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Hartselle Enquirer

F.E. Burleson School claims national Green Ribbon

F.E. Burleson Elementary School has been named a Green Ribbon School by the U. S. Department of Education.

Debra Queen, music teacher and outdoor classroom coordinator, said the school learned of its selection for the award on Tuesday and will receive the award on July 22 in Washington D. C. Forty-seven other Alabama school qualified for the honor in 2014.

Last February, the school was picked as a Green Ribbon School by the State Department of Education.

Three pillars of school excellence are considers for the award:

•Reduce the economic impact of utility costs

•Promote better health

•Ensure effective environmental education

Here is the complete release:

2014 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools and District Sustainability Awardees Announced

Award Honors Schools and Districts for Reducing Environmental Impact and Costs; Improving Health; and Offering Environmental Education

Acting Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality Mike Boots joined U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today to announce the 2014 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools award honorees. Forty-eight schools were honored for their exemplary efforts to reduce environmental impact and utility costs, promote better health, and ensure effective environmental education, including civics and green career pathways. In addition, nine districts were honored for the District Sustainability Award.

Duncan and Boots made the announcement via webcast at the U.S. Department of Education, in Washington, D.C. Secretary Duncan also announced that a new post-secondary nomination category will be added to the school and district awards for the coming year.

“Today’s honorees are modeling a comprehensive approach to being green by encompassing facility, wellness and learning into their daily operations,” said Secretary Duncan. “They are demonstrating ways schools can simultaneously cut costs, improve health, and engage students with hands-on learning that prepares them with the thinking skills necessary to be successful in college and careers.”

“Schools all over the country can look to today’s honorees as models for creating a healthier learning environment while lowering energy bills and preparing students for success in the 21st century economy,” said Acting Chair Mike Boots. “The schools and districts being honored today are taking smart, innovative steps to reduce environmental impacts and teach students the kinds of sustainable practices that they can carry with them into their homes and future careers.”

The schools were confirmed from a pool of candidates voluntarily nominated by 30 state education agencies.   The list of selectees includes 39 public schools and nine private schools from 27 states. The public schools include ten early learning programs, three charter, one magnet and three career and technical schools. The schools serve various grade levels, including 29 elementary, 16 middle and 18 high schools, with several schools having various K-12 configurations.  Twenty-one of the 2014 honorees serve a disadvantaged student body and 18 are rural.  The list of all selected schools and districts, as well as their nomination packages, can be found here.  A report with highlights on the 57 honorees can be found here.

The Department is looking forward to a fourth year of awards, with a post-secondary category, and will be posting updated competition criteria shortly to reflect this addition.  State education agencies are encouraged to indicate intent to nominate schools in 2015 byAugust 1, 2014.

More information on the federal recognition award can be found here.  Resources for all schools to move toward the three pillars in which the 2014 honorees are exemplary can be found here.

The list of 2014 awardees follows:

Alabama

·         F. E. Burleson Elementary School, Hartselle
·         Brock’s Gap Intermediate School, Hoover
·         Homewood Middle School, Homewood

California

·         Lowell Elementary School, Long Beach
·         Mark Twain Elementary School, Long Beach
·         San Domenico School, San Anselmo
·         Encinitas Union School District

Colorado

·         Larkspur Elementary School, Larkspur
·         Mesa Elementary School, Cortez
·         Lesher Middle School, Ft. Collins
·         Boulder Valley School District

Connecticut

·         Interdistrict Discovery Magnet School, Bridgeport
·         Greenwich Academy, Greenwich

Delaware

·         Red Clay Consolidated School District

Florida

·         Broward County Public Schools

Georgia

·         Arcado Elementary School, Lilburn
·         High Meadows School, Roswell

Illinois

·         Woodland Primary School, Gages Lake

Indiana

·         St. Thomas Aquinas School, Indianapolis
·         Carmel High School, Carmel

Kentucky

·         Wellington Elementary, Lexington

Maryland

·         Travilah Elementary School, North Potomac
·         North Carroll High School, Hampstead

Massachusetts

·         Boston Latin School, Boston

Michigan

·         Renaissance High School, Clarkston
·         LISD TECH Center, Adrian

Minnesota

·         Five Hawks Elementary School, Prior Lake
·         Chisago Lakes Middle School, Lindstrom
·         Waconia Independent School District 110

Nebraska

·         Fontenelle Elementary, Omaha
·         Omaha Public School District

New Jersey

·         Three Bridges School, Three Bridges
·         Kellman Brown Academy, Voorhees

New Mexico

·         Amy Biehl Community School, Sante Fe

New York

·         Anne Hutchinson Elementary School, Eastchester

North Carolina

·         Exploris Middle School, Raleigh

Ohio

·         Metro Catholic School, Cleveland
·         Milton-Union Exempt Village School, West Milton
·         West Geauga High School, Chesterland

Oregon

·         Jesuit High School, Portland
·         Willamette High School, Eugene

Pennsylvania

·         Council Rock School District, Newtown

Rhode Island

·         Claiborne Pell Elementary School, Newport
·         The Greene School, Greenwich

Vermont

·         Camels Hump Middle School, Shelborne
·         Champlain Valley Union High School, Hinesburg
·         Lake Region Union High School, Orleans

Washington

·         Shadow Lake Elementary School, Maple Valley
·         Bertschi School, Seattle
·         Vancouver School District

West Virginia

·         Eastwood Elementary School, Morgantown
·         Cameron Middle-High School, Cameron

Wisconsin

·        Park Elementary, Cross Plains
·        Tomorrow River Community Charter School, Amherst Junction
·        Hurley K-12 School, Hurley
·        Conserve School, Land O Lakes
·        Greendale School District

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