Six schools recognized as NC Green Schools, Rainbow Community School earns highest recognition

 Other NC schools also earned awards, including one NC Green Schools of Promise: Fairview Elementary (Buncombe), and four NC Green Schools of Quality: Hall Fletcher Elementary (Asheville), Queens Creek Elementary (Swansboro), Koontz Intermediate (Buncombe), and Cane Creek Middle School (Buncombe). “We understand how stretched teachers are these days and we are so proud of these schools for their commitment to having a lighter footprint and teaching with the environment in mind,” said Katie Cavert Ferrell, Program Director of NC Green Schools. Buncombe County Green Schools will be honored with awards on May 1.

 A volunteer team of professional architects, county planners and community educators ranked the school applications on how well they met certain criteria based on these five components: Culture and Community, School Sustainability, Healthy Schools, Curriculum Integration, and Innovation.  The schools with the highest scores are ones who engage the most students, teachers, parents and the surrounding community in school projects that have a positive impact on student learning and the environment. “I enjoyed this process and am proud to serve the community in this way.  Rainbow Community School has made an amazing effort to green their school and I am glad to know so much more about the school than I did before. In my opinion they are very deserving of the Green School of Excellence designation!” said Torin Kexel, Building Performance Director at Green Opportunities in Asheville and a NC Green Schools judge.

NC Green Schools evolved from Reading Riding Retrofit, a program created to help reduce energy costs, support environmental education and encourage sustainability practices within the public schools in Buncombe County. In 2010-2012, the program made a significant impact with an EPA Sustainable Communities Showcase Grant. “We built a strong team of community partners and the schools successfully cut $250,000 from the school’s energy budget per year and have reduced their greenhouse gas emissions by over 1250 tons, annually!” said Robin Cape, Executive Director of NC Green Schools.  “Since then, we have worked to support schools across the state with resources and tools for teachers and we are excited to celebrate these green schools’ successes.” said Ferrell.  The NC Green Schools Learning Network plans to offer workshops for teachers who want to learn more and connect with like-minded educators about how their school can implement programs like Hall Fletcher’s successful composting initiative and Rainbow Community’s use of outdoor educational space.