Eight Oakland County schools are being recognized for 15 years of participation in Michigan Green Schools, a program overseen by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) that assists schools statewide in achieving environmental and energy savings goals. Beverly Elementary (Birmingham Public Schools), Pierce Elementary (Birmingham Public Schools), Lincoln Street Alternative High School (Birmingham Public Schools), Our Lady of Sorrows (Farmington), Clear Lake Elementary (Oxford Community Schools), North Hill Elementary (Rochester Community Schools), Addams Elementary (Royal Oak Schools) and Oak Ridge Elementary (Royal Oak Schools) have all achieved official Michigan Green School status since 2008. In addition to presenting certificates to those schools, the Oakland County Board of Commissioners will be supporting the 2022-23 program, including a celebration event at the Detroit Zoo in 2023.
“Addressing Climate Change is going to take all of us working together to solve the problem,” said Chairman David T. Woodward (D-Royal Oak). “Oakland County applauds and stands in solidarity with our amazing green schools, and our students, as they become the leaders on sustainability and environmental protection that our world needs today - now more than ever!”
“It’s heartening to see that so many Oakland County schools are being recognized for their participation in the Michigan Green Schools program,” said Oakland County Executive David Coulter. “The next generation is key to protecting our environment and saving the planet from climate change. These schools are providing critical education and leadership on issues ranging from energy efficiency to recycling to environmental sustainability and that’s great news for students, the schools and the environment.”
“I’m extremely proud of the 91 schools across Oakland County that have gone above and beyond to earn a Michigan Green School status,” said Oakland Schools’ Superintendent Dr. Wanda Cook-Robinson. “Environmental sustainability is the responsibility of all citizens, and our districts are doing a great job preparing our K-12 students.”
Oakland Schools, the county’s intermediate school district, and Oakland County partner to administer the program annually. To receive designation as an official Michigan Green School each year, individual buildings must earn ten or more points by participating in at least two activities from each of four categories: recycling, energy, environmental protection and miscellaneous. For the 2021-2022 school year, a total of 91 Oakland County schools participated, including four schools that were new to the program.
Projects are often unique to each building. The goal of the program is to protect Michigan air, land, water and promote outreach through good ecological practices and the teaching of educational stewardship of students in pre-kindergarten through high school. This year, projects and events included costume and school uniform exchanges, hosting a park ranger talk to students about the wild-urban interface, crafting dog toys out of old t-shirts and promoting ways to create “waste free lunches.”
Next year, Oakland County is planning a celebration event for all county schools that achieve Michigan Green Schools status. The event, which will be hosted at the Detroit Zoo, has been postponed for the past two years due to the pandemic. Oakland County Green Schools organizers will also work with Macomb and Wayne County Green Schools organizers make the event a tri-county celebration and recognize schools from all three counties.
For additional information about Oakland County’s Green Schools program, visit www.oakland.k12.mi.us/school-districts/services/environmental. For additional information about the Board of Commissioners, visit www.oakgov.com/boc.
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