WINDSOR UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
Resolution 2020 – XX
Declaration of Climate Emergency
WHEREAS, there is broad scientific consensus among climate scientists that human activities have warmed the Earth to a point that threatens climate stability, and that climate change has already set in motion catastrophic changes to the Earth’s systems including droughts, floods, extreme weather events and increased temperatures, wildfires, accelerating loss of ice mass resulting in seal-level rise, and species extinction; and
WHEREAS, current global warming is already contributing locally to the increased frequency and intensity of wildfires, floods, droughts, heat waves, and other extreme weather, including the recent Northern California wildfires which resulted in substantial loss of life, declining public health, extensive property damage and housing displacement, and serious reductions in air quality; and
WHEREAS, 196 nations and the European Union have recognized the threat of climate change and the need for urgent action by signing the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement calling for a substantial decrease in greenhouse emissions; and
WHEREAS, the State of California has long been a leader in efforts to protect the environment and control climate change through the adoption of numerous innovative laws, policies, and programs; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Windsor has exercised leadership in taking action to combat climate change through its September 2019 adoption of a Climate Emergency Resolution directing staff to update the Town’s 2040 General Plan and environmental policies so as to reduce greenhouse gas emissions toward achieving zero net emissions by 2030; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees of the Windsor Unified School Board (“Board of Trustees”) has expressed its belief that “all citizens have a responsibility to be stewards of the environment” and further expressed its desire to “integrate environmental accountability into all district operations” (BP 3510); and
WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees has directed the Superintendent to promote Green School Practices “that conserve natural resources, reduce the impact of district operations on the environment, and protect the health of students, staff, and community” (BP 3510); and
WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees has adopted numerous policies and administrative regulations supporting climate protection goals, and directed the Superintendent to consider Green School Operations strategies including: 1) reducing energy and water consumption and exploring renewable and clean energy technologies; 2) establishing campus recycling programs; 3) reducing the consumption of disposable materials; 4) purchasing environmentally preferable products; 5) adopting green building standards; 6) reducing vehicle traffic; 7) providing fresh, unprocessed organic foods in the District’s food services program; and 8) providing environmental education to students (BP 3510; adopted November 6, 2007); and
WHEREAS, environmental education has long been encouraged in California schools, and teaching about climate change is specifically incorporated into the Next Generation Science Standards adopted by the State of California in 2013, as well as the California Science Framework; and
WHEREAS, climate change disproportionately impacts people of color and people living in marginalized communities, and education plays a vital role in demonstrating the intersection of environmental and social justice; and
WHEREAS, children represent a particularly vulnerable population because greenhouse gasses will continue to accumulate over the coming decades, and will profoundly impact today’s children throughout their lives as well as the lives of future generations; and
WHEREAS, time is of the essence, and the magnitude of the challenge of addressing climate change call for leadership in all sectors of society, and institutions, and particularly for leaders in the public education sector.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees of the Windsor Unified School District declares that a Climate Emergency threatens the well-being of our Town, our students, and the future of our community; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees of the Windsor Unified School District directs the Superintendent to hire a Sustainability Officer whose responsibility it will be to oversee and implement existing Board policies respecting climate protection and sustainability (BP 3510) as well as any additional climate protection policies which may be adopted pursuant to this resolution; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees of the Windsor Unified School District directs the Sustainability Officer to convene a District Climate Protection Committee comprised of administrators, staff, parents, and students whose responsibility it is to assist in the oversight and implementation of existing and future Board policies respecting climate protection and sustainability; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees of the Windsor Unified School District states its desire and intent to improve the coordination of its climate protection and sustainability activities with comparable activities undertaken by the Town of Windsor; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees of the Windsor Unified School District directs the Superintendent to redouble District efforts to enforce existing Green School Operations policies (BP 3510, Section 1) by reducing District energy and water consumption and exploring renewable and clean energy technologies; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees of the Windsor Unified School District directs the Superintendent to redouble District efforts to enforce existing Green School Operations policies (BP 3510, Section 8) by reducing vehicle traffic through encouraging students to walk, bicycle, carpool, or use District or public transportation; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees of the Windsor Unified School District directs the Superintendent to redouble District efforts to enforce existing Green School Operations policies (BP 3510, Sections 2, 3, & 4) by undertaking enhanced waste reduction systems including:
· reduced consumption of single-use disposable materials;
· the purchasing of environmentally preferable products;
· the strengthening of campus recycling and composting programs; and
· the provision of necessary training to District staff to achieve these objectives.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees of the Windsor Unified School District directs the Superintendent redouble District efforts to enforce existing Green School Operations policies (BP, Sections 3, 4 & 9) by maintaining a climate-friendly food service system which:
· makes use of compostable containers and utensils;
· reduces use of pre-packaged food items;
· eliminates sale of single-use plastic bottles; and
· provides fresh, unprocessed organic foods.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees of the Windsor Unified School District directs the Superintendent to adopt a communications strategy which emphasizes the District’s commitment to the policies set forth herein through consistent messaging to parents, students, staff, and the community at-large regarding the importance of undertaking aggressive climate protection activities; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees of the Windsor Unified School District directs the Superintendent to further promote curricular and educational opportunities such as climate literacy and climate advocacy at the K-12 grade levels; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees of the Windsor Unified School District directs the Superintendent to distribute official copies of this resolution to the Sonoma County Superintendent of Schools, the State Superintendent of Education, the California State School Board Association, and the Schools for Climate Action Campaign.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of Trustees of the Windsor Unified School District on this xx day of xx, 2020 by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
______________________________
President-Board of Trustees
ATTESTED:
______________________________
Clerk-Board of Trustees
Resolution 2020 – XX
Declaration of Climate Emergency
WHEREAS, there is broad scientific consensus among climate scientists that human activities have warmed the Earth to a point that threatens climate stability, and that climate change has already set in motion catastrophic changes to the Earth’s systems including droughts, floods, extreme weather events and increased temperatures, wildfires, accelerating loss of ice mass resulting in seal-level rise, and species extinction; and
WHEREAS, current global warming is already contributing locally to the increased frequency and intensity of wildfires, floods, droughts, heat waves, and other extreme weather, including the recent Northern California wildfires which resulted in substantial loss of life, declining public health, extensive property damage and housing displacement, and serious reductions in air quality; and
WHEREAS, 196 nations and the European Union have recognized the threat of climate change and the need for urgent action by signing the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement calling for a substantial decrease in greenhouse emissions; and
WHEREAS, the State of California has long been a leader in efforts to protect the environment and control climate change through the adoption of numerous innovative laws, policies, and programs; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Windsor has exercised leadership in taking action to combat climate change through its September 2019 adoption of a Climate Emergency Resolution directing staff to update the Town’s 2040 General Plan and environmental policies so as to reduce greenhouse gas emissions toward achieving zero net emissions by 2030; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees of the Windsor Unified School Board (“Board of Trustees”) has expressed its belief that “all citizens have a responsibility to be stewards of the environment” and further expressed its desire to “integrate environmental accountability into all district operations” (BP 3510); and
WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees has directed the Superintendent to promote Green School Practices “that conserve natural resources, reduce the impact of district operations on the environment, and protect the health of students, staff, and community” (BP 3510); and
WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees has adopted numerous policies and administrative regulations supporting climate protection goals, and directed the Superintendent to consider Green School Operations strategies including: 1) reducing energy and water consumption and exploring renewable and clean energy technologies; 2) establishing campus recycling programs; 3) reducing the consumption of disposable materials; 4) purchasing environmentally preferable products; 5) adopting green building standards; 6) reducing vehicle traffic; 7) providing fresh, unprocessed organic foods in the District’s food services program; and 8) providing environmental education to students (BP 3510; adopted November 6, 2007); and
WHEREAS, environmental education has long been encouraged in California schools, and teaching about climate change is specifically incorporated into the Next Generation Science Standards adopted by the State of California in 2013, as well as the California Science Framework; and
WHEREAS, climate change disproportionately impacts people of color and people living in marginalized communities, and education plays a vital role in demonstrating the intersection of environmental and social justice; and
WHEREAS, children represent a particularly vulnerable population because greenhouse gasses will continue to accumulate over the coming decades, and will profoundly impact today’s children throughout their lives as well as the lives of future generations; and
WHEREAS, time is of the essence, and the magnitude of the challenge of addressing climate change call for leadership in all sectors of society, and institutions, and particularly for leaders in the public education sector.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees of the Windsor Unified School District declares that a Climate Emergency threatens the well-being of our Town, our students, and the future of our community; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees of the Windsor Unified School District directs the Superintendent to hire a Sustainability Officer whose responsibility it will be to oversee and implement existing Board policies respecting climate protection and sustainability (BP 3510) as well as any additional climate protection policies which may be adopted pursuant to this resolution; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees of the Windsor Unified School District directs the Sustainability Officer to convene a District Climate Protection Committee comprised of administrators, staff, parents, and students whose responsibility it is to assist in the oversight and implementation of existing and future Board policies respecting climate protection and sustainability; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees of the Windsor Unified School District states its desire and intent to improve the coordination of its climate protection and sustainability activities with comparable activities undertaken by the Town of Windsor; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees of the Windsor Unified School District directs the Superintendent to redouble District efforts to enforce existing Green School Operations policies (BP 3510, Section 1) by reducing District energy and water consumption and exploring renewable and clean energy technologies; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees of the Windsor Unified School District directs the Superintendent to redouble District efforts to enforce existing Green School Operations policies (BP 3510, Section 8) by reducing vehicle traffic through encouraging students to walk, bicycle, carpool, or use District or public transportation; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees of the Windsor Unified School District directs the Superintendent to redouble District efforts to enforce existing Green School Operations policies (BP 3510, Sections 2, 3, & 4) by undertaking enhanced waste reduction systems including:
· reduced consumption of single-use disposable materials;
· the purchasing of environmentally preferable products;
· the strengthening of campus recycling and composting programs; and
· the provision of necessary training to District staff to achieve these objectives.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees of the Windsor Unified School District directs the Superintendent redouble District efforts to enforce existing Green School Operations policies (BP, Sections 3, 4 & 9) by maintaining a climate-friendly food service system which:
· makes use of compostable containers and utensils;
· reduces use of pre-packaged food items;
· eliminates sale of single-use plastic bottles; and
· provides fresh, unprocessed organic foods.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees of the Windsor Unified School District directs the Superintendent to adopt a communications strategy which emphasizes the District’s commitment to the policies set forth herein through consistent messaging to parents, students, staff, and the community at-large regarding the importance of undertaking aggressive climate protection activities; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees of the Windsor Unified School District directs the Superintendent to further promote curricular and educational opportunities such as climate literacy and climate advocacy at the K-12 grade levels; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees of the Windsor Unified School District directs the Superintendent to distribute official copies of this resolution to the Sonoma County Superintendent of Schools, the State Superintendent of Education, the California State School Board Association, and the Schools for Climate Action Campaign.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of Trustees of the Windsor Unified School District on this xx day of xx, 2020 by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
______________________________
President-Board of Trustees
ATTESTED:
______________________________
Clerk-Board of Trustees
