that conversation with local providers,” he said.
Luna commented that through city contributions to nonprofits there already was a young readers’ program. She said when the city gave money to the program, “AT&T jumped on it and helped bring the program to its full potential. So, AT&T is very aware of the needs of literacy in the county. When we can bring in any corporations to help us, that’s the key.”
The mayor expressed concern in regards to Measure E funding and “promises to the public.” Bill Avera, city manager, said he would like to have a conversation with the Measure E oversight committee and perhaps add the request to the non-departmental section of the upcoming fiscal operating budget.
For more information on the program and the company: www.footsteps2brilliance.com.
For information on how Napa County worked with the program: www.napacoe.org/footsteps-2-brilliance/
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