Cambridge Public Schools Named 2015 US Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools District Sustainability Award Winner
On Earth Day, April 22, 2015, Managing Director of the White House Council on Environmental Quality Christy Goldfuss joined U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan to announce recognize Cambridge Public Schools (CPS) as one of 14 school districts nationwide to be recognized with a 2015 Green Ribbon Schools District Sustainability Award.
“These honorees are compelling examples of the ways schools can help children build real-world skillsets, cut school costs, and provide healthy learning environments,” Duncan said. “U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools are an inspiration and deserve the spotlight for embodying strong examples of innovative learning and civic engagement. We also are thrilled to add institutions of higher education to the list of honorees this year for the first time in the awardís history.”
CPS joins 58 schools and 14 school districts, and 9 colleges and universities who were honored through the Green Ribbon Schools awards 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. Candidates for the award were voluntarily nominated by 30 state education agencies, with honorees selected from 28 jurisdictions. The list of all selected schools, districts, colleges, and universities, as well as their nomination packages, can be found here. A report with highlights on the 81 honorees can be found here. More information on the federal recognition award can be found here.
CPS Sustainability Manager Kristen Von Hoffman remarked, "Cambridge Public Schools is honored to receive the 2015 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools District Sustainability Award. Our success in creating an environmentally-friendly school district has been achieved thanks to a wonderful, longstanding partnership with multiple City departments, including our school's own Office for Sustainability and Facilities Department, Department of Public Works, Community Development, and the Cambridge Public Health Department. We look forward to building upon this foundation of success by further reducing our district's impact on the planet for future generations to come."
Learn more about CPS's Green Schools Initiative here. For more information about Cambridge Public Schools, please contact Chief Operating Officer Jim Maloney at 617.349.6494 or visit our website.