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PCS Science, Environmental Literacy,

& Climate Action Committee

November 12, 2024

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Agenda

Welcome & Introductions
Updates & Announcements
Vision & Policy

Food & Nutrition
Environmental & Sustainability Education

Looking Ahead/Closing

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Instructions:

Review each square
Mark squares you have completed
When you have a BINGO, proudly proclaim, "no burnout!"
Smile and receive accolades from others

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Updates & Announcements

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Green Ribbon Vision and Incentive

The Green Ribbon Program is a recognition and award program that incentivizes whole system transformational change for schools and districts to engage in environmental and climate action across every aspect of a school community.

Interactive Image: https://www.plt.org/greenschools-poster/

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Operationalizing Framework

Explore Framework at → www.tinyurl.com/4CsECAFramework

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Prioritization Through Committees and Tasks Forces

Explore Resources at → www.tinyurl.com/AYGreenCommittees

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2025 GRS Application Complete!

LINK HERE to Review

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Juli Miller, Program Manager

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Link to

Argus-Courier Article

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Community Meetings:

McNear: 11/12/24 @ 5:00 PM in the Multi
Penngrove: 11/20/24 @ 5:00 PM in the Library
McKinley & PACS: 11/20/24 @ 6:15 PM in the Multi
Petaluma Junior High: 12/2/24 @ 5:00 PM in the Library
Petaluma High School: 12/2/24 @ 6:30 PM in the Library
Kenilworth Junior High: 12/3/24 @ 5:00 PM in the Library
McDowell: 12/4/24 @ 5:00 PM in the Multi-Purpose
Grant: 12/4/24 @ 6:30 PM in the MPR
San Antonio / Valley Oaks: 12/5/24 @ 5:00 PM in the Multi
Casa Grande High School: 12/5/24 @ 6:30 PM in the Library
Cherry Valley: 12/9/24 @ 5:00 PM in the Library
Valley Vista: 1/21/25 @ 5:00 PM in the Multi

Link to Full Message with additional details

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Deb Fox, Climate Action Manager

dfox@cityofpetaluma.org

Electrification and Efficiency. Retrofit 85% of existing homes and businesses to all-electric by 2030 by partnering with BayREN, utilities, schools, and other partners to implement a direct install program for energy efficiency and electrification improvements.

Transportation:

Transportation Demand Management (TDM) and parking management for schools. Partner with Petaluma schools to voluntarily implement TDM plans and parking management strategies.
Active transportation activation and education. Work with Petaluma City Schools, Waugh, and Old Adobe School Districts to ensure school bus and school pool (by carpool, walk, and bike) programs are widespread, include Safe Routes to School. Determine whether expanding neighborhood school allocation could reduce crosstown travel.
Petaluma transit service. Expand and improve Petaluma Transit and shared mobility services to be more accessible, affordable, and timely through:

Partner with Petaluma City Schools, Waugh, and Old Adobe School Districts to promote transit youth through free passes and gamified outreach such as bus route scavenger hunts and bus shelter student art contests.
Electric vehicle charging infrastructure strategy. Develop an EV charging infrastructure strategy focusing on workplaces, schools, and multi-unit dwellings aligned with utility and State provided incentives and focused initially on disadvantaged populations.

Waste:

Partner with schools to reduce food waste such as through share tables, no trays, and flexible and right-size ordering.
Partner with groups (such as the Downtown Association, Cool Petaluma, Petaluma City Schools, and others) to encourage local restaurants, catering companies, and school and workplace cafeterias to increase menu offerings with less meat and dairy. Use the Blue Zone Project as an example.

Natural Systems and Sequestration:

Starting in 2024, partner with community organizations in Petaluma, such as ReLeaf, to coordinate tree planting on land use types where the City does not have jurisdiction (i.e. private property and schools).
Assess the amount and quality of schools’ open spaces. Identify schools in DACs that should be prioritized for greening projects.
Partner with the school district to advocate for CA DGS to establish landscape design, hardscape, soil, and stormwater management standards, and plant palettes that prioritize carbon sequestration.
Student Education/Citizen Science Opportunities -
By 2027, partner with Petaluma Wetlands Alliance, Point Blue Conservation Science, and local schools and universities to create the biodiversity index, conduct education in schools, and participate in other community outreach efforts.
conduct neighborhood asset and boundary mapping exercises for Petaluma neighborhoods.
community volunteers to collect place-based data (i.e. observational studies of the shade and trees in public places).

Plant walks. Partner with ReLeaf Petaluma, Cool Petaluma, or other organizations to host neighborhood “plant walks” to educate community members on native plants

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Blueprint for Climate Action

~What it means for schools~

Electrification and Efficiency

Energy efficiency and electrification improvements

Transportation

Shift how students and staff get to school
EV Charging

Natural Systems and Sequestration

Trees, gardens and landscapes

Resource Consumption

Food waste reduction

Electrification and Efficiency. Retrofit 85% of existing homes and businesses to all-electric by 2030 by partnering with BayREN, utilities, schools, and other partners to implement a direct install program for energy efficiency and electrification improvements.

Transportation:

Transportation Demand Management (TDM) and parking management for schools. Partner with Petaluma schools to voluntarily implement TDM plans and parking management strategies.
Active transportation activation and education. Work with Petaluma City Schools, Waugh, and Old Adobe School Districts to ensure school bus and school pool (by carpool, walk, and bike) programs are widespread, include Safe Routes to School. Determine whether expanding neighborhood school allocation could reduce crosstown travel.
Petaluma transit service. Expand and improve Petaluma Transit and shared mobility services to be more accessible, affordable, and timely through:

Partner with Petaluma City Schools, Waugh, and Old Adobe School Districts to promote transit youth through free passes and gamified outreach such as bus route scavenger hunts and bus shelter student art contests.
Electric vehicle charging infrastructure strategy. Develop an EV charging infrastructure strategy focusing on workplaces, schools, and multi-unit dwellings aligned with utility and State provided incentives and focused initially on disadvantaged populations.

Waste:

Partner with schools to reduce food waste such as through share tables, no trays, and flexible and right-size ordering.
Partner with groups (such as the Downtown Association, Cool Petaluma, Petaluma City Schools, and others) to encourage local restaurants, catering companies, and school and workplace cafeterias to increase menu offerings with less meat and dairy. Use the Blue Zone Project as an example.

Natural Systems and Sequestration:

Starting in 2024, partner with community organizations in Petaluma, such as ReLeaf, to coordinate tree planting on land use types where the City does not have jurisdiction (i.e. private property and schools).
Assess the amount and quality of schools’ open spaces. Identify schools in DACs that should be prioritized for greening projects.
Partner with the school district to advocate for CA DGS to establish landscape design, hardscape, soil, and stormwater management standards, and plant palettes that prioritize carbon sequestration.
Student Education/Citizen Science Opportunities -
By 2027, partner with Petaluma Wetlands Alliance, Point Blue Conservation Science, and local schools and universities to create the biodiversity index, conduct education in schools, and participate in other community outreach efforts.
conduct neighborhood asset and boundary mapping exercises for Petaluma neighborhoods.
community volunteers to collect place-based data (i.e. observational studies of the shade and trees in public places).

Plant walks. Partner with ReLeaf Petaluma, Cool Petaluma, or other organizations to host neighborhood “plant walks” to educate community members on native plants

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Blueprint for Climate Action

~What it means for schools~

Citizen Science Opportunities

Biodiversity index
Asset and boundary mapping neighborhoods
Plant walks
Observational/place based data collection

Learn more: City of Petaluma Climate Ready website

Electrification and Efficiency. Retrofit 85% of existing homes and businesses to all-electric by 2030 by partnering with BayREN, utilities, schools, and other partners to implement a direct install program for energy efficiency and electrification improvements.

Transportation:

Transportation Demand Management (TDM) and parking management for schools. Partner with Petaluma schools to voluntarily implement TDM plans and parking management strategies.
Active transportation activation and education. Work with Petaluma City Schools, Waugh, and Old Adobe School Districts to ensure school bus and school pool (by carpool, walk, and bike) programs are widespread, include Safe Routes to School. Determine whether expanding neighborhood school allocation could reduce crosstown travel.
Petaluma transit service. Expand and improve Petaluma Transit and shared mobility services to be more accessible, affordable, and timely through:

Partner with Petaluma City Schools, Waugh, and Old Adobe School Districts to promote transit youth through free passes and gamified outreach such as bus route scavenger hunts and bus shelter student art contests.
Electric vehicle charging infrastructure strategy. Develop an EV charging infrastructure strategy focusing on workplaces, schools, and multi-unit dwellings aligned with utility and State provided incentives and focused initially on disadvantaged populations.

Waste:

Partner with schools to reduce food waste such as through share tables, no trays, and flexible and right-size ordering.
Partner with groups (such as the Downtown Association, Cool Petaluma, Petaluma City Schools, and others) to encourage local restaurants, catering companies, and school and workplace cafeterias to increase menu offerings with less meat and dairy. Use the Blue Zone Project as an example.

Natural Systems and Sequestration:

Starting in 2024, partner with community organizations in Petaluma, such as ReLeaf, to coordinate tree planting on land use types where the City does not have jurisdiction (i.e. private property and schools).
Assess the amount and quality of schools’ open spaces. Identify schools in DACs that should be prioritized for greening projects.
Partner with the school district to advocate for CA DGS to establish landscape design, hardscape, soil, and stormwater management standards, and plant palettes that prioritize carbon sequestration.
Student Education/Citizen Science Opportunities -
By 2027, partner with Petaluma Wetlands Alliance, Point Blue Conservation Science, and local schools and universities to create the biodiversity index, conduct education in schools, and participate in other community outreach efforts.
conduct neighborhood asset and boundary mapping exercises for Petaluma neighborhoods.
community volunteers to collect place-based data (i.e. observational studies of the shade and trees in public places).

Plant walks. Partner with ReLeaf Petaluma, Cool Petaluma, or other organizations to host neighborhood “plant walks” to educate community members on native plants

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Citywide Event!

Sunday, May 4

PCS + City of Petaluma + Cool Petaluma and more!

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Kirsten Franklin,

PCS Environmental Literacy Coordinator

(special assignment)

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How can PCS provide teachers with support and resources to meaningfully integrate Environmental Literacy and Climate Change content into their instruction?

1. Use the Green Ribbon Schools application as a vehicle to recognise the good work already happening and as a guide for developing environmental literacy and a district culture of sustainability so that all PCS students graduate environmentally literate.

2. Survey and align environmental education partners at each grade level (classroom presentations and field trips.)

3. Provide curriculum and professional development resources for teachers.

kfranklin@petk12.org

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Environmental Literacy at McNear- to date

The 3 Pillars at McNear:

Inquiry, exploration, and data collection of the natural environment on campus.
A grade level vertical alignment of partnerships with Environmental Education providers to support environmental literacy through classroom presentations and/or field trips.
Signature grade level environmental literacy projects from existing units or designed by teachers to align with Twig or TCI science curriculum.

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PD Opportunity

& Some Curriculum Resources

McNear Environmental Literacy 2024-2025 Monthly Themes, Lessons, and Resources
Climate Change Resources for TK-8
Naturalist Ed Series: Become an Osborn Natu ralist - Spring 2025
SunWise Curriculum grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8
EPA-Sun Safety
Sustainability Lesson Clearinghouse
TEK - Save California Salmon- High School
RedBud Resource Group
November 1, 2024 District PD- Environmental Literacy: Focus on Climate Change Education slide deck

Info about AB 285, climate ed resource links

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New Survey Opportunity for Reading and Language Arts Educators

A big thank you to Fawn Canady, an ECCLPs PK-12 Teaching & Learning Committee member ,for sharing this unique opportunity to contribute to critical climate change education research. Fawn and her colleagues, Catherine Lammert from Texas Tech University and Rich Novack, a Connecticut educator and Writing Project leader, invite Reading and Language Arts (RLA) teachers to take a survey on how they are incorporating climate change topics into their classrooms. Help shape the future of climate literacy in RLA education by participating and sharing this survey widely across K-12 and higher education networks. Learn more and access the survey here.

ECCLPs Green Job Toolkit!

Explore the rapidly growing world of green jobs with the Green Jobs Toolkit, led by environmental advocate Kristy Drutman. This month's feature covers key skills for entering the green workforce, including sustainability principles, environmental regulations, and essential technical skills. Whether you're just starting or looking to pivot your career, this is a great resource to help you get on the path to a future in the Green Space. Click here to explore the Green Careers Toolkit!

ECCLPS Newsletter

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Focus on Policy

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Systems Change: Action = Hope

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Areas of Policy Focus

Instructional Program

Curriculum & Professional Development
Environmental Literacy
Mental Health & Climate Anxiety

Energy, Facilities, & Waste

Electricity, Gas, Water
Waste management, 3 bin system
Sustainable construction, decarbonization

Food & Nutrition

Zero waste
Healthy foods

Transportation

District bus fleet, additional student transportation
Walking, Biking

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Breakout Groups

GROUP ONE: Food & Nutrition

GROUP TWO: Environmental Literacy & Climate Change Curriculum

Review draft Vision & Goals
Discuss and provide feedback

[ 45 Minutes ]

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Breakout Groups: Focus Questions

Policy purpose: Is it clear?
Policy feasibility: Is it feasible to implement & support?
Policy success: How will success be measured?

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Climate Justice Website (Portland Public Schools)
Portland Public Schools Board Policy (2022)
SFUSD Carbon Reduction Plan (2020)
School Board Member Toolkit - Undaunted
Examples of Carbon Neutral School District Resolutions
Parkway Schools (Missouri) - sustainability data dashboards
New Buildings Institute

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Looking Ahead

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Next Meeting

February 4, 2025

3:30-5:00pm

Location TBD

Focus on POLICY (review draft, finalize feedback
Updates & Annoucements

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Closing Circle

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HOPE

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Once we start to act, hope is everywhere.

Greta Thunberg (2018)

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