Tampa Bay Region - Southwest Florida Water Management District
Tampa Bay Region - Southwest Florida Water Management District
Tampa Bay Region - Southwest Florida Water Management District
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N482<br />
<strong>Water</strong> Tech<br />
Project Type<br />
AORs<br />
<strong>Water</strong> Quality<br />
Cooperative Funding<br />
Strategic Initiatives<br />
<strong>Water</strong> Quality Monitoring<br />
Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI)<br />
Cooperator(s)<br />
Project Manager Robin Grantham<br />
Task Manager(s)<br />
Status<br />
Proposed Coop. Funding Application<br />
Recommendation<br />
Not Recommended for funding for the following reasons: Duplication: The <strong>District</strong>'s Youth <strong>Water</strong> Resources Education Program<br />
has been streamlined to eliminate potential duplication and to enhance efficiency. Within the newly streamlined program, the<br />
<strong>District</strong> plans to fund field trip programs only through the Youth <strong>Water</strong> Resources Education Initiative (P259). Through P259<br />
funding, in Hillsborough County School <strong>District</strong> all sixth-grade students participate in a three-day water resources field studies<br />
program at Nature's Classroom; in Pasco County School <strong>District</strong> all seventh-grade students learn about freshwater resources<br />
through field programs at either Starkey Wilderness Preserve or Crossbar Ranch. Providing additional field trips through this<br />
project could be duplicative. Costs: Cost per person estimates included in this proposed program are more than four times higher<br />
than the average proposed FY2013 CFI education project. Past Performance: The <strong>District</strong> funded a similar project with the<br />
cooperator in FY2009. Even when the FY2009 program's timelines were extended by one year, the planned participation targets<br />
were not reached. Based on this past performance, the proposed program may have the same challenges with student, teacher<br />
and community participation, which would increase cost per person. It should be noted that even without this project funding,<br />
freshwater resources programs conducted by this cooperator will continue to be eligible for support through the <strong>District</strong>'s Splash!<br />
school grant program (P259)<br />
Description<br />
This Cooperative Funding Initiative project proposes to educate 2,500 middle school students within 100 classrooms, 50 middle<br />
school teachers and an estimated 7,500 citizens from Hillsborough and Pasco counties. Through hands-on activities and<br />
education lessons employing a variety of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) skills tied to the Next<br />
Generation Sunshine State Standards, the project proposes to increase understanding of water chemistry, use of robotics,<br />
applying computer programming, designing for experimental purposes, conducting experimental analysis using current<br />
technologies, use of sensor and probe technologies, simulations and media production. The three proposed program<br />
components are: 100 student workshops (High Tech Investigators and Masters of Media); teacher professional development<br />
workshops; and, 2 Super Wetlands Tech Saturday Family Days at MOSI. The program's effectiveness will be measured with<br />
student pre-/posttests and teacher evaluations.<br />
Benefits<br />
If funded, this project proposes to benefit water quality protection by using the latest technology, thus tapping into the current trend<br />
in STEM skills (science, technology, engineering and math). The water resources would benefit by instilling students, teachers and<br />
residents with an understanding and appreciation for area water quality protection. The education will target 2,500 middle<br />
students, 50 teachers and 7,500 Hillsborough and Pasco county residents.<br />
Costs<br />
The total proposed cost of the FY2013 program is $390,000 with the <strong>District</strong> requested to contribute $190,000 (Hillsborough River<br />
$190,000). <strong>District</strong> funds are being requested for teacher and student program support, transportation, teacher stipends, staff<br />
salaries, facility space and wetland education days. The program is projected to reach 2,550 students and teachers at a cost to the<br />
<strong>District</strong> of $74.51 per student/teacher, more than four times the average of other FY2013 proposed CFI education projects. MOSI<br />
has a cash match of $200,000.<br />
Additional Information<br />
Prior<br />
Funding<br />
Cumulative<br />
Transfer or<br />
Lapsed Funding<br />
FY2012<br />
Funding<br />
FY2013<br />
Funding<br />
Future<br />
Funding<br />
Total<br />
Funding<br />
<strong>District</strong> Budgeted - Ad Valorem<br />
Based Revenue<br />
013 Hillsborough River Basin 0 0 0 190,000<br />
0 190,000<br />
Project Funds Not Budgeted by the<br />
<strong>District</strong><br />
Museum of Science and Industry 0 0 0 200,000<br />
0 200,000<br />
Total<br />
$390,000<br />
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