Good News for Green Schools in Obama’s Economic Stimulus Package
Funding for School Repairs Important for Student Health, Environmental Responsibility
The economic stimulus package proposed by president-elect Obama includes $25 billion to fund the building and repair of schools, highways and bridges – including repairs to make schools more energy-efficient.
Funding for school repairs is vitally important to student health and safety: the average U.S. school building is 42 years old and faces years of deferred maintenance, as funding has in many cases been unavailable to make even the repairs necessary to bring school buildings into compliance with minimum building codes.
Making these repairs can bring great gains for indoor air quality and student safety while improving the energy-efficiency of the buildings, saving school districts money in the long term. We look forward to learning more about how Obama’s proposed stimulus package will support school environmental health. Plus: The American Federation of Teachers has released two new and very relevant reports: one on green buildings and one on the need for school infrastructure repair. Click here to check out the reports.
HSC Seeks Illinois Schools to Save Energy, Earn Money
Demand Response pilot program brings revenue to schools
Did you know that electricity grid operators are willing to pay schools to use less energy?
A recent federal mandate requires electricity grid operators to implement programs to manage the demand for electricity. In response to this mandate, grid operators have developed “demand response” programs in which they make regular payments to consumers – including schools – that volunteer to participate.
HSC is partnering with ClearChoice Energy to be sure that schools are able to take advantage of these easy-to-implement
programs.
There is a very limited time for a small number of school districts to participate in this pilot project. To learn more, click here or contact Mark Bishop at 312-419-1810.
HSC Board Elects New President and Vice-President
The HSC Board of Directors has elected Dianne Campbell as president and Rob Rogers and Vice President. Dianne and Rob have been dedicated supporters of HSC’s work and bring a remarkable wealth of knowledge and expertise to their new leadership positions on the Board.
Dianne Campbell became involved with HSC through her work bringing fresh, healthy food to the flagship South Loop campus of Perspectives Charter Schools, now recognized nationally for making very healthy, very tasty food a key element of the school experience at all of its campuses. Since joining the Board, she’s been a leader in supporting strategic planning and growth for the organization. Now, Dianne serves as the founding executive director of Lincoln Park Village, a pioneering not-for-profit organization that provides resources to enable residents 50 and more to stay in their homes as they age and to build a vibrant, generational-friendly community.
Rob Rogers became involved with HSC through his work as vice president of School Health Corporation, the nation’s leading provider of medical supplies and equipment to schools and sports teams, a family business he runs with his wife Susan. Rob has been instrumental in the organization's school wellness initiatives and school nursing work, especially in developing The Quick & Easy Guide to School Wellness. Rob brought together a cadre of colleagues to join the HSC marathon team and has run both the Chicago and New York marathons for HSC.
Please join us in extending a very warm welcome to Dianne and Rob, and to all the new members of HSC's board.
Many thanks as well to Bess Celio, who has completed her term as President and to Joe Zanoni, who has completed his term as Vice President. Bess and Joe were both founding members of the HSC board and have made extraordinary contributions to the organization’s growth during their tenure. We extend our heartfelt appreciation for their dedication and leadership.
HSC Welcomes New Staff
HSC is pleased to welcome two new staff members!
Sara Klinzing is now joining our full-time staff to focus on fostering relationships with organizational partners after becoming involved through a temporary position working on Cooking up Change and the Healthy Cooking Contest. Sara’s experience includes six years of food service and retail management with a specialization in training and development, event planning and new store openings. Sara holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from DePaul University.
Leena Trivedi-Grenier, HSC's new social media intern, is focusing on implementing HSC's online advocacy campaign around the reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act. Leena is an experienced food writer and blogger, and earned a master's degree in gastronomy from the University of Adelaide in South Australia.
Plus: HSC is seeking interns with a variety of interests »
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