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Best Practice 0.2 GreenStep Schools Resolution: The district passes a resolution to participate in GreenStep, signed by participating schools.

The school district passes a resolution to participate in the Minnesota GreenStep Schools program. The resolution includes sign off from principals of participating schools, and identifies the MN GreenStep Schools Representative. The resolution must also specify Green Team meetings at least 3 times per year, and commit to annual program review and confirmation of whether the submitted best practices are current (active for the reporting year, or inactive). Districts and schools decide the pace of their progress. There is no requirement to advance in best practices or GreenStep levels at any particular rate. Those initiating the GreenStep Schools resolution may want to use the communication support materials and other resources. See online resources below.

Notes: BP 0.2 GreenStep Schools Resolution is one of two special case Best Practices

• BP 0.2 GreenStep Schools Resolution is one of the two best practices required to achieve GreenStep 1 level recognition. See GreenStep 1 Page for more information. 

• Teams document this best practice with best practice 0.1 Green Team in a single Step 1 Project Story.

• It is also one of a few Best Practices that is not further divided into Best Practice Actions.

Who is Doing It?

Follow Step 1 Instructions

• Document the background and implement the best practice according to the instructions in the special Step 1 Project Story Form

Submit Annual Review

The annual review for this best practice includes

• Confirming that the resolution is still in place

• Updating the project story if there are any changes to the resolution, or if more schools have signed on since the initial district resolution.

• Adding any lessons learned from the prior year to share with others.

GreenStep Advisor

• Contact mngreenstepsch@umn.edu for assistance

Online Resources:

• bp0.2 Resolution Preparation Guidance and Resources

• MN GreenStep Schools Summary Slide Deck Template (Powerpoint as of 10/11/23)

• MN GreenStep Schools Executive Summary (2 pages, as of 7/20/20)

• bp0.2 Sample school board resolution to participate in Minnesota GreenStep Schools 

• bp0.2 School Participation Commitment Template

Other resources also recommended:

• See Getting Started Section in the Assessment Tool for change part on commitments and resolutions at "Healthy Sustainable Schools: Guide and Assessment Tool for Change." Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. 2007-2008.

GreenStep Resource Organizations

• [under development] Search GreenStep Resource Organizations for this best practice based on types of assistance they offer. As more resource organizations join, there will be more offerings.