Sustainable Schools Initiative
Upcoming Events
- CCSD's Sustainability Symposium: March 30, 2012:
- Informational flyer: Thank you to all of the students, partners, and staff who made this event a great success.
- Agenda
Other Sustainable Schools News
Check back again soon! This page will be updated throughout the year with the latest tools and information.
- Ten CCSD Schools Win Recycling Grant!- Full list of winners
- This year, in honor of our new Sustainable Schools Initiative, the district hosted its first “What is Sustainability?” Media Contest. Submissions were due March 1, 2012. Come back soon for a full list of winners and more information.
- Newsletters:
- Have you read the first issues of CCSD's and the Charleston County Environmental Management's newsletters? These publications are designed to keep CCSD educators and partners informed of sustainability-related opportunities and events.
- CCSD's Sustainable Schools GREEN NEWSLETTER-
- Charleston County Environmental Management's Quarterly Newsletter for CCSD Teachers
- Have you read the first issues of CCSD's and the Charleston County Environmental Management's newsletters? These publications are designed to keep CCSD educators and partners informed of sustainability-related opportunities and events.
- "User Fees, Waste Assessments & Your School" Fact Sheet
What is the District's Sustainable Schools Initiative?
Charleston County School District (CCSD) is committed to fostering environmental education and sustainability across the district in a manner that is cost-effective and sustainable. With this commitment in mind, the district has launched the Sustainable Schools Initiative.
The three-tiered plan focuses on 1) Sustainable, Healthy Schools; 2) Sustainable Construction; and 3) Sustainable Curriculum
Can You Tell Me More About the Initiative?
The first element of the initiative is fostering sustainable, healthy schools. CCSD is committed to adopting practices that provide a sustainable, healthy learning and working environment that contributes to the educational, physical, and mental well-being of all students and staff.
Current projects include increased recycling, resource conservation, green procurement, reduced emissions, green cleaning, and sustainable cafeterias.
The second element of the sustainability initiative is sustainable construction. Our goal is to construct sustainable, environmentally friendly schools that conserve resources, while improving the quality of the learning and working environment for students and staff. Since 2000, CCSD has constructed 17 schools that meet the requirements for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver standards, including South Carolina’s first LEED Silver certified school, North Charleston Elementary.
The third element of the initiative focuses on sustainable curriculum. CCSD has the responsibility to prepare students for a changing 21st century workforce in which green and sustainability-based jobs will become a booming industry. Environmental education is incorporated throughout K-12 in a variety of programs ranging from school environmental clubs to class composting and garden projects. South Carolina science curriculum standards currently address environmental topics in grades 5-7, and in a continuously growing variety of high school level courses.
