Nominee * School District of Palm Beach County Nominee Christina Crespo Contact Name * Title Recycling & Sustainability Coordinator School Name * School District of Palm Beach County Address 3300 Summit Boulevard City West Palm Beach Zip Code 33406 County * Palm Beach Phone Number (561) 688-7602 * Email * christina.crespo@palmbeachschools.org Website http://www.palmbeachschools.org Nominator Christina Crespo Name * Address 3300 Summit Boulevard City West Palm Beach Zip Code 33406 Phone Number (561) 688-7602 * Email * christina.crespo@palmbeachschools.org Nominee School or School District Category * Project School District Category * Theme Green Learning Environments Service Learning Policy and Partnerships Project Summary The Palm Beach County Green Schools Recognition Program (GSRP) began in 2008 as a collaboration between Florida Atlantic University's Pine Jog Environmental Education Center and the School District of Palm Beach County, with funding provided by the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties for the first two years. The program's main objective is to encourage and support cultures of sustainability within school communities. In doing so, the GSRP recognizes both public and private K-12 schools that have made strides in: - Making school grounds enhancements that result in outdoor learning environments being created and/or improved habitat or restoration areas (e.g., gardens, tree plantings, wetlands creation) - Enhancing school sustainability through the conservation of energy and water and the reduction of solid wastes - Integrating curriculum that will prepare students to understand and act on current and future environmental challenges facing South Florida - Fostering partnerships within the school building and with local organizations in an effort to create an awareness of environmental issues between the school and the community - Providing administrative support through active professional development and the creation of a school philosophy and culture that embraces sustainability The 2008/2009 school year marked the first year that the awards were given, with 21 schools participating in the program. The program has grown steadily each year, with the 2011/2012 program recognizing a total of 60 applicants. Schools who participate in the program report decreases in water and energy consumption, increases in the types and amounts of recycling, more opportunities for outdoor and service learning projects, as well as less tangible results such as heightened teacher and student morale and an increased sense of community. Additional Project Information The Green Schools Recognition Program culminates in the fall of each year with a one- day conference called "Learn Green" which provides a unique opportunity for schools to learn from each other, as well as from industry experts about everything from starting a hydroponic garden and recycling to energy conservation and incorporating the environment into lesson plans. All of the schools who participate in the GSRP are expected to share their successes and challenges at the conference, either through displays, formal presentations, or panel discussions. As an outgrowth of the GSRP, the Learn Green conference has been a rousing success, as well. The first conference boasted an impressive 300 participants and 30 exhibitors (mainly from Palm Beach County) and grew to almost 900 participants, representing sixteen Florida counties and four states, 90 exhibitors, and 60 conference sessions in its third year (2011). This year's conference is planned for October 19, 2012, and is expected to draw over 1,000 attendees. Several other states and counties (North Carolina and Broward County, FL, among others) have implemented their own green schools programs using our specific GSRP rubric as the basis, so we are confident that this program can be - and indeed, has been - replicated elsewhere. The revenues from each year's conference (begotten largely through corporate sponsorship) helps to fund the following year's GSRP administrative activities and award monies, so we have built a self-sustaining program. From the very first days of the program, the staff of Pine Jog Environmental Education Center, as well as School District leadership, were deeply committed to the success of this program and have worked diligently to grow, enhance, and expand the program. Many school-based projects are student driven, especially at the high school level. The conference also features a track of workshops, facilitated by students, for students. Evidence of Increased Student Achievement During the application process, schools are asked to provide information about the impact of their green school activities and student achievement. Most, if not all, schools report an increase in student achievement, but none are asked to provide specific, measurable outcomes. The anecdotal increases in achievement are linked to higher student morale, more and varied outdoor learning experiences, as well as students being more excited to come to school and learn about what they consider "fun" topics - gardening, being outside, environmental literacy, and field trips to new places. Number of 6-30 people DIRECTLY involved in the project implementation (implementation team) Number of person-hours spent on the >200 project. Number of 31 - 150 people directly reached by the project (active participants and those were directly affected). Number of > 1,200 people INDIRECTLY reached by the project (passive recipients, those who heard about the project). Project History Project has existed for 2-4 years. Alignment to Activities aligned to NGSSS and integrated into multiple subject Curriculum areas. Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS) Evidence of > $5,000 economic benefits: Cost Savings (excluding donations) Enter actual $30,000 in energy savings alone amount of cost savings. Evidence of Anecdotal evidence of increased parental involvement. social benefits: Parental Involvement Evidence of Three new community partnerships established. social benefits: Community Partnerships Evidence of >200,000 kWh Energy Savings Enter actual 4,000,000 kWh amount of kWh saved. Evidence of Anecdotal evidence of water savings Water Savings Evidence of Anecdotal evidence of waste reduction Waste Reduction Evidence of 25% - 50% of paper, plastic, aluminum are recycled Recycling Evidence of Green cleaning products are required and used Green Cleaning Products Evidence of Yes Health and Nutrition (Healthy Schools) - Does the school or school district have a health and/or green school goal included in the School Improvement Plan? If yes, please Each school participates in the District's Wellness Promotion provide the goal Program, which is supported by a Board policy. The policy is based and a brief on a goal of promoting student health and safety and reducing the description of incidence of childhood obesity through nutrition education and activities that standards, as well as physical activity. have occurred related to this goal. (50 words max) Evidence of >180 bus idling minutes / >10% GHG emissions improved Outdoor Air Quality by reducing bus idling minutes (number of buses x number of minutes of idling = reduced bus idling minutes) or using cleaner-burning alternative fuels Reductions in Miles Driven to School: Anecdotal evidence Reductions in the number of car miles driven to school by students and teachers walking or biking or using ‘walking’ school buses Evidence of >500 sq. ft. of area improved / >50% schools improved Improved Schoolyard Environment / District-wide Improvement Litter Removal: Anecdotal evidence. Miles of river, coastline or roadway cleared of litter. Evidence of Increased Productivity (reduced Anecdotal evidence of reduction in student and staff sick days. absenteeism, visits to clinic, sick days) Evidence of Anecdotal evidence student Volunteerism arising from, but not directly related to, the Green School activities. Service Anecdotal evidence Learning: Service Learning Hours (# of students x # of hours of direct service per student) Evidence of increased student achievement. Describe how student Anecdotal evidence achievement gains were measured Does the school Yes or district involve one or more school buildings meeting the requirements of an approved green building standard THIS school year? If YES, describe As of 2012, the School District has achieved LEED certification for six how many schools by the U.S. Green Building Council and one school was buildings, what certified by the Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC). Of those six third-party schools, four are LEED Gold, two are LEED Silver, and one is certified certifier (e.g., (with 51 points) by the FGBC. US DOE, USGBC, Florida Green Building Coalition, Green Globes, etc.) was used and what designation level(s) (e.g., basic, silver, gold, platinum) the buildings were rated. All information was correct at the time of submission and is provided in good faith. * Christina Crespo