District’s summit, ‘green’ actions commendable

A poster board advertising ongoing and upcoming “green” fundraisers is displayed at the first MVLA Green School Summit. The MVLA school district has been positively involved in many activities that promote energy efficiency and sustainability.

Today, “green” is the new “pink.” Everywhere, in local communities and on the national stage, people are making a conscious effort to save the planet by actively “going green” and making environmentally sustainable decisions whenever possible. As inhabitants of a planet where the ozone layer is depleting and the polar icecaps are slowly succumbing to the blight of global warming, people are willing to walk, drive hybrid cars and attempt to reduce their impact on the environment.

The MVLA school district in particular is going the extra mile to stay visible in the race to be green. With programs ranging from battery recycling to gardens harvested and cultivated by third graders, the district is taking the initiative to become more sustainable and teach students about the importance of preserving the planet.

Sybil Cramer, District Sustainability Task Force member and organizer of the MVLA Green School Summit, says the school has “reached 80 percent of its maximum capacity to be green.”

The Green School Summit was held on Thursday, January 21. District Superintendent Dr. Barry Groves set up many different committees this past year to execute the different programs and changes that all contribute to a more sustainable campus. Such developments, as showcased by the summit, are commendable.

These committees, including the Sustainability Task Force and school’s Green Team, have implemented many changes. These include toilet paper and paper towels made from 40 percent recycled materials, battery recycling programs and even district buses that use compressed natural gases.

Many students walk from class to class without even taking notice of the proactive steps that the district has taken to ease its environmental impact. Yet the district’s first Green School Summit was an unprecedented effort to showcase some of these conscious decisions to be more aware of our environment.

One of the most innovative initiatives is the Freiker program of Almond Elementary, where students are equipped with a tag that is scanned when students walk or ride to school, giving them points towards prizes.

“I think that the Freiker program is amazing, and I hope that other schools get excited and involved in it as well,” Cramer said. “It’s … a fun thing for kids.”

Yet the Green Team has set up several different days to get more students biking to school by providing hot chocolate and setting up raffles with local bike store the Off-Ramp. They have accomplished much in comparison to other student-run organizations on campus.

The summit also relayed plans to equip both MVHS and LAHS with the solar panels for rooftops already mentioned in the District’s Sustainability Bond.

“The campus has been getting green even though it is not that visible to everyone,” Cramer said.

In the past months, the district’s many attempts to create a more sustainable school environment have really been remarkable. And still more programs are being instated everyday as part of the ongoing effort to be green.

The Culinary Department is currently looking at creating a composting program, which would involve bins and the proper means to correctly dispose of food wastes.

Future projects include reducing styrofoam use in the cafeteria, and eliminating small plastic condiment packets by replacing them with packaging-free dispensaries.

There is still much more that everyone can do to be “green.” But with the Green School Summit and other related activities, the district and its students have clearly stepped up to the plate in being innovative and environmentally conscious.