C7D - Reassign Steam Plus Program Management

Resolutions - C7 D

COMMISSION MEMORANDUM

RECOMMENDATION

The Administration recommends that the Mayor and the City Commission authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute any agreements or documents related to the administration of the Miami Beach Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) Plus Program for public schools (Kindergarten – 12 th grade) with previously approved funding for the 2025-2026 School Year, and subsequent School Years, at the option of the City and subject to funding appropriation and approval by the City Commission during the budgetary process for each fiscal year.

BACKGROUND/HISTORY

In January 2008, the City of Miami Beach entered into an Education Compact with Miami-Dade County Public Schools to enhance learning opportunities for youth. The Compact reflects the desire of the Miami Beach community to support excellence in the City's public schools and currently addresses and supports the following priority areas: Teacher Recruitment/ Retention; Communication; Parental Involvement/ Family Support; Youth and Community Engagement; Health and Well-Being; Student Achievement; Safety; and Technology.

On April 15, 2015, the Mayor and the City Commission adopted Resolution No. 2015-28997, which directed the Administration to expand the Compact to address the following areas: Early Learning; Extracurricular/Choice Offerings; and Afterschool Programming.

The City has entered into contracts with M-DCPS and other organizations for the following initiatives: Voluntary Pre-kindergarten (VPK) at Fienberg Fisher K-8 Center and Biscayne Elementary; Dual Enrollment Expansion through partnerships with Florida International University, and Miami-Dade College at Miami Beach Senior High School and Nautilus Middle School; and an Afterschool Teen Program at Nautilus Middle School.

The Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) to Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) movement has been taking root over the past several years and is surging forward as a positive model of action to truly meet the needs of a 21st century economy. STEM alone, without the Arts component, misses several key components that many employers, educators, and parents have voiced as critical for our children to thrive in the present and rapidly approaching future. STEAM is an educational approach to learning that uses Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics as access points for guiding student inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking.

Given the expanded approach offered by STEAM, the City of Miami Beach has explored options to help promote the deployment of a STEAM Initiative in Miami Beach Public Schools and, as part of this effort, the City Manager and the Mayor of Miami Beach met with M-DCPS Superintendent, Alberto Carvalho, to explore the opportunity to deploy STEAM as part of the regular school curriculum in the 2018-19 school year.

On January 16, 2019 the Mayor and the City Commission adopted Resolution No. 2019-30690, authorizing the City Manager and City Clerk to execute a grant agreement with the Friends of the Bass Museum, Inc. for the implementation of a Beta Test for a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) Plus program with all six Miami Beach public schools (kindergarten-12 th grade) and six local cultural institutions. The participating cultural institutions included the Bass Museum, Miami City Ballet, New World Symphony, the Jewish Museum, the Wolfsonian, and Young Musicians United; and, the schools include Biscayne Elementary, Feinberg Fisher, Nautilus Middle, North Beach Elementary, Miami Beach Senior High School, and South Pointe Elementary.

On July 9, 2019 the Mayor and the City Commission adopted Resolution No. 2019-30906, authorizing the City Manager and City Clerk to execute a grant agreement with the Friends of the Bass Museum, Inc. for the implementation of a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) Plus program with six Miami Beach public schools (kindergarten - 12 th grade) and six local cultural institutions. The participating cultural institutions included the Bass Museum, Miami City Ballet, New World Symphony, the Jewish Museum, the Wolfsonian, and Young Musicians United; and, the schools include Biscayne Elementary, Feinberg Fisher, Nautilus Middle, North Beach Elementary, Miami Beach Senior High School, and South Pointe Elementary.

In September 2019 the Mayor and the City Commission adopted Resolution No. 2019-30955, amending the prior resolution to include the addition of cultural institutions and one additional public school, Treasure Island Elementary. The amendment also approved a partnership with North Bay Village to fund fifty (50) percent of the cost to implement the program at Treasure Island Elementary School. Additionally, funds were allocated for a STEAM liaison for the additional public school. On December 2, 2020 the Mayor and City Commission amended Resolutions No. 2019-30906 and No. 2019-30955 to adjust the budget for Hack Shack to allow for lesson plan development for Fiscal Year 2019-20, in the amount of $2,013, and approved and authorized the City Manager to amend the Agreement with the Bass Museum of Art to implement the educational enhancement for the 2019-20 School Year.

On July 28, 2021 the Mayor and the Commission approved Resolution 2021-31776 authorizing a new agreement for the 2022-23 school year and extended the current agreement with The Bass for an additional year through September 30, 2023, in the total sum not to exceed $ 372,000 annually, for an initial term of one (1) year with two (2) one-year renewal terms, at the option of the City and subject to funding appropriation and approval by the City Commission during the budgetary process for each fiscal year. (Attachment A)

On September 25, 2024 the Mayor and the Commission approved Resolution 2024-33294 reallocating $50,000 from the outsourced management of the STEAM program by the Bass Museum to enable the City to directly develop, implement, and manage the program. (Attachment B)

On April 7, 2025 the City Manager issued a Letter of Termination to the Bass Museum, exercising Article II, Section 2(B) of the Grant Agreement executed on August 1, 2024, thereby terminating said agreement effective June 1, 2025. (Attachment C)

ANALYSIS

The STEAM Plus program continues to expand and provide enrichment to Miami Beach youth. At the end of the 2024-25 school year, the program was supported by 7 cultural partners in seven (7) Miami Beach public schools. By engaging students around the subjects of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math, the STEAM Plus program aims to spark an interest and life-long appreciation of the arts and sciences in children, from an early age.

By April 2025, the program had reached 3,002 Miami Beach youth, which is approximately 50.7% of the Miami Beach (K-12) public school student population and saw a 37.68% increase in students served when compared to the pilot year (2,180 vs. 3,002).

Each public school in the STEAM program earns STEAM designations from Miami-Dade County Public Schools of either gold, silver, or bronze.

The 2024-25 Mid-Year report included in Letter to Commission #236-2025 dated June 9, 2025 provides more detailed information on the STEAM Plus program impact at the seven (7) public schools overall (Attachment D).

The reassignment of the management of the STEAM Plus Program to City administration has expanded access to Miami Beach private and charter schools.

FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT

N/A

Does this Ordinance require a Business Impact Estimate? (FOR ORDINANCES ONLY)

If applicable, the Business Impact Estimate (BIE) was published on: See BIE at: https://www.miamibeachfl.gov/city-hall/city-clerk/meeting-notices/

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

FY25 $331,000

CONCLUSION

Applicable Area

Citywide

Was this Agenda Item initially requested by a lobbyist which, as defined in Code Sec. 2-481, includes a principal engaged in lobbying? No

If so, specify the name of lobbyist(s) and principal(s):

Department

Education and Performance Initiatives

Sponsor(s)

Co-sponsor(s)

Condensed Title

Authorize Management of STEAM Plus for 2025-26 School Year. EPI

Previous Action (For City Clerk Use Only)