Highlights from the 2016 Honorees

Lakota Middle School, Federal Way, Wash.

Lakota Middle School, which has celebrated over 50 years of excellence in educating students in the Federal Way community, rededicated a new building in 2010. Staff and students are very proud to offer 21st-century education within a construction modernized to Washington Sustainable Schools Protocol, including criteria related to site, water, materials, energy, indoor environmental quality, planning, and operations. The building is adjacent to an extensive wetland, and includes the use of photovoltaic roof panels with an instructive feature to educate students about solar energy.

During the 2011-2012 school year, a group of students voiced interest in creating a school within a school that advocated for environmental sustainability, a community garden, and stewardship. The district incorporated this student vision into the Integrated Environmental Sustainability (IES) Academy. The academy provides students with opportunities to construct their own understandings with clear awareness of, and concerns about, economic, social, and ecological interdependence in their local, state, national, and global communities through direct experiences in hands-on and mind-on learning in a highly engaging place- and service-based environment.

With a student population of nearly 800, of whom 50 percent – and rising – are eligible for free and reduced priced lunch, the idea of becoming economically responsible and socially accountable, as well as providing food from garden to table, encouraged administration and staff to implement a new program. They began by developing a sixth and seventh grade, with two teachers, a part-time coordinator, and 50 students. With the momentum provided by another school in the district being named a 2012 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School, and the creation of the Federal Way Green School Coalition, Lakota began the new academy.

Students learn all core subjects -- language arts, math, science, and social studies -- by solving real-world problems through interdisciplinary, project-based sustainability learning with a service component. They design solutions to issues such as water and energy use, resource conservation, climate change, clean air, sustainable food and product design, all while seeking to maximize the health of their community, social equity, and a sustainable economy. The school’s 2015-2016 service- and place-based project involves using the engineering design process and plan to design and create a rain garden to reduce erosion caused by stormwater and garden drainage.

Students created a Green Team in partnership with King County Green Schools Program to reduce environmental impact and costs. Lakota was recognized as a Level One (waste reduction and recycling) King County Green School. Students also attended Islandwood’s School in the Woods for outdoor education, and partnered with Federal Way Community Garden Foundation to plan the Lakota Community Garden.

Parents and students advocated that the IES Academy extend to eighth grade with 25-30 openings in each grade level, adding an additional teacher. Curricula were developed around essential questions that are aligned with environmental and sustainability standards defined at district and state levels. Students attended the Make a Difference Summit to present an initiative to create a Foam-Free Federal Way with the hope of eliminating Styrofoam in the school cafeteria. With the help of grants, students were able to attend the Mt. Rainier Institute, beginning a partnership to further provide field experiences and outdoor education with the University of Washington and Mt. Rainier National Park.

By the 2014-15 school year, the IES Academy was able to continue, sustain, and further develop integration of environmental and sustainability education at Lakota in all grade levels. Lakota maintained Levels One and Two while working toward Level Three (water conservation) with King County Green School program. Staff attended training for Washington Green Schools Program. Lakota received approval from the school district and the Federal Way Green School Coalition to construct an onsite, 10,000 square foot community garden, allowing the school to have a new outdoor community learning space.

Opportunities and adjustments arise with every new academic year. Changes have occurred, but the commitment from administration, PTA, and staff is overwhelming. Eighth grade sciences are taught with a CTE/Sustainable Design/STEM curriculum created in collaboration with two district middle schools. Teachers within the academy work closely in a professional learning community to collaborate on learning experiences and integration of content, meeting the needs of all students.

Bethel School District, Washington

Bethel School District (BSD), serving 18,000 students, 49 percent of whom are eligible for free and reduced priced lunch, is committed to the belief that, by building a strong foundation, it can create a culture of conservation. Over the last 10 years, the Bethel community has proven that this focus helps build students into better leaders along with maintaining a healthy learning environment, all the while saving taxpayer dollars and reducing greenhouse gases.

With superior facilities management techniques, BSD has avoided paying an additional $7.2 million dollars in electricity, natural gas, and water, a 28 percent reduction in costs. This money is put back into the classroom to enhance student learning and achievement. While BSD’s initial focus was on reducing costs and saving precious natural resources, over time it has evolved into a philosophy that permeates the district culture and has achieved additional unexpected benefits. Greater classroom comfort enhances learning. Efforts have saved over 43,000 metric tons of CO2 in greenhouse gas emissions. These achievements were underscored in one recent Bethel school bond promotion campaign slogans; "Building a better future for all Bethel students," referenced BSD’s cost-effective construction, energy efficient buildings and eco-friendly schools. BSD communicates actively that it constructs green buildings and then maintains them using sustainable practices.

Over the last six years, BSD has received $1.2 million in state energy grant money. This funding, along with an additional $400,000 in local utility rebates, has been used to fund $2.7 million in energy efficiency school projects. These upgrades enabled Bethel to meet the new federal standards for lighting efficiency in 100 percent of its facilities. One portion of the grants upgraded HVAC systems to allow more efficient operating of BSD buildings, creating a better classroom environment. The main portion of the grants enabled Bethel to retrofit 80 percent of district exterior lighting to LED, providing better, longer lighting with a 70 percent reduction in electricity use. This includes a major retrofit of the stadium's field lights to LED, the first high school with this lighting on the west coast.

Whether the building is old or new, BSD oversees an exceptionally efficient resource conservation program. All of BSD’s 27 eligible schools are ENERGY STAR certified, with an average score of 93. This continued success has led to other awards. In 2012, the school district was recognized with two ENERGY STAR Leader awards: The Top Performer Award (one of 19 nationwide) and the Leadership in Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Award (one of 13 nationwide). BSD uses both Portfolio Manager and EnergyCAP software to track resource use. This work extends beyond the building, as BSD works with parent and community groups and partners with local businesses.

BSD collaborates with other local government agencies to teach sustainability concepts. Pierce County Recycling has provided free training for staff and students on waste audits. Students participate in collecting, sorting, and weighing material. The information gained is used to plan for future projects and points of emphasis. Results are measured to show improvement or where additional training is needed.

Spanaway Middle School science club did a weeklong collection of Styrofoam lunch trays, during which students collected, cleaned, stacked, and weighed all the lunch trays. After computing costs, it was determined that purchasing and washing reusable trays would pay for itself. The students presented the idea to the school board, where the project was approved and the trays purchased. It turned into a six-month payback on the initial costs, with no noticeable increase in domestic hot water use. An additional benefit was that custodial staff had a daily reduction of two-thirds of the lunchroom trash.

Bethel Middle School’s Green Team pioneered a project selling reusable "Bulldog bottles" to help reduce plastic water bottle usage. This led to a partnership with Pierce County Sustainability for a grant to install a water bottle filling station, a story highlighted in a local newsletter sent to the 242,000 homes in Pierce County.

A partnership with LeMay Inc., the local refuse provider, and Toray, a local manufacturing company, provides BSD schools with free repurposed recycling containers. The increase in recycling has yielded big dividends. Since 2009, BSD has avoided paying an additional $285,000 in trash costs. This 20 percent reduction also prevents BSD from sending an additional 2,300 tons of waste to the landfill.

BSD has an exceptional agricultural program that teaches students how to balance green techniques and concerns with actual business practices. Through the Bethel High School greenhouse, students learn how to run a full-scale commercial greenhouse operation, cumulating in a spring plant sale. In Plants and Landscaping class, students learn to take care of a large campus. Students mow, edge, prune, plant, and transplant different species around the school, learning safety, teamwork, and business skills. Students also are involved in state fish hatchery projects, learning conservation with an eye toward the future.

At the high school career fair, BSD’s resource conservation manager works with students to promote the green jobs of the future. Students are able to perform walk-around building audits with the resource conservation manager, learning how building systems are designed and operated. They are encouraged to pursue science and engineering careers, and discuss how all areas of study are needed for a more sustainable future.

Issaquah School District, Washington

The Issaquah School District practices resource conservation, and engages students, staff, and all members of the school community in environmental stewardship. Sustainability is a major focus for the district, where a comprehensive approach includes the following goals: 1) implement and expand waste reduction and recycling practices and other conservation actions by operating environmentally efficient and responsible facilities and departments; 2) involve the whole school community in stewardship by developing strong community partnerships; 3) provide instruction about conservation, natural resources, and the environment at all grade levels in an interdisciplinary manner through science, the social studies, the humanities, and other appropriate curricular areas; 4) increase and improve the leadership capacity in students and staff by developing a model of collaboration, innovation, and creativity.

Issaquah began participating in the King County Green Schools program in 2005. It achieved Level One in 2011, Level Two in 2014, and continues working to achieve Level Three. In addition, every school in the district has also participated in the program, with 23 schools achieving Level One, 17 Schools achieving Level Two, eight schools achieving Level Three, and seven schools achieving Level Four. Issaquah had the first school in King County to achieve level Four. Each school has set a goal to achieve the next level, with the overall goal that all schools and the district achieve Level Four by 2017.

Issaquah has reduced its environmental impact and costs by having a comprehensive waste reduction and recycling program. The district’s recycling rate has increased to 50 percent since beginning the program, with seven schools recycling at a rate of 60 percent or more. All 24 schools in the district have implemented a recycling and waste reduction program and, as of 2012, have achieved a combined total recycling increase of 6,091 cubic yards per year and a combined volume garbage decrease of 4,301 cubic yards per year.

The district’s energy conservation program has resulted in the district using 4.6 percent less energy even though the district has added nearly 36 percent more square footage in new and renovated school facilities. Due to the district’s water conservation efforts, the irrigation rate has stayed the same even though the district added five buildings with new irrigation systems. By installing low-flow fixtures and toilets, the district has had a 30 percent reduction in domestic water use.

Issaquah demonstrates its commitment to improving the health and wellness of students and staff by offering healthy buildings and programs. The district has developed an indoor environmental quality plan, including ways to reduce the level of air pollutants, provide adequate airflow, and reduce the use of chemicals and pesticides. The district also has comprehensive health and nutrition programs, featuring health and fitness education at all grade levels. Students participate in outdoor fitness activities that take advantage of the district’s rich environment, such as hiking the trails on Tiger Mountain. The district strongly encourages the sale and distribution of nutrient dense foods at all school functions and activities. By integrating a healthy school environment, nutritional and physical fitness programs with health education, counseling and health services in schools, community and family support for counseling, and psychological and social services, the district is able to provide a holistic support system for the health and wellness of students and staff.

Issaquah has a comprehensive sustainability education program. Sustainability concepts and topics are embedded at each grade level. All of these courses include hands-on, real-life field experiences, where students are collecting and analyzing data and reporting their results. The district has developed strong partnerships with local sustainability organizations to provide professional development to staff. Environmental field trips are common. Several schools are located within walking distance to salmon streams, wetlands, wilderness parks, and lakes. These walking field trips provide interdisciplinary learning about the relationships among ecosystems and human communities.