By Donald Gilpin

With sustainability remaining a high priority in the new school year, Princeton Public Schools (PPS) reports that all six of its schools have achieved Sustainable Jersey for Schools certification.

Princeton High School (PHS), Princeton Middle School (PMS), Community Park Elementary (CP), and Riverside Elementary have met the requirements to achieve certification this year, joining Littlebrook Elementary and Johnson Park Elementary, who won certification in 2022. There are 375 certified schools in New Jersey.

“We are all incredibly proud of our schools’ commitment to sustainability and all the hard work that has gone into achieving this certification,” said PPS Interim Superintendent Kathie Foster, as quoted in a press release. “By integrating sustainable practices into our buildings, operations, and curriculum, we are not only reducing our footprint but also inspiring our students to be the changemakers of tomorrow.”

Schools participating in the certification process create “Green Teams” to help coordinate “priority actions” to enhance sustainability and earn points towards bronze and silver certification by Sustainable Jersey for Schools. All the PPS schools have earned more than the required 150 points for bronze certification and are working towards the 350 points required for the highest level silver certification.

PMS with its hydroponics tower and eSTEAM Saturday Scholars Program, and CP with its pedestrian and bike safety events and the Garden State on your Plate program both achieved 160 points this year.

Each school also gained points for initiatives taken at the District level, including tracking energy at each school, implementing energy efficiency upgrades, developing sustainability and safe routes to school policies, participating in professional development for sustainability, monitoring the district’s carbon footprint, using greener cleaning supplies and equipment, offering food scraps collection in each school’s kitchen, student participation in arts programs, and a staff wellness program.

PHS and Riverside, getting on track towards silver certification, have committed to renewing certification every year. PHS gained 40 points this year for a total of 230 points for their raised beds, aquaponics and greenhouse gardens, sophomore volunteer requirement, Robeson House tile project, classroom waste audit, prom dress collection, courtyard renovation supported by the Princeton Education Foundation (PEF), and a green infrastructure plan in collaboration with the Watershed Institute.

Riverside gained 35 points for a total of 215 points for their school gardens, pedestrian and bike safety events, use of reusable dishes at PTO events, TREX plastic bags collection, book swap events, planting of trees by the PEF, and the green infrastructure plan from the Watershed Institute.

The voluntary certification program was developed by Sustainable Jersey for Schools in 2014 to help public schools to implement sustainability best practices.

“As school districts across the country struggle to make progress on sustainability goals, New Jersey’s schools are taking action and providing evidence of implementation,” said Sustainable Jersey Executive Director Randall Solomon. “With 67 percent of New Jersey public school districts participating and 375 certified schools, there’s an incredible opportunity and potential for change.”

He continued, “Thank you, teachers, administrators, staff, parents, and students, for your commitment and vision for the future. Becoming certified with Sustainable Jersey for Schools is a significant achievement.”

Jenny Ludmer, program manager at Sustainable Princeton, which has been assisting PPS with its sustainability efforts, noted that certification requires a team effort with business, maintenance, and facilities departments as well as educators, parents and students all involved.

“Sustainable Princeton is thrilled to be working with each of these entities to assist in the certification process and to investigate additional opportunities for action,” she said.

Ludmer went on to point out that recent facilities upgrades including new white roofs, heat pumps, new HVAC, and high efficiency boilers in the schools will be part of future recertification applications.

Looking to the future Ludmer added, “Personally, I’d love to see their fleet electrified, more trees on campus, and potential demonstration rain gardens, which is why we continue to seek grants.”

She said she’d also like to see all six schools with Green Team leaders on the PTO, helping to make activities and events more sustainable and to organize sustainable events like book swaps, anti-idling awareness, or walk/bike-to-school activities.

The PPS/Sustainable Princeton press release praised Princeton’s six increasingly sustainable certified schools. “As leading examples of sustainability excellence, these schools provide outstanding learning opportunities for their students and join an established cohort of recognized schools across the state,” it said.