Kent School District recently was recognized as a 2013 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School District Sustainability Award recipient by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality Nancy Sutley in Washington, D.C.
KSD was recognized on April 22, Earth Day. A second recognition will take place at 4 p.m. June 27 at the McKinstry Innovation Center in Seattle.
The award acknowledges the district’s achievements in taking a comprehensive approach to sustainability. The areas encompassed by the award include reduced environmental impact and costs, improved health and wellness, and effective environmental and sustainability education.
The school district has several programs at schools and districtwide to reduce the environmental footprint of the district and educate students about the importance of environmental awareness.
Among the programs implemented by district is an energy conservation program that has allowed the district to reduce its utility costs by approximately $1.1 million. Some of that savings is going toward funding staff support jobs in schools. Many schools are recognized as Green Schools by King County for efforts by students and staff to reduce waste, recycle food, and conserve energy.
“Kent School District is honored to have received this award from the U.S. Department of Education and the White House,” said Superintendent Edward Lee Vargas. “The staff and students are congratulated for their efforts to reduce the district’s environmental footprint. These efforts have made it possible to direct that savings towards more support in schools and helping students and teachers succeed. Plus, our students have learned valuable information and lessons about the importance of being good stewards of the environment.”
Elsewhere
Kent’s Cody Gilomen was among the outstanding students honored at the Saint Martin’s University Student Scholars Day and Honors Convocation on April 23. Gilomen, a junior, is studying mechanical engineering. …
Western Washington University students won first place in the Milgard Invitational Case Competition on Social Responsibility at University of Washington Tacoma on April 19. Kent’s Crystal Kizanis was a part of the operations management team that had 72 hours to research and analyze the Nordstrom Corporate Social Responsibility case before presenting their recommendations to a panel of judges representing a broad base of industry expertise.
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