Howell School District Achieves Bronze Sustainable Jersey Honor

HOWELL, NJ — The Howell Township Public School District have achieved bronze certification in the Sustainable Jersey for Schools program.

All 12 of the district's schools met stringent requirements to achieve the certification, and are among 108 schools that earned certification in 2019.

Achieving certification were Adelphia Elementary, Aldrich Elementary, Ardena Elementary, Greenville Elementary, Griebling Elementary, Land O’Pines Elementary, Memorial Elementary, Newbury Elementary, Ramtown Elementary, Taunton Elementary, Middle School North, and Middle School South.

Sustainable Jersey for Schools, a program for pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade public schools in New Jersey, is voluntary, but achieving certification takes commitment and collaborative effort. Each school that is certified at the bronze level must submit documentation to show it has completed a balanced portfolio of the program’s sustainability actions, attaining a minimum of 150 points. Currently, a total of 872 schools and 337 school districts are participating in the Sustainable Jersey for Schools program overall.

"I commend the teachers, administrators, staff, parents and students for their hard work and dedication — it’s truly paying off," said Randall Solomon, executive director of Sustainable Jersey. "The 2019 schools that have achieved Sustainable Jersey for Schools certification are leading the way to a more sustainable New Jersey. I’ve seen time and again, when schools and our young people are given direction and support, they’re powerful catalysts for change. Becoming certified with Sustainable Jersey for Schools is a significant achievement."

To date, 5,079 sustainability actions were completed by schools and districts participating in the Sustainable Jersey for Schools program — from performing energy audits and boosting recycling efforts to integrating sustainability into student learning and promoting student and staff wellness.

"Sustainable schools provide a healthy environment, conserve resources and improve the well-being of the community," said Dr. Lawrence S. Feinsod, New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA) executive director. "Attaining certification is a significant accomplishment that reflects the leadership of the boards of education and their superintendents, as well as the contributions of principals, teachers, education support professionals and parents in this effort."

On October 22, 2019, the certified schools and their districts were celebrated at a reception held during NJSBA Workshop 2019 in Atlantic City.

Sustainable Jersey for Schools is a certification program for public schools in New Jersey. It was launched by Sustainable Jersey, an organization that provides tools, training and financial incentives to support and reward municipalities and schools as they pursue sustainability programs. To date, 336 school districts and 872 schools are participating in the program. The full list of participating and certified schools and school districts is available at sustainablejerseyschools.com.

Sustainable Jersey for Schools has awarded over $1.8 million in grants to schools and school districts. In 2019, Sustainable Jersey is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a year-long campaign that will include special events to educate and engage the Sustainable Jersey community and create a vision for the future.

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