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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Michael R. Pegues, Chief Information Officer
Betty Hart, Director Innovation & Strategy
Simon Rodriguez, Youth Services Manager
DATE: February 15, 2022
SUBJECT:
A resolution requesting approval to utilize funds for TinkRworks LLC, 21 W 2nd St #300, Hinsdale, IL 60521, for delivery of top-tier Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics (STEAM) training to 1,600 of Aurora’s underserved youth in the amount not to exceed $300,000.00.
PURPOSE:
TinkRworks is a provider of exceptional K-8 STEAM projects 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 purpose of this resolution is to continue and expand upon the continued partnership between APS Training Institute (“APS”), City of Aurora and TinkRworks that has enabled the successful implementation of top-tier STEAM curriculum supporting the delivery of highly valuable integrated STEAM experiences to the students of the City of Aurora.
The implementation of leading-edge TinkRworks STEAM learning will allow City of Aurora students to develop and hone core 21st century skillsets while also bringing to life foundational elements of the APS mission of being committed to the highest standards of academic excellence, providing a high-quality education while developing the knowledge, values, attitudes, and skills essential for the unique challenges of the 21st century and beyond.
BACKGROUND:
An expanded program has been outlined for the 2022 calendar year in order to ensure continued engagement with children in the City of Aurora and capitalize on their high interest in the field of STEAM. The goal is also to provide further accessibility to children who have not yet had the opportunity to participate in the STEAM program,
Specifically, to achieve the goal of accessibility and continuity of education, TinkRworks in partnership with APS Training Institute, proposes to expand the City of Aurora’s STEAM Enrichment Program to 1,600 student projects from current scope of 635. This will enable students from Grades K-8 (and potentially even through grade 9) to participate in year-long STEAM programming, held in 4 quarterly sessions (one project per student per session). The program would start in January 2022 with a winter session, and then progress through the spring, summer and fall.
Participation in this programming will help students be able to dive deeply into various aspects of science & technology, and build strong problem solving & critical thinking skills.
Students will have the unique opportunity to register for all four sessions when registration opens or alternatively, students may also register for single courses or a set of multiple courses at the point-at-time of registration. Thus, a single student may register up-front for all four courses available to them or they may instead, perform a “drop in” type of strategy where they may register for courses of interest and availability to them, then skip a session, and then register for another course or any combination thereof. Registration in this manner allows for enhanced planning for all parties involved (TinkRworks, APS, and City of Aurora) and will also provide greater flexibility to both students and parents.
The proposal for the year-long STEAM program will cost $300,000 which covers the cost of the earlier-mentioned 1,600 student kits as well as the implementation packs for each classroom project. These implementation packs contain all classroom supplies & materials needed for facilitators to deliver curriculum and projects to City of Aurora students. This cost does not include any facilitation cost to train APS facilitators; training and support costs are outside of the scope of this document and are handled directly between TinkRworks and APS. Explicitly, City of Aurora does not bear any costs related to facilitation or support.
City of Aurora, TinkRworks, and APS will all be working in concert to provide superlative enrichment opportunities to City of Aurora youth. In doing so, each party has key responsibilities, as outlined below:
1. TinkRworks: Provide leading-edge STEAM programming opportunities to City of Aurora students. To facilitate this, TinkRworks will provide both projects and training around STEAM projects to APS facilitators.
2. APS: Provide superlative facilitation to City of Aurora students with TinkRworks content, both in terms of projects and curriculum. APS will also provide some of the safe venues where City of Aurora students will go to receive STEAM programming.
3. City of Aurora: Provide a base of excited and eager students to receive leading-edge STEAM programming. City of Aurora will also provide marketing efforts, infrastructure (e.g., Wi-Fi), and safe venues where children may receive STEAM programming.
Details related to the implementation plan are provided below, under Deliverables and Implementation Plan.
DISCUSSION:
As part of the selection process, staff decided not to bid this item. In looking for a suitable STEAM partner, City staff looked to evaluate potential candidates across six key attributes:
1.Ability and capabilities to provide hands-on experiential learning to reinforce school learning and spark interest in exploring STEAM fields
2. Scalable model, i.e., something that starts with a pilot that can scale to thousands of students
3. Community engagement and facilitation, i.e., allowing qualified Aurora community members to serve as instructors; allowing graduating students to serve as mentors to others
4. Willingness and desire to plug-in with City of Aurora and other partners to provide services and opportunities to members of Aurora’s underserved community
5. Cost-effective price point
6. Desire/willingness to collaboratively measure impact of program
City of Aurora approached several different organizations ranging from coding programs (retail as well as online), STEAM programs, and university organizations in pursuit of candidacy for STEAM partners. However, except for TinkRworks (and APS Training Academy), none of the other potential candidate’s offerings were viable in the delivery of STEAM programming as they either did not have the needed capabilities (e.g., no hands-on experiential learning and/or no scalable facilitation model) or they openly stated they did not have the desire to partner with the city as it was not within their scope of services.
TinkRworks was the one sole vendor who not only had all the capabilities the City of Aurora was seeking, but also did so at a price point lower than any of the other players. Additionally, they had a very strong desire to partner with the city as part of their vision to provide services to every segment of the population, with large emphasis on underserved communities which is something they have previous experience in doing.
City of Aurora selected TinkRworks as a pilot partner for delivery in Summer of 2020 and the outcomes summary from that effort showcased large impact which led to adoption of a fuller curriculum in 2021 spanning 600+ students.
Successful impact results and positive anecdotal evidence continues to showcase very high levels of engagement and efficacy and as a result, staff is recommending TinkRworks as the partner for City of Aurora for the 2022 STEAM Academy. Overall, a close collaborative partnership has arisen between APS Training Academy, TinkRworks, and City of Aurora.
To measure the overall success of this summer STEAM-programming effort, pre and post surveys were distributed to children to gain an understanding of attitudes and preferences of students. The survey data was collated by TinkRworks staff members and analyzed to determine overall outcomes.
Outcomes were objectively derived using a formalized methodology. These outcomes are presented in detail as part of attached document, including detailed statistics, key takeaways, etc.
The Statement of Work (SoW) and invoice # 1257 are attached for review.
In accordance with City of Aurora Code of Ordinances, Section 2-335 (c), Council may award with a simple majority vote.
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 2022 City Budget for the program. The Fund Account number to be used for this expense is 287-1280-419.50-30.
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 TinkRworks LLC, 21 W 2nd St #300, Hinsdale, IL 60521, for delivery of top-tier Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics (STEAM) training to 1,600 of Aurora’s underserved youth in the amount not to exceed $300,000.00.
cc: Finance Committee
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
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A Resolution authorizing an agreement with TinkRworks LLC for the provision of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics (STEAM) training in an amount not to exceed $300,000.00.
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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, TinkRworks, LLC (“TinkRworks”) STEAM-X service combines comprehensive professional development (PD) with needed curricular elements in a way for identified facilitator(s) to delivery exceptional STEAM experiences to students; and
WHEREAS TinkRworks will provide professional development and certify identified staff member(s) for in-person delivery of STEAM-X projects; and
WHEREAS Licensing eLearning Platform, Student Project Kits and End-to-end Support is needed to support and deliver projects to City of Aurora underserved youth in partnership with TinkRworks and APS Training Institute; 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; and
WHEREAS The Fund Account number to be used for this expense is 287-1280-419.50-30
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 consistent with the intent and purposes of this Resolution in a total amount not to exceed $300,000; and further
BE IT RESOLVED, that funds in account 287-1280-419.50-30 shall be encumbered in an amount set forth in any Agreement authorized pursuant to this Resolution; and further
BE IT RESOLVED, that prior to the execution of any contract pursuant to this Resolution, the Director of Purchasing shall submit such contract to the Corporation Counsel for review.