The School District of Palm Beach County, Florida
Other School and Department Based Activities
Environmental & Conservation Services (ECS)
School Sustainability — A Year in Review
The District recognizes the important relationship between the health and wellness of individuals and their interaction with the natural and man-made environment. As such, the District supports and encourages students, teachers and staff to actively participate in school sustainability. This includes: outdoor and environmental education, energy and water conservation activities, waste reduction and recycling, environmentally preferable purchasing, and carbon dioxide reduction through green transportation. District sustainability initiatives depend on many departments and divisions, primary coordination occurs from the Environmental and Conservation Services Department (ECS).
One such sustainability initiative is the growth of green schools in our District. Schools are designated “green” through FAU - Pine Jog Environmental Education Center’s (PJEEC) Green Schools Recognition Program (GSRP), which has encouraged cultures of sustainability within school communities since 2008.
The number of District schools recognized in the program has increased by 281% from 2010 to 2018. In 2018 school year, ECS continued to create awareness about the program through communications like The Green Scene Newsletter and community partnerships. Over 100 sustainability related school requests, including: consultations, in-person meetings and presentations were facilitated by ECS staff in FY-2018.
Green Ribbon Schools
In FY-2018, the District was again awarded a GOLD ranking in sustainability from the Florida Green School Network. ECS also worked with Gove Elementary in Belle Glade to support them in becoming a prestigious U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School. This national award recognizes schools that:
- Reduce environmental impact and costs.
- Improve the health and wellness of schools, students, and staff.
- Provide effective environmental and sustainability education.
Gove Elementary joins Pine Jog Elementary as the second school in The School District of Palm Beach County to be awarded Green Ribbon status.
