MATTAWA — The Wahluke School District has been awarded the Green Ribbon School District Sustainability Award. Five districts or schools in Washington state are nominated by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) for a chance to receive national recognition from the U.S. Department of Education. This year, all five Washington nominees received national recognition.

“One thing Wahluke has are dedicated district Garden and Sustainability Specialist and K-12 Science Instructional Specialist positions,” said Chuck Hubbard, K-12 science/STEM instructional specialist for Wahluke School District. “Part of their jobs are to work together to devise, implement and build capacity for sustainable programs district-wide, while also creating NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards)-aligned, hands-on learning opportunities, that are tied to these sustainable practices like gardening and composting.”

The Green Ribbon School Award is given based on three pillars that school districts achieve. The three pillars are reducing environmental impacts and costs, improving the health and wellness of schools, students and staff and providing effective environmental and sustainability education incorporating STEM, civic skills and green career pathways. School districts apply for the award through OSPI.

“The award is important because it recognizes the hard work of students and staff at all levels across our district,” Hubbard said. “I believe that receiving this award will result in increased support for, and participation in, our programs across the district and community. We do receive an honorarium of $1,000 for the sustainability program.”

The effort to become more energy efficient and green is a district-wide effort. All schools are phasing in LED light bulbs, and student bathroom sinks are on timers. Every building has water bottle filling stations. Staffers are eligible for and involved in ride-share programs. Cafeterias use local produce, and janitorial staff use eco-friendly cleaning products.

Wahluke’s three elementary schools, Mattawa Elementary School, Morris Schott STEAM Elementary School and Saddle Mountain Elementary, are part of a K-5 science learning cooperative that is part of Yakima Educational Service District 105. Wahluke Junior High participates in Salmon in the Classroom.

The district has a Learning Garden, located at Mattawa Elementary, that all three elementary schools utilize. Students from all three schools have participated in an after-school garden club. The garden provides students with the opportunity to learn about composting on a small scale and vermiculture. In the future, all three elementary schools may have their own learning gardens.

Mattawa Elementary and Morris Schott STEAM Elementary schools collect food waste. The other schools in the district have plans to do the same in the future. An area on the high school grounds has been established that can be used for composting the waste.

Also in the future, the district would like to install milk dispensers to cut down on milk cartons.

“Milk cartons are now our number-one solid waste material by volume,” Hubbard said. “In addition to reducing our solid waste, dispensers will also help reduce the amount of wasted milk.

Other schools honored were Carl Sandburg Elementary/Discovery Community School in Kirkland, Montessori Children’s House in Redmond, Pullman Public Schools and Seattle Public Schools.

Rachal Pinkerton may be reached via email at [email protected].