Schools Honored For Efforts To Reduce Environmental Footprint

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan on Wednesday announced that the Cherokee County School District is among the 2015 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School District Sustainability Awardees.

“It is very fitting that the announcement of our selection as a National Green Ribbon School District was made on Earth Day,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank Petruzielo. “Environmental awareness and responsibility benefits the physical health and safety of students and staff, the financial health of the system and the overall health of our entire community and its resources. As we prepare students for the future, that future must include being good stewards of the planet, and we are proud that Cherokee County School District is being acknowledged on a national level for our efforts in this regard.”

Across the country, a total of 58 schools and 14 districts were honored for their exemplary efforts to reduce environmental impact and utility costs, promote better health, and ensure effective environmental education, including civics and green career pathways. In addition, nine colleges and universities were honored for the Postsecondary Sustainability Award.

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“These honorees are compelling examples of the ways schools can help children build real-world skillsets, cut school costs, and provide healthy learning environments,” Duncan said. “U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools are an inspiration and deserve the spotlight for embodying strong examples of innovative learning and civic engagement. We also are thrilled to add institutions of higher education to the list of honorees this year for the first time in the award’s history.”

The schools, districts, and postsecondary institutions were confirmed from a pool of candidates voluntarily nominated by 30 state education agencies, with honorees selected from 28 jurisdictions. The list of 81 total selectees includes 52 public schools and six private schools.

The public schools include two charter and three magnet schools. The schools serve various grade levels, including 35 elementary, 19 middle and 17 high schools are among them, with several schools having various K-12 configurations, from 28 of the nominating authorities.

Forty-seven percent of the 2015 honorees serve a disadvantaged student body, 22 percent are rural and one-third of the postsecondary institutions are community colleges.

The list of all selected schools, districts, colleges, and universities, as well as their nomination packages, can be found online.

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