Douglas County School District receives Green Ribbon District Award

According to Smit, sustainability efforts have saved DCSD over $15 million in the last six years.  “We could only achieve this level of success with students, staff, and administrators working together.” 

 

Smit credits DCSD students for leading the charge on education efforts and intelligent management of resources.  “More than 7,000 students are running sustainability projects in their schools.  They have developed school-specific marketing and education campaigns, challenged their peers and their staff, and worked hard to save money that can be directed back to the classroom.” 

 

“Each department in our District has an impact on what we achieve,” continued Smit.  “In DCSD, all of our departments are focusing on how we can improve and this award reflects on their efforts.  From Operations to Transportation, Human Resources, Nutrition Services and more – we are surrounded by talented people that do a wonderful job.”

 

DCSD was nominated for the Green Ribbon School District Sustainability Award by the Colorado Department of Education. The award acknowledges DCSD’s achievements in taking a comprehensive approach to sustainability.  The areas encompassed by the award include reduced environmental impact and costs, improved health and wellness, and effective environmental and sustainability education.

 

Out of 15,000 school districts nationwide, only 14 were selected for their exemplary efforts to reduce environmental impact and utility costs, promote better health, and ensure effective environmental education, including civics, STEM and green career pathways. 

 

Duncan announced the award this morning along with the Chair of White House Council on Environmental Quality Nancy Sutley and Acting Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Bob Persiacepe.

 

“Today’s honorees are modeling a comprehensive approach to being green,” said Secretary Duncan. “They are demonstrating ways schools can simultaneously cut costs; improve health, performance and equity; and provide an education geared toward the jobs of the future. In fact, the selected districts are saving millions of dollars as a result of their greening efforts. And the great thing is that the resources these honorees are using are available for free to all schools."

 

“Preparing students for success in the 21st century economy begins in our schools. The schools and districts being honored today are modeling the best practices in reducing environmental impact and cutting costs, creating a healthier learning environment, and providing students with an education geared toward the jobs of the future,” said Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality Nancy Sutley.

 

"EPA is proud to join the Department of Education in recognizing our nation's U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools for their remarkable efforts to create healthier learning spaces and educate students on the importance of environmental protection," said EPA Acting Administrator Bob Perciasepe. "U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools are not only cutting costs thanks to energy-saving practices and use of more efficient technology, but they're also reducing instances of pollution-related illnesses like asthma, a leading cause of student absence. The students who attend these schools are better prepared than ever to become the next generation of environmental stewards and bring about a healthier, more sustainable future."

 

The U.S. Department of Education is looking forward to a third year of the program, and will be publishing updated competition criteria this summer, once again working closely with participating states, who nominate both schools and districts to the federal agency.  State education agencies are encouraged to indicate their intent to nominate schools and districts within their jurisdiction in 2014 by August 1, 2013.

 

More information on the federal recognition award can be found at www2.ed.gov/pgreen-ribbon-schools.  Resources for all schools to move toward the three Pillars in which the 2013 honorees are exemplary can be found at www2.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/green-strides/index.html.