Whitefish added to U.S. Department of Education's Green Ribbon Schools

Whitefish School District was added to the list of the nation’s Green Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education on Thursday.

While individual Montana schools have been recognized by the program in the past, Whitefish is the first school district in the state to become part of the Green Ribbon program. The district includes a high school, alternative high school, junior high and elementary.

Across the country, 45 schools, nine school districts, and nine postsecondary institutions were honored for their innovative efforts to reduce environmental impact and utility costs, improve health and wellness and ensure effective sustainability education.

The honorees were named from a pool of candidates nominated by 28 states and the Department of Defense Department of Education Activity. Forty-four percent of the honorees serve a disadvantaged student body and 14 percent are rural.

Whitefish School District’s nomination packet outlined district-wide efforts in the areas of energy, water and grounds, reduced waste, alternative transportation, environmental health, nutrition and fitness, interdisciplinary learning, science, technology, engineering, math and civic knowledge.

One of the highlights of the district’s future “green” efforts will be in building a Whitefish School District Center for Sustainability and Entrepreneurship. The goal is constructing “a zero-net energy building,” on more than 3 acres of land at Pine Avenue and East Fourth Street as a place where students will be able to learn the latest sustainable practices and technologies in industries like agriculture or forestry.

Coming up in June and in the fall, Whitefish School District will lead other schools through a four-part training series on energy management and sustainability practices through the Montana Schools — Better Buildings, Better Learning program.

For more information about the U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools program visit www2.ed.gov/programs/green-ribbon-schools.

To learn more about the Better Buildings Better Learning Cohort program contact Thomas Allen with the U.S. Green Building Council Montana at usgbc.mt@gmail.com.