Director of the Campaign for
Environmental Literacy James L. Elder and Manager of the Center for Green
Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council, Phoebe Beierle joined Assistant
U.S. Secretary of Elementary and Secondary Education Frank Brogan and Acting
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Neil A.
Jacobs Wednesday, September 25, 2019, to congratulate Savannah-Chatham County Public
School System’s Gadsden Elementary School on their achievements at a ceremony at the U.S. Department of
Commerce in Washington, D.C.
Gadsden Elementary School was nominated by the Georgia Department
of Education. In
awarding the recognition, Robert
W. Gadsden Elementary School was commended by the U.S. Department of Education
for exemplifying the concepts and ideas of conscientious environmental
preservation and sustainability. The school has one of the lowest utility
costs per square foot in the district at 76 cents and has achieved a 38 percent
reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. A variety of energy-saving
strategies have included the incorporation of energy-management performance
guidelines and automated temperature-control systems; the integration of
occupancy sensors; the scheduled replacement of conventional lighting with LED;
the development of efficient student transportation; and the introduction of
recycling.
Students are an active part of the environmentally friendly
efforts. Over two tons of waste were recycled in one school year by the
recycling club, run by third, fourth, and fifth-graders. The cafeteria
transitioned from Styrofoam trays and bowls to paper trays which are made of 20
percent recycled pulp and 80 percent paperboard, manufactured from wood pulp
grown in the U.S. from certified forests. The school also reduced water
use by 13 percent in the past year, and three water-bottle filling stations
were installed which is expected to eliminate over 3,000 plastic bottles.
Physical Fitness efforts have also increased for both students and
staff through a variety of programs. In addition, the school has
partnered with community organizations to grow garden produce and students have
the opportunity to explore various career pathways related to agriculture and
farming not often presented to students from urban communities.
“This award acknowledges Gadsden’s commitment to sustainable
practices,” says SCCPSS Superintendent Dr. Ann Levett. ”We commend Gadsden’s
principal Dr. Renee Bryant-Evans, school staff, students, and families, Deputy
Superintendent and Chief Operations Officer Mrs. Vanessa Miller-Kaigler, and
Executive Director of Maintenance and Operations Mr. Arnold Jackson for their
leadership in facilities, health, and environmental education. The work
done by Gadsden is representative of promising practices to improve achievement
and equity, not only for aspiring green schools, but for all schools.”
At the event, 35 schools and 14 districts were honored for their
innovative efforts to reduce environmental impact and costs, promote better
health, and ensure effective environmental education. In addition, four
colleges and universities were honored with the Postsecondary Sustainability
Award. A state
education official was also recognized for his efforts to advance school
sustainability in the state of Minnesota. Representatives from selectees received sustainably
crafted plaques in recognition of their achievements.
The honorees were named from a pool of candidates nominated by 28
states. The selectees include 25 public schools, including three magnet schools
and two charter schools, as well as 10 nonpublic schools. Over a third of the
2019 honorees serve a disadvantaged student body.
