One Washington state school district and two schools have been awarded for their environmental efforts, announced the U.S. Department of Education.
Vancouver School District won a District Sustainability Award, and Shadow Lake Elementary (Tahoma School District) and The Bertschi School (a private school in Seattle) were named 2014 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools.
Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education, and Mike Boots, Acting Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality made the announcement of the 2014 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools.
This is the third year the awards have been given. Across the nation, nine school districts and 48 schools received awards.
The schools are being honored for their exemplary efforts to reduce environmental impact and energy costs, promote better health and ensure effective environmental education, including civics and green career pathways.
“All of these schools and districts are doing a great job in two areas,” said Randy Dorn, state superintendent of public instruction. “First, they are reducing their environmental impact, which is providing a healthy place to learn and to work. Second, they are teaching students how to approach their futures in a ‘green’ way.”
Sec. Duncan said that the awardees were folding facility, wellness and learning into daily operations. “They are demonstrating ways schools can simultaneously cut costs, improve health, and engage students with hands-on learning that prepares them with the thinking skills necessary to be successful in college and careers,” he said.
In addition to the Green Ribbon Schools, Washington state has designated three schools and three school districts as Green School and District Leaders for their achievement in at least one of three Green Ribbon pillars:
- environmental impact and energy efficiency,
- healthy school environments and
- environmental and sustainability education.
The Green School Leaders are Carl Sandburg Elementary (Kirkland), Liberty Middle School (Camas), and Villa Academy (Seattle). Green District Leaders are the Issaquah School District, the Ocosta School District, and the Tahoma School District.
