Summary of Specifications:
This request for proposal is for the purpose of selecting a qualified and experienced contractor for the 2014-2015 school year to provide hands-on, practical, and theoretical instruction and practice activities for high school students with various disabilities including those identified as Autistic, as well as support and staff development for teachers and teaching assistants of the Greenburgh North Castle Union Free School District (District) which is a Special Act School District.
B. Scope The District is soliciting proposals for the purpose of identifying qualified individuals who have a demonstrated success rate in the teaching, assisting and training of students with disabilities. The successful contractor should also have successful experience in developing, planting, maintaining and harvesting crops for a garden program with high school instructional staff, as well as school administrative staff.
C. Specifics
1. Time and location- The contractor(s) will work with the Reach Academy Principal and design, develop, and deliver 4-6 weekly group instructional sessions for 6-10 students per group. This will occur during the weeks in which school is in session. Each sessions will be approximately 1.5 hours. The contractors will also participate in a monthly planning meeting with the REACH Principal, school staff, St. Christopher’s representatives and other stakeholders. Sessions may be held in the St. Christopher’s Agency Garden and/or in another location mutually agreed upon by the School Principal and the contractors. The contractors will plan their time to include adequate garden preparation, related lesson preparation time, necessary meeting time with staff and staff development time, all to accommodate the specifics of the RFP.
2. Students’ Skills to be developed- The contractor will address the following skills with students as a minimum. Additional activities will be developed jointly with Reach Academy staff and contractor.
a. Agricultural and vocational skills including;
- setting up the greenhouse, building flats, mixing soil, setting up planting; - planning garden design, plant selection, developing planting calendars; - creating markers and garden signs, sowing seeds, transplanting, direct sowing, watering, harvesting, and seed collection; - food preparation, nutrition: soups, salads, teas, and sauces.
b. Life Skills including: - respect, effort, safety, community participation, healthy choices, cooperation, responsibility, following directions, sequencing, self-confidence and independence. - related gardening life skills such as the basic economics of having a garden, basic marketing for distributing excess harvest, ( e.g. Participating in Farmers Market and other outreach venues for marketing and community service, nutritional value of various crops, etc.)
c. Academic Skills including:
- Language Arts and Writing including: recording information in print, journal writing, drawing, and photography - Infusion of horticulture and gardening activities into regular school academic curriculum. This will be done in two ways- workshops with teachers and follow-up activities with students. - Student activities and discussions and observations including: plant physiology, soil science, plant care, and ecosystems
d. Seasonal events provided -
-Three annual Garden Festivals to be determined with school needs/calendar, - Six mini fundraisers utilizing produce from the garden to connect to School Life Skills Curriculum. (E.g. Students will plant, harvest, package and distribute from the garden: produce, seedlings, seed packets, greeting cards, herbs/teas, cut flowers, crafts ) - Additional seasonal activities will include the collegial working with St. Christopher’s or District employees/contractors on the preparation and utilization of the St. Christopher’s garden on campus. There will be others using part of the garden facility and a strong and positive working relationship among all will be required. Some activities for which this contractor will be responsible include: Summer/Fall- harvesting, distribution, preparation of garden beds for winter, food preparation and preservation, seed collection Winter- sorting and storing seeds, planning spring plantings, preparing greenhouse, crafting with dried garden products such as herbs, seeds, gourds, grasses, dried flowers Spring- garden clean up and prep for spring planting, greenhouse preparation, seed sowing in greenhouse and at school grow carts, direct sowing and transplanting into the garden.
e. Services to staff-
Four to five full staff meetings (1-2 hours) – At minimum, 2 consults with REACH professional staff per month. Facilitation of monthly meetings for various purposes as well as follow-up meetings with various staff E.g. - Help staff incorporate horticulture/gardening ideas into subject areas. Design of specific projects to be developed in concert with District staff. -Facilitate curriculum connections to the garden .This will require staff/contractor discussions and contractor familiarity with some of the Reach subject area curriculum. -Plan special garden rituals, events, mini- fundraising -Update administration and teaching staff on program and specific student progress.
D. Qualifications of Contractor(s) The District is committed to providing only qualified individuals who work with students and staff. Contractors providing this service must pass all mandatory state and federal criminal background checks successfully. Also resumes of contractors providing service must be submitted to the Superintendent for review vis a vis experience and background.
E. To be provided by the District-
1. Presence and participation of District staff. (Sufficient support staff to assist contractors with behavioral management and logistical support to successfully work with students in workshop and follow-up sessions). 2. Access to the St. Christopher’s garden facility as required. 3. Materials as required including:
Garden beds for planting Seating Areas in garden and at school for meeting and journaling
Seating Areas for working in garden: seed sorting, transplanting, harvesting etc. Agency support for garden maintenance: "pathways, fences, cold frames, grass areas, storage shed
Water/Irrigation: " hoses, sprinklers, spickets Gardening tools and supplies to remain at the garden: 6 Shovels 6 Trowels 6 Pitch Forks 2 Lifting Forks 6 Watering Cans 4 Wheel Barrows 6 Rakes 2 Edging Tools 6 Weeding tools 12 Gloves 12 Boots 50 Flats 1 Scale to weigh produce 2 Pruning Shears 50 Stakes and Ties for Tomatoes
Farmerʼs Market Baskets for selling Produce Board for listing items sold and prices Small scale to weighing at the market Bags Other Materials and Supplies: Seeds Soil Amendments Journals Pens/Pencils Popsicle sticks/ Garden Markers/ Sharpies
