Fort Walton Beach Resolution — 2026-12 Accepting Dollar General Literacy Foundation Library Grant $5550 — reading text

RESOLUTION 2026- 12 RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING FUNDING OF $ 5, 550 GRANT AWARD FROM A DOLLAR GENERAL LITERACY FOUNDATION TO IMPLEMENT FAMILY LITERACY FOR THE FORT WALTON BEACH LIBRARY' S " BUILDING READERS: BUILDING FAMILIES" PROGRAM; AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN ALL RELATED GRANT DOCUMENTS; AUTHORIZING A BUDGET AMENDMENT; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the City of Fort Walton Beach Library strives to improve the lives of residents through access to information, literacy, education, and lifelong learning opportunities; and WHEREAS, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation has awarded the City of Fort Walton Beach Library a Family Literacy Grant in the amount of$ 5, 550 for the implementation of the " Building Readers: Building Families" program; and WHEREAS, the program will provide integrated family literacy services including Adult Education Instruction, Children's Education activities, and Parent and Child Together ( PACT) programming through multi-generational book discussions and educational enrichment opportunities; and WHEREAS, grant funds will be utilized to purchase books, instructional materials, supplies, and educational resources necessary to support the program; and WHEREAS, acceptance of the grant will enhance literacy services available to residents of Fort Walton Beach and surrounding communities without requiring a local cash match. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA THAT: Section 1. The City Council hereby accepts the Dollar General Literacy Foundation Family Literacy Grant in the amount of Five Thousand Five Hundred Fifty Dollars ($ 5, 550) for the " Building Readers: Building Families" program, and authorizes a budget amendment to record the funding in the General Fund. Budget Amendment for Grant Funds: Revenue Expense 001- 1503- 347- 1000 5550. 00 001- 1503- 572- 5200 5550. 00 Project Number: FL- 0081- 02/ 2026 Section 2. The City Manager, or designee, is authorized to execute all grant agreements, certifications, reports, and related documents necessary to implement and administer the grant- funded program. Section 3. The City Council authorizes the expenditure of grant funds in accordance with the approved grant budget and program objectives.  RESOLUTION 2026- 12 Section 4. The City Manager and Library Director are authorized to take all actions necessary to carry out the intent and purpose of this Resolution. Section 5. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon approval by City Council and signature of the Mayor. Adopted: Zt u„,, , a, .)._ 0a..h 1 legretto, Mayor Attest: Approved as to : gal fo r . • I iency for the City of, o W. r• n Beach, only. 7- 2a-- 1. 4.....- 2..--- 1 4 //:, Kim M. arnes, City Clerk Jeffrey L. B Jilts, ti ty Attorney fin PLOIIDA f'  Building Readers: Building Families City of Fort Walton Beach Library Project ID: FL- 0081- 02/ 2026 Family Literacy Application Overview Project Title: Building Readers: Building Families Mission Statement The Fort Walton Beach Library strives to better the lives of our community through the power of access to information and the transformative potential of reading, literacy, and lifelong learning. Requested Cash Amount 5, 550 Has your organization received previous funding from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation? No Does the program that you are seeking funding for contain all three of the following components necessary for the Family Literacy program? Yes Please describe the Adult Education Instruction component of your program. Many adults want to read more but struggle to find enjoyable reading material. Some adults feel bombarded by information but do not always know what sources are true and trustworthy. We will purchase multiple copies of nonfiction titles by experts in their fields, especially science, history, and social awareness, written for the general adult population. The selected titles are originally published in English, but we will search for translations into other languages to enhance our collection, as we live in a very diverse community with many non-native speakers. The topics covered in the books will be supplemented by free access to our vast array of continuing education courses available online though Universal Class and Learning Express, provided to our patrons by our library. Our book discussion groups will encourage adults to deepen the understanding of the topics covered in the book and develop critical thinking regarding reputable sources and an author's subject authority. Please describe the Children' s Education component of your program. The Children' s Education component supports the literacy development of children whose caregivers participate in Adult Education Instruction by creating shared learning experiences. Many parents want to encourage their children' s interest in science, history, and social awareness but struggle to find engaging materials at appropriate reading levels. The library will purchase youth-adapted versions of adult nonfiction titles for readers ages eight through high school, allowing families to explore the same topics together. Children will participate in guided discussions and activities that build comprehension, critical thinking, and literacy skills. Adults will use Universal Class and Learning Express courses in Literacy, ESOL, Career Development and Parenting Skills,  to strengthen literacy and communication skills. As adults grow in confidence, they better support their children' s reading, discuss shared texts, and model lifelong learning, strengthening literacy outcomes for the family. Please describe the Parent And Child Together time( PACT) component of your program. We will facilitate family book discussions. Adults will read the original version of a book( for example, Astrophysics for people in a hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson) and their children will read the young reader version of the same book( i.e. Astrophysics for young people in a hurry). Then we will host a book discussion group for the whole family to stimulate conversations about the topics and ideas covered. Parents and children often struggle to fmd activities that they both can enjoy. By focusing our discussion group on books that have a young reader companion, parents can read an interesting book and discuss it with their children, secure in the knowledge that the children are reading books appropriately written for their age and reading levels. Families will strengthen their literacy and communication skills together. We will invite scientists and historians from our community to join our discussions, providing increased context and comprehension. How many individuals will your program serve this year? Adult Education Instruction ESL- English as a Second Language GED or High School Equivalency Youth 600 360 120 300 Projected Ethnicities Served Black or African American Asian/ Pacific Islander White Hispanic or Latino Two or more ethnicities Number- African American 1003 Number- Asian/Pacific Islander 364 Number- Caucasian 6022 Number- Hispanic 1095 Number- Multi-Racial 639 Total 9, 123. 00 Is this a new or existing project/program? New What is your National Literacy Directory Program ID number? 131431 Community Summary Geographic Classification 2  Rural Education Attainment 7.00% Poverty Rate 10. 00 0/0 Unemployment Rate 2. 00 0/0 Language Other Than English 5. 00 0/0 Project Design and Evaluation Statement of Impact We hope to reach 30- 50 people during each meeting. Our instruction will be a combination of discussion of the text, along with demonstrations of media literacy( finding and vetting reliable sources), presentations by experts related to the book topics, and deeper dives into Universal Class course offerings. We expect parents and children will form a deeper connection, reading comprehension will increase and participants will discover new areas of interest, prompting them to want to learn more. Project Design Grant funds will be used to purchase multiple copies of selected titles for a multi-generational family book club. Each month, adult participants will read an adult nonfiction title while children will read a developmentally appropriate youth edition on the same topic. This shared reading model allows families to explore ideas together while engaging with content tailored to each age group. Participants will come together for facilitated, multi-generational discussion sessions where parents and children can ask questions, share observations, and deepen understanding of the topic. Community members and guest speakers will be invited when appropriate to provide additional context and real-world connections. Library staff will support learning by highlighting related print and digital materials, including books, e- books, media, and online databases, and by providing media literacy instruction to help participants locate and evaluate additional information. This project strengthens family literacy, encourages discussion across generations, and builds lifelong learning skills aligned with the project' s stated objectives. Timeline Upon receipt of grant funds, the library will purchase program materials and finalize the project schedule. Recruitment and promotion will begin immediately through library outreach and community partners. Monthly family book club sessions will take place throughout the 12- month grant period. Each month will include book distribution, independent reading time for participants, and a facilitated multi-generational discussion program. Participants will be encouraged throughout the program to enhance their learning by using the library' s online resources. Library staff will recommend relevant courses from Universal Class to support reading comprehension, digital literacy, and life skills related to the monthly topic. In addition, LearningExpress resources will be promoted to support test preparation, ESOL learning, and career development. Library staff will provide guidance on accessing these tools and integrating them into participants' learning 3 goals. Program evaluation and outcome tracking will occur on an ongoing basis, with fmal outcomes reviewed at the conclusion of the grant period. Weekly Instructional Hours Per Individual Served 2 Hours Delivery of Instruction Blended Model/ Hybrid Small group Assessment Methods The effectiveness of the project will be