Proposals to create and operate a new “Genius Lab” at the Enoch D. Davis Center are due by March 26. Photo: University of Toronto.
St. Petersburg is currently searching for a qualified vendor to design and deliver a new hands-on afterschool experience that helps local youth reach their full potential.
The Genius Lab will nurture academic growth, personal development, and creative exploration for students in grades 6 through 12, according to the city’s request for proposals (RFP). Participants will receive transportation to and from the Enoch D. Davis Center in South St. Petersburg.
Mayor Ken Welch’s administration issued the RFP on Feb. 17, and interested organizations have until March 26 to apply. Officials expect the Genius Lab to welcome youth who attend St. Petersburg schools from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
“The selected vendor will create a learning environment that strengthens students’ confidence, supports their overall wellbeing, and expands their opportunities through innovative STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) activities, leadership development, financial empowerment, and exercises in mindfulness, to include reflective practices,” states the RFP.
“As a service provider, the vendor must demonstrate experience in youth academic enrichment, experiential learning, and student-centered instructional approaches.”
The program has a $250,000 annual budget. Applicants must demonstrate experience in youth academic enrichment, experiential learning, and student-centered instructional approaches.
Transportation services are a key program component. The selected vendor must pick up Genius Lab participants from schools or home, and transport them to the Enoch Davis Center, workshops, events, and “city-related programs.”
Most pickup locations are at south Pinellas County middle and high schools, according to the RFP. The city wrote that operators should ensure “equitable access, with consideration to the schools within the proximity to Enoch Davis Center,” in response to a vendor question.
The City of St. Petersburg plans to significantly expand and reimagine the Enoch Davis Center at 1111 18th Ave. S. Photo: City of St. Petersburg.
The selected vendor will collaborate with Pinellas County Schools and community partners to align Genius Lab programming with student needs and complement academic curriculum. “Be sure to consider the WHOLE Child Framework,” the city said of an educational philosophy that prioritizes cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development.
Genius Lab programming will integrate technology-supported tools, including adaptive learning platforms, design-based learning experiences, and other nontraditional instructional strategies, to meet the varied needs of students.
“The Vendor shall use data-driven strategies to identify academic needs, monitor student progress, and adjust instruction to address learning gaps while fostering overall achievement and personal development,” states the RFP.
Parental engagement, including periodic social events, is also a focus. The goal is to strengthen family involvement, reinforce student progress, and create a collaborative learning environment.
Genius Lab participants will receive daily nutritious meals or “substantial snacks,” provided by the vendor. Those must be “wholesome, balanced, and sufficient to sustain students’ focus, energy, and well-being,” wrote the city.
The program’s operator will coordinate field trips that directly align with Genius Lab curriculum and foster student enrichment, career exploration, and real-world learning experiences. City officials will receive reports on youth progress, participation, and demographics to discern the initiative’s effectiveness.
“Data collection must move beyond attendance and retention, providing clear evidence of student learning, skill development, and personal growth,” states the RFP.
Interested vendors have until March 18 to submit questions and March 26 to apply. Welch’s administration expects to present an award to the city council on May 28. St. Petersburg will fully launch the Genius Lab within 60 days of executing a contract, according to the RFP.
“St. Pete is tackling youth engagement head-on,” Welch previously pledged. “With the WHOLE child framework, we’re investing in literacy, STEAM, mentoring, and workforce readiness, and reaching over 3,000 young people with real opportunities.”
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