HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-14-16 CC Mtg - C3. Project WET PSA for Education Pilot Project
Commission Memorandum
Report To: Honorable Mayor and City Commission
From: Jessica Ahlstrom, Water Conservation Technician Lain Leoniak, Water Conservation Specialist
Kyle Mehrens, Storm Water Coordinator
Craig Woolard, Director of Public Works
Subject: Authorize the City Manager to sign a Professional Services Agreement with
Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) Foundation to develop and implement an expanded
education pilot project in Bozeman Public Schools that provides training workshops to
community educators on water topics, develops lesson plans and online resources, and integrates
those lessons into the Bozeman Public Schools curriculum so that those educators can reach children with objective, experiential, science-based water education.
Meeting Date: November 14, 2016
Agenda Item Type: Consent Item
Recommendation: Authorize the City Manager to sign a Professional Services Agreement
with Project WET Foundation to develop and implement an expanded pilot project that provides training workshops to community educators on water topics, develops lesson plans and online
resources, and integrates those lessons into the Bozeman Public Schools curriculum so that those
educators can reach children with objective, experiential, science-based water education.
Background: In an effort to engage young people within the community the project will focus on implementing customized lessons and activities that present complex concepts related to
watersheds, water conservation and storm water to educators via lessons plans that are locally
relevant, accessible and positive experiences for young learners.
In an effort to reach more young learners with these objective, experiential, science-based lessons year after year, the project will also focus on integrating the developed lesson guides and
online resources into the Bozeman Public Schools Next Generation Science Standards at the
appropriate age level.
The project advances the educational objectives of the Water Conservation and Storm Water Programs and is one of the six minimum control measures required by the City as part of the
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MS4 permit process to demonstrate the development and implementation of Best Management
Practices and measurable goals for public education and outreach on storm water impacts.
Project WET is a non-profit organization based in Bozeman that provides action-oriented water education programs for students and teachers worldwide. They are the only organization in North
America with the skills and expertise to provide training workshops to educators on water topics
so that those educators can reach children with objective, experiential, science-based water
education.
The services to be provided by Project WET utilize lesson plans that have been perfected over
many years in numerous countries making them highly unique and effective. Activities and
booklets present complex concepts related to water conservation, storm water and watersheds to
educators via lessons plans that are relevant, accessible and positive for young learners.
The project is comprised of the following tasks:
(1) Activities Development
(2) Partnership Development and Teacher Workshop
(3) Providing of materials
(4) Classroom Implementation
(5) Continued Metric Development
(6) Convening Focus Group
(7) Curriculum Integration
(8) Webpage Development and Maintenance
Alternatives: As suggested by the Commission.
Fiscal Effects: Total project costs to the Water Conservation and Storm Water Programs shall
not exceed $7,550.00.
Attachments: Professional Services Agreement
Scope of Services
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ATTACHMENT A
Scope of Services
Project WET Foundation Bozeman Water Education Expanded Pilot Project
I. Introduction
This document outlines the tasks to be completed by Project WET (Water Education
for Teachers) Foundation, (hereinafter “Contractor”) for the Bozeman Water
Education and Outreach Pilot Project for the City of Bozeman, Department of Public
Works (hereinafter “City”), 20 East Olive Street Bozeman, Montana 59715 between
September 1, 2016 and June 1, 2017.
II. Description
The City requires an organization with the skills and expertise to develop a pilot
project that provides training workshops to educators on water topics so that those
educators can reach children with objective, experiential, science-based water
education (hereinafter “project”).
The project will focus on the refinement of materials and implementation of activities
and booklets that present complex concepts related to watersheds, water conservation
and storm water to educators via lessons plans that are relevant, accessible and
positive experiences for young learners.
Goals: The City will use the project to start a critical conversation with local teachers
and students about:
(a) Where Bozeman’s water comes from, how it is used and where it goes;
(b) Impacts to water quantity and quality as a result of those uses and precipitation
events;
And
(c) The power each of us has to ensure that there is water in sufficient quantity and
quality for us and all of the other species who depend on these water supplies.
Objectives: To enable the City to accomplish its goals, the project should achieve the
following objectives:
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(a) Expand upon existing partnerships and establish and develop new partnerships
with local public education institutions;
(b) Edit, revise, and finalize the customized Bozeman Water Conservation and
Storm Water Management Educators Guide based on teacher and City
feedback;
(c) Submit the Bozeman Water Conservation and Storm Water Management
Educators Guide as a supplementary curriculum offering for teachers in upper
elementary and middle school;
(d) Work with the City of Bozeman and Bozeman Public Schools Curriculum
Director to integrate the Bozeman Water Conservation and Storm Water
Management Educators Guide as a base resource into the Bozeman Public
Schools Montana Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) at the
appropriate age level;
(e) Develop a dedicated program webpage to host resources for the Bozeman
Water Conservation and Storm Water Management Educators Guide
including but not limited to Student Copy Pages, links to maps, and additional
local action project ideas for teachers to engage in;
(f) Provide customized watershed, water conservation and storm water education
workshops for local teachers;
(g) Facilitate implementation of classroom units pertaining to the aforementioned
focus areas in local classrooms;
(h) Measure program effectiveness;
(i) Share results and highlight successes and lessons learned for continued future
expansion.
Topics to be covered in the project include but are not limited to:
(i) Bozeman Watersheds:
a. Description-Water Cycle
b. Habitats
c. Protection
d. Restoration
(ii) Water Conservation
a. Value of Water
b. Water Uses/Conservation Practices
c. Environmental Benefits
d. Positive impacts to water quality
(iii) Storm Water
a. Detailed Description
b. Sources of Pollution
c. Environmental Impacts
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d. Preventative Practices
The Tasks outlined below represent a complete proposed Scope of Work. At its
discretion, City will authorize individual tasks and/or sub-tasks. The Contractor shall
prepare a Work Plan and schedule for each task or sub-task which will be submitted
to City.
III. Proposed Scope of Work
The proposed scope of work is intended to provide a means in which to develop and
introduce customized, science-based activities related to watersheds, water
conservation and storm water in upper elementary and middle school classrooms on
or before June 1, 2017.
The project is to be of such a quality that it can be integrated as a base resource into
the Bozeman Public Schools Montana NGSS and expand City’s student education
and outreach campaigns relating to watersheds, water conservation and storm water.
Contractor will work with City to develop metrics for key stakeholders in order to
measure the project’s effectiveness and determine form and substance for future
projects.
All work product generated as a result of the project shall be provided to City and in a
format that allows for City’s future use and distribution.
Task One: Activities Development
Contractor shall edit, revise and finalize the customized Bozeman Water
Conservation and Storm Water Management Educators Guide, based on teacher and
City feedback, in digital form. This shall be completed on or before November 7,
2016.
Task Two: Partnership Development and Teacher Workshop
In coordination with City, Contractor shall implement the Bozeman Water
Conservation and Storm Water Management Educators Guide via teacher training
workshop with new upper elementary and middle school teachers as well as
participating teachers from previous pilot years on or before December 31, 2016.
Task Three: Provide Materials
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Contractor shall offer Project WET children’s activity booklets (e.g., Conserve Water,
Storm Water, and Watershed Protection) to teachers on the dedicated program
webpage on or before March 31, 2017.
Task Four: Classroom Implementation
Contractor and City shall facilitate the implementation of the activities in the pilot
classrooms to observe and document teachers’ and students’ levels of engagement
with the activities. This task shall be completed on or before June 1, 2017.
Task Five: Metrics Development
In consultation with City, Contractor shall refine the series of metrics used to evaluate
key stakeholders at various stages of the process to determine the effectiveness of
project development, teacher training, classroom implementation and changes within
stakeholder groups in knowledge, beliefs and attitudes about local watersheds, water
conservation and storm water impacts and management. This task shall be completed
on or before March 1, 2017.
Task Six: Convene Focus Group
Contractor shall convene the year three pilot teachers as a Focus Group on or before
June 1, 2017. The Focus Group will provide activity suggestions and edits, share
student reactions to the activities, offer ideas on how to scale up the program, indicate
what additional materials will best enhance the Educators Guide and answer other
questions.
Task Seven: Curriculum Integration
Contractor shall submit the Bozeman Water Conservation and Storm Water
Management Educators Guide as a supplementary curriculum offering for teachers in
upper elementary and middle school on or before September 30, 2016.
Contractor shall work with the City of Bozeman and Bozeman Public Schools
Curriculum Director to integrate the Bozeman Water Conservation and Storm Water
Management Educators Guide as a base resource into the Bozeman Public Schools
Montana NGSS at the appropriate age level.
Task Eight: Webpage Development and Maintenance
Contractor shall develop a dedicated program webpage to host resources for the
Bozeman Water Conservation and Storm Water Management Educators Guide
including but not limited to a digital copy of the Bozeman Water Conservation and
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Storm Water Management Educators Guide, Student Copy Pages, links to maps and
additional local action project ideas for teachers to engage in prior to June 1, 2017.
Total project costs shall not exceed: $7,550.00
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