SAMPLE SCHOOL BOARD RESOLUTIONBLUEPRINT FOR HEALTHY, ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND SCHOOLSWhereas—Schools have the potential to make positive, tangible environmental change in the world while teaching students to be stewards of their communities, the earth and its resources; Whereas—Our current school systems often suffer from inadequate facilities that frequently use energy, water and other resources unsustainably; use pesticides, cleaning agents and other chemicals that pose health risks; and can result in “sick building syndrome” from indoor air pollution and poor ventilation; Whereas—Many schools across the nation are sited on or near toxic waste dumps, environmentally hazardous facilities, and other sources of pollution; Whereas—Schools are important consumers of natural resources, including energy, water, food, and paper, and generators of waste materials, including garbage, runoff, and air emissions, which contribute to the world’s larger environmental problems like global warming, water and air pollution, and habitat destruction. Whereas—Children, teachers, and staff are regularly exposed to toxic chemicals at school, are offered poor and unhealthy food choices, and use and manage resources unsustainably resulting in negative impacts on their health and their ability to teach and learn. Whereas—This district expends considerable financial resources on chemical pest control, cleaning supplies, energy, water, office and school supplies, and educational activities (resolution could include specific statistics from the district on funds spent on specific resources); Whereas—This district has a considerable opportunity through its purchasing power to improve both the environment and its financial bottom line. Whereas—Many options and choices exist for schools to use natural resources more efficiently; to reduce, reuse, and recycle; to follow “Healthy, High Performance School Guidelines” for construction; to ban junk foodand soda and produce healthy lunches through local farm–to–school partnerships; to eliminate toxic chemicals; and to purchase (or produce) clean energy and recycled paper to protect our global environment. Whereas—There is a tremendous opportunity to teach children about ecological sustainability, environmental health and nutrition; meet math, science and social studies standards; integrate environmental education into curricula; and support students to become leaders in making their own school a healthier and more ecologically friendly place; Whereas—The Precautionary Principle has been adopted by a growing number of cities, as well as the Los Angeles Unified School District as a proactive approach to promote the safest, lowest risk way to protect people’s health, the environment, and property; Recognizing that this framework creates a long–term, inspiring vision that integrates and strengthens many efforts in our district. Further recognizing that fully implementing this resolution will take time, and must be achieved in stages. Be it resolved that to promote healthier, more environmentally sustainable schools and teach environmental leadership, the School Board hereby: 1. Adopts the Precautionary Principle as the foundation for its environmental policy. The Precautionary Principle includes the following elements: *Anticipatory Action; Right to Know; Alternatives Assessment; Full–Cost Accounting; Participatory Decision Process [see: City of San Francisco, Precautionary Principle Ordinance] 2. Calls on the district to develop an action plan to implement a proactive environmental policy based on the Precautionary Principlethat includes the following to be prioritized and implemented step by step:
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