Since April 2019, the SLUSD school board has renewed the district’s Commitment to Climate Change Action resolution with annual progress updates. The resolution pledges to support initiatives designed to increase awareness about the effects of climate change and encourage further support of sustainability initiatives the district has already undertaken. Specifically, SLUSD has committed to:

• Connect with existing municipal, county, and state climate action plans
• Continue to teach our students respect for natural resources
• Install and maintain energy-efficient infrastructure and utilize green building methods to reduce district impact on climate change.
• Maintain focus on the energy efficiency of district buildings and reducing total CO₂ emissions. 
• Commit to identifying opportunities within our curriculum, and providing additional learning and leadership opportunities where possible, that reflect our students’ environmental goals for their civic lives and their academic and professional careers
• Seek out creative and collaborative partnerships that connect our students and staff with local community groups, business leaders, associations, and city/county government on efforts to make our community more environmentally friendly and promote sustainable practices

Although the exceptional past year has brought many changes, SLUSD has still made significant progress towards implementing these initiatives. Highlights include:

Adoption of a new TK-12th grade curriculum for Science. These materials are grounded in Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and designed to better prepare students for 21st-century careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM),  industries at the forefront of the global response to climate change. Review the adoption here.

Installation of energy-efficient infrastructure in all new facility construction. Over 50 aging portable classrooms have been replaced over the past two years with energy-efficient modular buildings and classrooms for healthier, more productive learning environments across our school sites. See the results here. Other energy projects in the past year include the completion of lighting modernization to install LED fixtures districtwide, and the installation of new HVAC controls which reduce electrical consumption.

Increased collaborative partnerships with local agencies committed to addressing climate change. This includes the East Bay Municipal Utility District, Bay Area Air Quality Management District, East Bay Regional Park System, Alameda County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, Alameda County’s Stop Waste Program, Resilient San Leandro, and Friends of San Leandro Creek. These agencies have provided integrated engaging Project-Based Learning sustainability experiences throughout distance learning. See a few examples here.

Participated in the City of San Leandro’s climate action planning process. This includes working closely with the city’s sustainability manager (and SLUSD alumni), Dr. Hoi-Fei Mok, on student and community outreach to facilitate the city’s local planning process. See the draft plan here.

“Despite this challenging year, the school board has never lost focus on our goals to prepare students for an uncertain future,” said District Superintendent Michael McLaughlin, “Our district continues to support our city, county, and state climate action plans as they develop and evolve. Reducing the district’s impact on climate change is a key initiative in our upcoming three-year strategic plan.”

For the latest news from the San Leandro Unified School District, please visit slusd.us.

About the San Leandro Unified School District

The San Leandro Unified School District operates a comprehensive TK-12 program and an adult school at 13 campuses throughout San Leandro. The district educates its students by utilizing state-of-the-art technologies and innovative teaching strategies to help students achieve academic excellence and become collaborative and competitive in a global society. For more information, visit www.slusd.us 
CONTACT: Keziah Moss, Director of Community & Employee Engagement, (510) 667-6202, https://www.slusd.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/117604348_3173441539371095_37009012810213920_n-1.jpg@slusd.us