The Board of Trustees believes that all citizens have a responsibility to be stewards of the environment and desires to integrate environmental accountability into all district operations. The Superintendent or designee may promote green school practices that conserve natural resources, reduce the impact of district operations on the environment, and protect the health of students, staff, and community.
The Superintendent or designee may involve district and site administrators and operations and maintenance staff; representatives of local governmental agencies, utilities, solid waste and recycling companies, and community organizations; health professionals; and/or others as appropriate in the assessment of current district operations and the development of strategies to improve the environmental impact of district operations.
(cf. 1220 - Citizen Advisory Committees)
(cf. 1400 - Relations Between Other Governmental Agencies and the Schools)
(cf. 7131 - Relations with Local Agencies)
In selecting and prioritizing strategies, the Superintendent or designee shall give consideration to the initial cost, long-term potential cost savings, quality and performance of the product or service, health impacts, and environmental considerations.
(cf. 3100 - Budget)
(cf. 3460 - Financial Reports and Accountability)
Such strategies may include, but not be limited to:
1. Reducing energy and water consumption and exploring renewable and clean energy technologies
(cf. 3511 - Energy and Water Management)
2. Establishing recycling programs in district facilities
(cf. 3511.1 - Integrated Waste Management)
3. Reducing the consumption of disposable materials, by reusing materials and by using electronic rather than paper communications when feasible
4. Purchasing and using environmentally preferable products and services whenever practical, including, but not limited to, products that:
a. Minimize environmental impacts, toxins, pollutants, odors, and hazards
b. Contain postconsumer recycled content
c. Are durable and long-lasting
d. Conserve energy and water
e. Produce a low amount of waste
(cf. 3514 - Environmental Safety)
(cf. 3514.1 - Hazardous Substances)
(cf. 3514.2 - Integrated Pest Management)
(cf. 5141.23 - Asthma Management)
(cf. 6161.3 - Toxic Art Supplies)
5. Using least toxic, independently certified green cleaning products when feasible, as well as high-efficiency cleaning equipment that reduces the need to use chemicals
6. Providing professional development to maintenance staff in the proper use, storage, and disposal of cleaning supplies
(cf. 4231 - Staff Development)
7. Focusing on green building standards, sustainability, and student health in facilities construction and modernization projects, including decisions about site selection, building design, and landscaping and grounds
(cf. 7110 - Facilities Master Plan)
(cf. 7111 - Evaluating Existing Buildings)
(cf. 7150 - Site Selection and Development)
8. Reducing vehicle traffic by encouraging students to walk or bicycle to school or use district or public transportation
(cf. 3541 - Transportation Routes and Services)
(cf. 5142.2 - Safe Routes to School Program)
9. Providing fresh, unprocessed, organic food in the district's food services program
(cf. 3550 - Food Service/Child Nutrition Program)
10. Providing instruction to students on the importance of the environment and involving students in the implementation and evaluation of green school activities and projects as appropriate
(cf. 6142.5 - Environmental Education)
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
8700-8707 Environmental education
17070.96 Leroy F. Greene School Facilities Act of 1996, consideration of high performance standards
17072.35 New construction grants; use for designs and materials for high performance schools
32370-32376 Recycling paper
33541 Environmental education
101012 Kindergarten-University Public Education Facilities Bond Act of 2006, allocations
PUBLIC CONTRACT CODE
12400-12404 Environmentally preferable purchasing
PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE
25410-25421 Energy conservation assistance
40050-40063 Integrated waste management act
42630-42647 Schoolsite source reduction and recycling
CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 2
1859.70.4 Funding for high performance incentive grants
1859.71.6 Additional grant for high performance incentive, new construction
1859.77.4 Additional grants for high performance incentive, site and modernization
CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 5
14010 Standards for school site selection
Management Resources:
CSBA PUBLICATIONS
Green Schools: An Overview of Key Policy Issues, Policy Brief, August 2009
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL SERVICES PUBLICATIONS
Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Best Practices Manual
COLLABORATIVE FOR HIGH PERFORMING SCHOOLS PUBLICATIONS
CHPS Best Practices Manual, 2006
GLOBAL GREEN USA PUBLICATIONS
Healthier, Wealthier, Wiser: A Report on National Green Schools
GREEN SCHOOLS INITIATIVE PUBLICATIONS
Green Schools Buying Guide
HEALTHY SCHOOLS CAMPAIGN PUBLICATIONS
The Quick and Easy Guide to Green Cleaning in Schools, 2nd ed., 2008
WEB SITES
CSBA: http://www.csba.org
California Department of General Services, Green California: http://www.green.ca.gov
California Energy Commission: http://www.energy.ca.gov
Collaborative for High Performance Schools: http://www.chps.net
Global Green USA: http://www.globalgreen.org
Green Schools Initiative: http://www.greenschools.net
Healthy Schools Campaign: http://www.healthyschoolscampaign.org/programs/gcs
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: http//www.epa.gov
U.S. Green Building Council, LEED Green Building Rating System: http://www.usgbc.org
Policy FORESTHILL UNION ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT
adopted: August 14, 2017 Foresthill, California