HCPS FL Logo Teaching and Learning
Action Item
DATE: Tuesday, October 16, 2018
TO: School Board Members
FROM: Jeff Eakins, Superintendent
SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS
Approve the Purchase of LEGO Education Materials and Curriculum and Related Professional Development Workshops from LEGO Education North America (Sole-Source Provider) (Office of Teaching and Learning)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The learning tools are specifically chosen based on the grade levels served by each school at various elementary and middle schools. LEGO robotics equipment and curriculum offers students the following benefits: 
  • Integrates the power of robotics technology with inquiry-based content and assessment
  • Encourages and enhances a discovery-based science learning environment
  • Brings twenty-first century technology into the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) classroom
LEGO Education North America is designated as sole-source and is the exclusive United States distributor of all LEGO Educational Division school-range products, curriculum, and related workshops. Therefore, this purchase is exempt from the requesting competitive solicitations by the Florida Department of Education 64-1.012 Purchasing Policies (12)(d).
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
• Improve the high school graduation rate • Provide a student-centered learning environment that engages every child
FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted:  Yes)
Expenditures were $182,465 for the fiscal year 2017/2018. Funds in the amount of $130,000 will be available for anticipated purchases for the 2018/2019 fiscal year from the following (remaining balances as of September 25, 2018):
  • 101 General, Project 6011 - Instructional STEM: $20,000; remaining balance $140,187
  • 101 General, Project 4506 - Categorical Science Lab: $50,000; remaining balance $203,479
  • 420 Federal, Project 3528 - Perkins/Secondary: $60,000; remaining balance $1,604,706
EVALUATION
For the 2017/2018 school year, the use of robotics expanded in our K-12 schools during the regular school day (both for core instruction and electives in middle and high school), during out of school time, including summer camps, and more teams are participating in weekend competitions.  District staff continually review robotics products, and LEGO materials have been selected for these opportunities in grades K-8.
SUBMITTED BY:  Larry R. Plank, Ed.S., Director K-12 STEM
Deborah Cook   Gretchen Saunders
Chief Academic Officer, Teaching and Learning
(813) 272-4221
  Chief Business Officer
(813) 272-4270
    C 6.08
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20181016_909 (Board Meeting) * Section C Item# 6.08