Dear Green Schools Supporter-
I'm sure that you, like me, receive several email newsletters. I'm also sure that you, like me, rarely read the introductions, which do nothing more than tell you what you're about to read anyway. That's why, starting with the next issue, I will no longer bore you with my witty prose. In place of my commentary you will find a new series of stories about the sustainability work happening at the District Behind the Scenes. For those of you who hang on my every word, I'm sorry Honey. For the rest of you, happy reading!
Nik KaestnerDirector
of Sustainability SFUSD
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Featured Campaign
2nd Annual Bike-to-School Day is April 15th
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 With the goal of getting 2% of students - twice as many as last year - to bike to school, SFUSD is
hosting the second annual Bike to School Day on April 15th, 2010. Currently, fewer than 0.1% of SF children bike
to school on a regular basis.
Biking has the potential to provide a regular source of
exercise, reduce traffic congestion, and minimize air pollution. If the number of kids who walk and bike to school was restored to 1969 levels, our nation would cut 3.2 billion vehicle miles, 1.5 million tons of CO2, and 89,000 tons of pollutants. That's the equivalent of taking 250,000 cars off the road for a year!
Sponsored by the Department of Public Health, YMCA, and
San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, Bike to School Day will be used to educate students, parents, staff, and the community
about the benefits of biking. Participating
bikers will receive a Bike to School Day
bag complete with cycling guide, reusable water bottle, bike map, healthy snacks, and other goodies. For more info or to sign up, click on the links above.
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Best Practices
Schools Will Soon Compete to Increase Diversion and Save Money
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 With the help of the SF Department of the Environment, schools have been recycling for quite some time. Since last year, however, the stakes have gotten a lot higher. That's because the District's waste bill is now based on its diversion rate (the amount of waste recycled or composted). If the District is able to increase it's diversion rate to 70% by 2013, it's waste bill will stay largely flat. If, however, waste diversion stays at the current 45% rate, bills will increase by over 20%!
In order to dramatically increase recycling and composting at our schools, the District is using a multi-pronged approach:
1. The SF Dep't of the Environment will reach out to middle and high
schools that generate the most waste and recycle the least.
2. Schools will be informed of their diversion rates on a monthly basis
with the hope of encouraging some healthy competition.
3. Since the diversion rate is based on the number of carts of each type
a school has, District custodial staff will work with schools to
diligently reduce their service as diversion efforts bear fruit.
4. As part of its Green Team program, the District will help
participating schools to raise their diversion rate above 85%.
I encourage you to help the District meet its 70% diversion goal by initiating or improving recycling and composting programs at your school. Contact SF Environment to find out how.
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In the News
SFUSD Continues to Make Waves With Its Sustainability Work
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 Not only are schools greening their campuses, but even the Board of Education is getting into the act!
* The Board of Education passed the District's first sustainability resolution, which set priorities in nine areas and asks departments to phase out bottled water.
*The City honored five prior and seven current school recipients of the SFPUC Watershed Stewardship Awards for their efforts to harvest rainwater and reduce stormwater run-off.
* Bessie Carmichael s receiving $100,000 from Adobe Systems to become certified as a LEED-EB school.
* Earlier this year, Lincoln launched a Green Academy that teaches students about the environment as part of their regular curriculum.
* Students at James Lick took part in YMCA's bike safety training to develop the level of confidence necessary to become regular riders.
* Rosa Parks and Balboa both hosted tree plantings while Sanchez installed a renewable energy-powered vertical hydroponic garden.
* Thanks to a Bright Schools Grant from PG&E, the District will expand its Green Team program from seven to thirteen schools this Spring.
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