McClatchy High Eco Club wins $150,000 for restroom upgrades
Twelve Sacramento City Unified ‘Green Teams’ awarded Measure Q bond money for sustainability upgrades and innovations

Press release

June 14, 2013 (Sacramento) – Eleven SCUSD schools and McClaskey Adult Center were allocated a total of $1 million in bond funding for green school projects at the district’s second annual Project Green Awards Ceremony held Wednesday evening at The Met.

The funding is from Measure Q bond money set aside for green school initiatives. Measure Q was approved by Sacramento voters in November. Projects funded are expected to save the district money on energy costs and supplies.

“Our Project Green is a one-of-a-kind project nationwide,” says SCUSD’s Center for Green Schools Fellow Farah McDill. “When I tell people that Sacramento City Unified is allowing students to make decisions about capital improvements to green their school they are amazed. This is truly a unique venture and one that these students will gain from now and for the rest of their lives.”

SCUSD’s groundbreaking Project Green adds a real-world application to classroom instruction about the environment and sustainable living. Schools across the district were encouraged to form student green teams to conduct green audits of school facilities. With the help of teachers, parents, district staff and local professionals, the teams then drafted recommendations for green improvements ranging from improving lighting to installing water-wise plumbing fixtures.

Students presented their recommendations to a panel of experts representing local non-profits that focus on creating healthy sustainable learning environments. The panel judged the exhibits, using scoring rubrics.

The team from C.K. McClatchy High School scored highest for its presentation and report, which included a rationale for upgrading campus bathrooms with low-flow, dual-flush toilets, motion sensor fixtures and hand dryers. The judging panel made recommendations to allocate up to $150,000 for these projects.

In all, the 12 presentations were allocated $1 million in bond funding.

Other allocations to potential projects were as follows:
• Crocker/Riverside Elementary – up to $120,000 (solar tubes and reflective paint)
• Fern Bacon Middle School – up to $120,000 (low-flow, dual-flush toilets, motion sensor fixtures and hand dryers)
• A.M. Winn Elementary – up to $100,000 (cool roof, skylights on multi-purpose room)
• School of Engineering and Sciences – up to $100,000 (solar tubes and benches)
• Sutterville Elementary – up to $70,000 (LED lighting)
• Washington Elementary (project at Sutter Middle School) – up to $70,000 (outdoor classroom)
• Luther Burbank High School – up to $70,000 (recycling bins and equipment)
• McClaskey Adult Education Center – up to $50,000 (air conditioning units in select rooms)
• H.W. Harkness Elementary – up to $50,000 (low-flow, dual-flush toilets, motion sensor fixtures and hand dryers)
• American Legion High School – up to $50,000 (exercise equipment and fencing for outdoor sports)
• Isador Cohen Elementary – up to $50,000 (outdoor classroom)