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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Jeff Anderson, Deputy Chief Information Officer
Martin Shanahan, Chief Community Services Officer
DATE: March 28, 2023
SUBJECT:
A resolution requesting approval to utilize funds for APS Training Academy, 105 E Galena Blvd Fourth Floor, Aurora, IL 60505 and TinkRworks LLC, 501 W Lake St Suite 106, Elmhurst, IL 60126 as part of the Aurora STEAM Academy (ASA) public-private partnership (P3) to deliver Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics (STEAM) services to 2,000 of Aurora’s underserved youth in the amount not to exceed $500,000.00.
PURPOSE:
APS Training Academy is a non-for-profit training provider that empowers vulnerable communities in Aurora by providing free and low-cost education and vocational opportunities in STEAM; and promotes economic equality so our community will not simply survive but THRIVE through the cultivation of a diverse tech-based workforce.
TinkRworks is a provider of exceptional K-8 STEAM project kits designed to allow students to foster a love of creating, enhance problem-solving skills, reinforce, and expand on concepts & ideas taught in schools, inspire curiosity, and encourage self-expression.
The intent is to continue upon the current public-private partnership between APS Training Academy, TinkRworks and City of Aurora that has successfully delivered a top-tier STEAM curriculum to the disenfranchised youth of the City.
This unique P3 will provide a platform for our future leaders to develop and hone core skillsets while also bringing to life foundational elements of the City's mission of being committed to the highest standards of academic excellence, providing a high-quality education while developing the knowledge, values, and attitudes essential for the unique challenges of the 21st century and beyond.
BACKGROUND:
Following a highly successful 2021 STEAM program, City of Aurora, TinkRworks, and APS Training Academy (APS) joined forces again in 2022 to provide hands-on STEAM programming for underserved K - 8th grade children within the City. The program, known as the Aurora STEAM Academy, had an overall goal to spark an interest in children to explore STEAM opportunities in the future and also instill within them the confidence to pursue STEAM-related opportunities they might not otherwise choose to do.
Relative to 2021 when only two STEAM projects were chosen for delivery to participants, 2022 saw a year where nine different STEAM projects were chosen for delivery to children. All of these projects immersed children in project-based learning (PBL) environments and provided them a holistic STEAM experience, weaving together elements of design, building, electronics integration, and computer programming.
These projects were delivered using STEAM projects and curriculum from TinkRworks, facilitation and implementation from APS, and access to students, infrastructure, and funding from City of Aurora. In total, 2,029 students participated in the 2022 program-a huge step-up in participation compared with the 2021 program which saw 625 participants. High levels of diversity were exhibited within the participant base:
1) Of the total participants, 63% were either Hispanic/Latinx or Black/African American
2) 52% of participants were male; 46% were female
3) 24% of participants self-identified as females who were either Hispanic/Latinx or Black/African American-a historically critically-important segment that remains highly underserved for STEAM exposure
4) 72% of participant households fell within the 0 - 50 AMI segment
DISCUSSION:
City of Aurora, APS and TinkRworks will continue working in concert to provide technological learning and enrichment opportunities to City youth. In doing so, each party has key responsibilities, as outlined below:
The City will provide marketing efforts for the STEAM Program, infrastructure (e.g., Wi-Fi, chrome books), and safe venues (e.g., No Child Left Offline learning centers with high-speed internet) where children current receive STEAM programming. In addition the City provides funding for various aspects of the program as detailed below.
TinkRworks supplies all STEAM kits, implementation packs including classroom supplies & materials needed for the trainers to deliver the curriculum, and professional development training to all APS trainers as required. The City funds the purchase of the Project Kits at a cost of $150.00 ea. x 2,000 students = $300,000.
APS provides facilitation of the program to City youth with logistical and administrative support for the program. APS also provides safe venues where City youth will go to receive STEAM programming. The City and APS share the costs of this aspect of the program. The total logistical and administrative costs of the program are $206 per student with the City's allocation per student totaling $100 per student * 2,000 students served for a City cost of $200,000.
The City's total cost for the ASA STEAM Program for 2023 = $500,000 as detailed above
Funding for the program will be provided from the City's allocation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. Funds have been set aside in the 2023 City ARPA Budget for the purchase of the kits for the program in the amount of $335,000. To fund the remainder of the City's total $500,000 program year 2023 allocation, we will process a Budget Amendment in the amount of $165,000 to account number 287-1280-419.50-30 (also in the ARPA budget). The budget amendment is for the logistical and support portion of the expenses to serve 2,000 students.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
Outcomes empirically highlight that the ongoing goal of sparking student interest in STEAM activities was both met and exceeded by participants.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Recommend approval to utilize funds for APS Training Academy, 105 E Galena Blvd Fourth Floor, Aurora, IL 60505 and TinkRworks LLC, 501 W Lake St Suite 106, Elmhurst, IL 60126 as part of the Aurora STEAM Academy (ASA) public-private partnership (P3) to deliver Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics (STEAM) services to 2,000 of Aurora’s underserved youth in the amount not to exceed $500,000.00.
cc: Infrastructure and Technology Committee
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
title
A Resolution authorizing the disbursement of American Rescue Plan Act funds in a combined amount not to exceed $500,000 to the APS Training Institute, Inc. and TinkrWorks, Inc. for the provision of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics educational programming to Aurora children.
body
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, APS Training Academy is a non-for-profit training provider that empowers vulnerable communities in Aurora by providing free and low-cost education and vocational opportunities in STEAM; and promotes economic equality so our community will not simply survive but THRIVE through the cultivation of a diverse tech-based workforce; and
WHEREAS TinkRworks is a provider of exceptional K-8 STEAM project kits designed to allow students to foster a love of creating, enhance problem-solving skills, reinforce, and expand on concepts & ideas taught in schools, inspire curiosity, and encourage self-expression; and
WHEREAS the intent is to continue with the current public-private partnership between APS Training Academy, TinkRworks and City of Aurora that has successfully delivered a top-tier STEAM curriculum to the disenfranchised youth of the City; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the services contemplated by this Resolution will be performed, in part, by individuals who possess a high degree of professional skill where the ability or fitness of the individual plays an important part, and are not by their nature, adapted to award by competitive bidding;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois that the Director of Purchasing shall be and hereby is authorized to enter into a contract with TinkRworks and APS consistent with the intent and purposes of this resolution in a total amount not to exceed $500,000; and further.
BE IT RESOLVED, funding for the program will be provided from the City's allocation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. Funds have been set aside in the 2023 city budget specifically for the program in account # 287-1280-419.50-30 in the amount of $335,000; and further
BE IT RESOLVED that an amendment to the City's 2023 City budget will be processed to add $165,000 to City account number 287-1280-419.50-30 (ARPA Funding) to provide the remainder of the funding for the City of Aurora's allocation of costs for the 2023 STEAM Program.