Ocosta School District recognized for being green

Ocosta School District was named as a Green District Leader by the U.S. Department of Education for their environmental efforts.

Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education, and Mike Boots, Acting Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality made the announcement of the 2014 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools on Tuesday.

Vancouver School District won a District Sustainability Award, and Shadow Lake Elementary in Tahoma and The Bertschi School, a private school in Seattle, were named 2014 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools.

In addition to the Green Ribbon Schools, Washington state has designated three schools and three school districts as Green School and District Leaders for their achievement in at least one of three Green Ribbon pillars:

• environmental impact and energy efficiency
• healthy school environments
• environmental and sustainability education

Ocosta, Issaquah, and Tahoma were named as Green District Leaders. Schools in Kirkland, Camas, and Seattle were also named as Green School Leaders.

The schools are being honored for their exemplary efforts to reduce environmental impact and energy costs, promote better health and ensure effective environmental education, including civics and green career pathways.

“All of these schools and districts are doing a great job in two areas,” said Randy Dorn, state superintendent of public instruction. “First, they are reducing their environmental impact, which is providing a healthy place to learn and to work. Second, they are teaching students how to approach their futures in a ‘green’ way.”

This is the third year the awards have been given. Across the nation, nine school districts and 48 schools received awards.