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March 2021
March 2021
In this month’s resources update we welcome three new Resource Organization members of MN GreenStep Schools that show the value of both local and statewide organizations in helping schools adopt best practices.
In our program news section, you can learn about our new Best Practice Page for Clean Energy. Here, you’ll also find links to proposed legislation that would fund MN GreenStep Schools and help it grow from a pilot to a full program.
Resources Update
Resources Update
MN GreenStep Schools appreciates all the Member Resource Organizations that help schools in their efforts to grow. In March, we welcome three new Resource Organization members of MN GreenStep Schools that show the value of both local and statewide organizations in helping schools adopt best practices. You can click on their links to see their full resource organization page. Then consider being next… Go to the Resource Organizations Page to sign up.
MAEE has been a supporter of MN GreenStep Schools since its early development and is a recognized resource for environmental education.
MAEE is a non-profit that serve the entire state of Minnesota with training, advice, networks, and funding or grants. Their mission is to "advance environmental education in Minnesota by supporting and connecting environmental educators, advocates and allies." Their vision of "a world in which all people value and feel connected to our environment." See the MAEE GreenStep Schools Member Page where you can learn more about their free resources and contact Wendy Tremblay.
Welcome to our first City to become a Resource Organization! There are many synergies between the MN GreenStep Cities program and the MN GreenStep Schools program and we encourage more cities to join in supporting schools in their community.
From the City of Shakopee GreenStep Schools Member Page: "The City of Shakopee seeks to build partnerships with Shakopee Public School District, individual schools, & the community to provide resources, programs, and services to progress through the GreenStep School/Cities programs. The City created a Best Practices Committee to provide a forum to support students by continuously pursuing initiatives, designing projects, and tracking metrics to enable the City to connect students and faculty with staff resources and real-life educational opportunities." See the City of Shakopee GreenStep Schools Member Page where you can learn more about their resources and contact Andrew Boucher.
Counties make great GreenStep School Resource organizations, and Anoka County is a good example of resources tailored to schools.
The "Recycling & Resource Solutions unit within the Public Health & Environmental Services Department provides technical assistance, grant funding and information about proper waste management to waste generators in Anoka County. We provide these services to schools for free, in addition to training and education outreach for both staff and students. Our work focuses on waste reduction, recycling, and organics collection in schools." See the Anoka County Recycling and Resource Solutions GreenStep Schools Resource Organization Member Page where you can learn more about their resources and contact Katie Stelzner.
MN GreenStep Schools Program News
MN GreenStep Schools Program News
New Clean Energy Pilot Best Practice Published in March
New Clean Energy Pilot Best Practice Published in March
Best Practice 1.2 Clean Energy was added in March and includes best practices actions for assessing and planning for use of clean energy, installing or purchasing renewable electricity, installing energy storage, fuel switching to electric sources for uses such as heating and transportation, and more comprehensive tracking and planning of clean energy performance.
This best practice also includes a partial prototype solar on schools dashboard where you can search for solar installations at schools by school district, education level, utility, installer, mounting type, financing type, and year installed. The results of your search display the total KW, total number of installations and the total number of students enrolled in solar schools and potentially exposed to clean energy strategies. The data is from several sources and is only a fraction of what is happening in Minnesota. Look for an entry form in the near future where you can enter your school's solar if it isn't shown, or update your data.
MN GreenStep Schools connects resources to schools, and for this Best Practice, Clean Energy Resource Teams, (CERTS) is featured as a prominent resource for help in meeting the clean energy best practices. CERTS is also a member resource organization.
Are you from a school that has or is interested in clean energy or MN GreenStep Schools in general? Consider signing up on the Interest Form to get on the mailing list or explore becoming a member School or District.
Could your organization help schools with clean energy solutions - or any other best practices? If so, consider becoming a MN GreenStep Schools Member Resource Organization.
Have comments on the new Best Practice for Clean Energy? We welcome your thoughts in our pilot feedback form.
MN GreenStep Schools Proposed Legislation
MN GreenStep Schools Proposed Legislation
On February 11th, a bill was introduced that would fund MN GreenStep Schools to grow from a pilot to a full program with ongoing development and support. Senator Wiger introduced SF 775. Representative Jordan introduced the companion bill HF 841. As of this writing, The bill has been referred to committees.
Thanks to the contacts from Districts, Schools, Resource Organizations, and others
who have expressed interest in MN GreenStep Schools!
Thanks to the contacts from Districts, Schools, Resource Organizations, and others
who have expressed interest in MN GreenStep Schools!
Interested in the program? Want to be on the mailing list? Sign up in the Interest Form...
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Interest from Contacts at:
MN School Districts:La Crescent-Hokah (ISD 300)Minneapolis Public Schools (ISD 1)Pequot Lakes Public Schools (ISD 186)Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools (ISD 719)Royalton School District (ISD 485)Saint Paul Public Schools (ISD 625)Spring Lake Park Schools (ISD 16)Stillwater Area Public School District (ISD 834)Wayzata Public School District (ISD 284)West St. Paul-Mendota Hts.-Eagan (ISD 197)Wrenshall Public School District (ISD 100)Yellow Medicine East (ISD 2190)MN Schools:Andover High SchoolBellaire Education CenterCarlton High SchoolCity of Lakes Waldorf SchoolDiscovery Woods MontessoriForest Lake Area High SchoolGarlough Environmental Magnet SchoolHarbor City International SchoolHeritage E-Stem Magnet SchoolHiawatha Collegiate High SchoolHidden Oaks Middle School Hilltop Primary School Jie Ming Mandarin Immersion Academy
(a St. Paul Public Immersion School) La Crescent-Hokah Secondary SchoolLyndale Community School PTOMendota Elementary SchoolMoreland Arts and Health Sciences Magnet ElementaryNorthern Lights Community SchoolPike Lake ElementaryPine Bend ElementaryPrairie Seeds AcademyRockford Middle School-Center for Environmental StudiesSartell Middle SchoolShakopee West Middle SchoolSaint Francis Xavier Elementary SchoolSt Paul Conservatory for Performing ArtistsSt. Stephens Catholic SchoolSomerset Elementary SchoolThe Blake School, Northrup CampusWestbrook-Walnut Grove SecondaryWilliam M. Kelley SchoolWrenshall High School
Interest from Contacts at Resource Organizations Including Cities:
Anoka County Recycling and Resource SolutionsCity of EdinaCity of Elk RiverCity of Falcon HeightsCity of FridleyCity of Golden ValleyCity of HutchinsonCity of MoorheadCity of ShakopeeCity of St. Louis ParkCity of WarrenClean Energy Resource Teams (CERTS)Climate Generation: A Will Steger LegacyDakota CountyE.C. Goodwin Technical HS (Connecticut)Environmental Quality BoardGreen Ribbon Schools Award - MN Dept. of EducationGreenStep Cities @ the MN Pollution Control AgencyGrowing Green Hearts LLCHennepin County Environment & EnergyJeffers Foundation Jessy Carlson (consultant)Macalester CollegeMcKinstryMinnesota Association for Environmental EducationMinnesota Department of HealthMinnesota DNRMinnesota Renewable Energy SocietyMN350.orgPrairie Woods Environmental Learning Center SWWC Service CooperativeSustainability Internships Class,
Sustainability Education at the Institute on the Environment The Weidt GroupThe Trust for Public LandU.S. Green Building CouncilWe All Need Food and WaterYES! (Youth Eco Solutions)
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