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Schools Discuss Sustainable Living

Energy efficiency, recycling among topics

Photo by Alan Olson Green Building Alliance representative Jenna Cramer speaks to gathered educators from around the Ohio Valley on sustainability education for schools.

GLEN DALE — Planners from a Pittsburgh-based sustainable living alliance met with Ohio, Marshall and Tucker County educators to meet and promote a collective vision for a cleaner future at numerous Ohio Valley schools.

Representatives from the Green and Healthy Schools Academy met with teachers, principals, and Marshall County school board members at John Marshall High School, as a preliminary meeting to begin brainstorming with one another about building a culture of sustainability, not only with energy efficiency and things such as recycling, but with building that culture within their students.

Jenna Cramer, representing the Green Building Alliance, and retired teacher Mark Swiger spoke to the gathered personnel to promote the central message of sustainability, which has already begun taking root in local schools.

“We’ve worked with West Virginia for some time,” she said, “Mark and I have partnered on formal and informal things for the past 10 years. … The Benedum Foundation supported mini-grants, to have 10 projects in different districts to advance sustainable projects in their schools, whether it’s doing something with their spaces, or in their curriculum, something to advance the visions they have for longer-term impact.”

“This is the first time that all of these schools are together,” she added. “This is the kickoff for West Virginia schools, so this is what they’re doing, is brainstorming for their projects. From here, we’re going to be working intensely over the next four to five months, and then they’re going to present on what they’re able to accomplish by May.”

“With sustainability, there’s talk of environmental, but there’s also a human and social justice impact,” Cramer said. “A lot of human health and wellness for students and staff, and the idea of providing engaging learning environments for students and how to get them more civically engaged.”

Swiger said the program had focused on Pennsylvania schools for several years, but starting this year, their focus would shift to West Virginia.

“They’ve all had their own challenges, and they’re putting together projects that impact their schools,” Swiger said. “(Cameron High School) is doing a human health fair this spring, with a sustainability theme. It’s a national Green Ribbon school, so what they’re doing is trying to create the ripple effect into the future, and actually infuse the concept into the culture. We’re saying, we still aren’t finished.”

“Much of it is to create citizens in schools in a more sustainable culture. We want kids to have strong environmental values.”

Among the suggestions from the teachers included intensive recycling and reuse programs, community cleanup programs, and better understanding of the concept of sustainability.

Speaking among the community representatives, STEM teacher T.J. Romick said he feels the teachers are well-equipped to make their visions a reality.

“What I’m trying to do is see how this space and the tools in it can take these ideas and bring them about into actual structure or make them concrete, instead of just words on a page,” Romick said. “I don’t know where this is going to go, but I’m kind of pumped, because we have the ability to make most of that happen.”

Greg Moore, an educator with Oglebay Institute, says he hopes the program will enable more people to see the intangible benefits of sustainable living, aside from just the financial one.

“My biggest hope for this project is …. it enables people to understand there are benefits for sustainable practices, other than saving money.”

“My major goal for any of these goals is culture change,” added Linda Shalaway, a former educator of Cameron High School. “People need to understand why we’re doing this, and they’ll buy into it if they understand better,”

The U.S. Department of Education recognized Marshall County Schools as one of the first 14 Sustainability District Award winners in 2012, when the program began.

Invited to participate at the event were JMHS and CHS, Hilltop and Sherrard elementary schools, and Moundsville Middle School, with Steenrod Elementary and Triadelphia Middle Schools from Ohio County. Monongalia, Tucker and Doddridge county representatives were also invited.

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