DNRP > SWD > Education & Schools Assistance > Green Schools Program > How it Works

How it Works

Program summary

Earthbound Environmental Club at Bellevue High School, participant in the King County Green Schools Program .

• King County schools and districts may progress through three program levels: level one, level two and level three.
• King County provides assistance and support.
• After fulfilling criteria in each level, participating schools and districts receive recognition. Schools and districts that do not fulfill the criteria are still eligible to receive assistance.

Program Steps

1. Form a Green Schools team that will work together to develop a plan, conserve resources and influence behavior changes.

   Schools form a Green Schools team comprised of two or more staff members such as teacher(s), principal, other administrator and/or custodian, along with interested students or a student group such as the ASB or an environmental club. Parents also may be involved.

   School districts form a Green Schools team comprised of district staff such as the resource conservation manager, facilities manager, maintenance supervisor or similar position. The purchasing manager, superintendent, capital projects director, interested principals, teachers, parents and students also can join the district team.

2. Complete a program application form, either for a school or a school district.

3. With assistance from King County, complete level one criteria, which focuses on waste reduction and recycling.

4. If desired, complete criteria in level two - or both level two and level three. School and district participants can begin to work on levels two and three while completing level one.

5. Receive recognition after successfully completing each program level.

By completing the requirements in each category, schools and school districts will significantly improve resource conservation. King County experts in waste reduction and recycling, green building, and hazardous materials management provide recommendations and guidance.

Schools and districts that do not fulfill the criteria are still eligible to receive assistance.

Level one

School and school district participants begin the program with level one, which focuses on waste reduction and recycling practices. With county assistance, participants review the criteria, develop an action plan then complete criteria in:

• Waste reduction and recycling
• Hazardous materials management - Required for all secondary schools. Also required for elementary schools with ceramic arts programs

Instead of simply listing possible recycling practices, level one school criteria - along with hands-on assistance from a King County representative - provides specific guidance on how to set up and maintain an effective, long-lasting recycling program. In level one, schools also complete at least one paper reduction practice, one lunch waste reduction practice, and one practice involving durable products or bulk dispensers.

By completing level one of the Green Schools Program, schools and districts will reduce garbage volumes, increase recycling and conserve natural resources. Many school participants reduce garbage disposal costs after improving their waste reduction and recycling practices.

Level two

Participants seeking recognition as a level two King County Green School or King County Green School District must complete the energy conservation criteria.

In addition, each participant must meet criteria in at least one of the following conservation categories:

• Environmental education
• Environmental purchasing
• Green building
• Hazardous materials management
• Litter reduction
• Transportation choices

Participants may begin working on level two of the Green Schools Program before completing level one.

Level three

All participants that want to receive recognition as a level three King County Green School or King County Green School District must complete water conservation criteria, and requirements in at least one additional conservation category from the list above.

Participants may begin working on level three criteria before completing levels one and two.

Schools and districts receive recognition

Each participant will be recognized after completing requirements in each program level.

Recognition for schools

Recognition Jackie Pendergrass (right), President of the Lake Washington School District, receives a Certificate of Recognition from Jeff Gaisford, Manager of the the King County Solid Waste Division's Recycling and Environmental Services Section, at the district's Nove. 5, 2007 school board meeting.

Each school that completes level one receives:

• "We are a King County Green School" banner
• Certificate of recognition
• Summary of the school's conservation successes on the program Web site

After completing level two or level three, each school receives:

• A level two or level three attachment to its "We are a King County Green School" banner
• Certificate of recognition for the level achieved
• Updated summary of the school's conservation successes on the program Web site

Recognition for school districts

Each school district that completes level one receives:

• Certificate of recognition
• Summary of the district's conservation successes on the program Web site

After completing level two or level three, each school district receives:

• Certificate of recognition
• Updated summary of the district's conservation successes on the program Web site

King County will issue a news release recognizing school districts that successfully complete levels one, two and three of the Green Schools Program. See newspaper articles about King County Green Schools Program participants.

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