Representatives from five Delaware Valley schools were in Washington, D.C. earlier this month to receive a 2013
Green Ribbon Schools award; one school district also received a District Sustainability Award.
Similar to the Blue Ribbon Awards for educational excellence, the U.S. Department of Education grants the Green Ribbon Awards to schools that work to reduce their environmental footprint; improve the health and wellness of students and faculty; and integrate sustainability education into the curriculum. The region's winners were among 78 schools and districts chosen nationwide.
Notably, all Delaware and Pennsylvania statewide nominees this year were from the Philadelphia region.
"It's clear that there is a lot of local energy and interest for promoting sustainability in our schools," says Lori Braunstein with the
Delaware Valley Green Building Council, who helped administer the school's applications.
Each honoree was recognized for different reasons. From newer suburban schools with solar arrays to older city schools boasting unique partnerships with the City of Philadelphia, each worked hard to prove its worth as a leader on sustainablity initiatives.
The winning local schools are Albert M. Greenfield Elementary School (Philadelphia School District); Broughal Middle School (Bethlehem Area School District, Northampton County); Nazareth Area Middle School (Nazareth Area School District, Northampton County); and Westtown School (Chester County).
Lower Merion School District (Montgomery County) was awarded the first-ever District Sustainability Award.
"It's possible the schools can leverage the award to get additional funding or get to the front of the line for other sustainability initiatives," says Braunstein. "This can just be the beginning."
Source: Lori Braunstein, Delaware Valley Green Building Council
Writer:
Greg Meckstroth