The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District is dedicated to creating a better learning environment for students and staff, while protecting the environment, through sustainability initiatives. The school board will be discussing this topic at the regular board meeting on May 18, 2017 in the district office board room. The meeting starts at 5:30 pm.
Facilities and bond staff will present a review of past sustainability efforts and long-range planning for the future, relating to maintenance, operations and facility improvements, to the school board.
The board meeting presentation on Thursday will include information regarding the Proposition 39 grant for $1.8 million toward energy efficient upgrades and clean energy generation at schools; presentation of projects involving solar and renewable energy, and participation in the Southern California Edison and So Cal Gas Continuous Energy Improvement (CEI) program, in addition to other ideas.
The district recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the City of Santa Monica to fund water use audits and retrofits, to support water conservation measures.
Measure BB, a $268 million bond passed by voters in 2006, followed a sustainability plan approved by the board of education in 2009. Measure ES is a $385 million bond passed by voters in 2012 and part of the current and long-range sustainability discussion.
The Sustainable Design Review for Measure BB focused on several priorities that will be revisited and reconsidered as efforts continue, along with review and consideration of new practices and initiatives for student and staff engagement and participation.
Priority areas included in the Measure BB sustainability plan:
Student performance and student / staff health and wellbeing.
Minimize operating cost through energy efficiency, use of renewable energy resources and water efficiency.
Minimize the district’s long-term impact on the environment.
“SMMUSD staff is committed to incorporating sustainability initiatives into our facilities projects, integrating sustainable practices throughout our district and infusing sustainability into all aspects of the educational culture, including curriculum,” Superintendent Dr. Ben Drati said. “Our past, present and future efforts will benefit our current students and staff and generations to come.”
The agenda for the May 18 school board meeting is online.
