Deputy Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services Sue Swenson and ED-Green Ribbon Schools Director Andrea Falken will visit schools in southeastern Wisconsin on Thursday-Friday, Aug. 22-23 on the next leg of the 'Education Built To Last' Facilities Best Practices Tour.
They will be joined by state and local officials to tour the schools and see and discuss ways that school facilities can enhance the conditions of learning. The schools and district to be visited are: Purdy Elementary School in Fort Atkinson, Dimensions of Learning Academy in Kenosha and Westlawn Elementary School in Cedarburg, which have received the ED-GRS award; and the Fort Atkinson School District, winner of the District Sustainability Award.
The visits will include tours of school buildings and grounds, conversations with students and teachers regarding environmental education, health and sustainability, and discussions with key partners and energy management personnel. In addition, all state and district facilities personnel from the region are invited to attend the opening panel and participate in a listening session at Rockwell Elementary School in Fort Atkinson. The listening session will allow facilities experts in the region to share best practices on school facilities and provide input to the U.S. Education Department.
This part of the Department's 'Education Built to Last Facilities Best Practices Tour' will feature schools that exhibit best practices in school building and grounds design, construction, operations and management to support health, equity, educational outcomes, energy efficiency and cost savings in our nation’s public schools. The Department will also visit ED-Green Ribbon Schools on the West Coast the week of Sept. 16.
The tour began in mid-July with visits to several schools in rural Alabama. At the end of July, the tour team wound its way through the New England area, stopping at schools in Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts. On Aug. 13, the tour made stops at four schools in New York and New Jersey.
The ED-Green Ribbon Schools and District Sustainability Awardees are recognized for reducing their environmental impact, including energy use, waste and water; creating healthy learning environments and fostering wellness practices; and providing effective environmental education that prepares students to succeed in the 21st century, including STEM, green careers and civics. A report with highlights on the 78 honorees can be found here. More information on the federal recognition award can be found here.