Sustainability
SCUSD won a California Green Ribbon Schools Bronze Award!
The SCUSD won a California Green Ribbon Schools Bronze Award in 2024. The Green Ribbon Award commemorates the sustainable qualities the District has incorporated into the facilities, operations, and environmental literacy.
Environmental Literacy and Sustainability Committee
The district has been working on a multi-year effort to respond to the SCUSD Board of Trustees’ requested actions through their Climate Change and Sustainability Resolution and Water Conservation Resolution. In fall 2019, SCUSD’s then-superintendent convened a group of high school students to create and present a climate change resolution to the Board of Trustees. Over the subsequent months, and despite the disruption of a worldwide pandemic and distance learning, the student-led group formed three subcommittees to work on sections of the resolution, work began to align the proposed actions of the resolution with the district’s new strategic vision and plan, and teachers joined the students to offer insights to proposed facts and actions highlighted in the resolution.
The Board of Trustees adopted the resolution in spring 2022. In adopting the resolution, the board called for the formation of the district’s first Environmental Literacy and Sustainability Committee with students, teachers, administrators, and staff as members to develop indicators of progress in key areas, including the use of water, power, fossil fuels, recycling, and waste management, and to create a plan to identify recommended actions to be implemented.
In fall 2023, the district and committee began work with its environmental technical assistance partner, Ten Strands, to utilize information from an environmental and climate action baseline assessment (completed in spring 2023) and data from the campus sustainability dashboard, and early implementation of projects from the draft environmental and climate action plan, to submit a California Green Ribbon Application.
Sustainability Dashboard
The district Sustainability Dashboard tracks the water, electrical and gas usage district-wide and per campus per month. The dashboard is updated every few months. Please see the video and PDF guide below on how to use the dashboard.
Sustainability Dashboard
Video user guide for the Sustainability Dashboard
PDF user guide for the Sustainability Dashboard
Lesson Plans
Water Conservation
Santa Clara Unified School District recognizes the importance of water as a precious and fundamental resource, which is why the district has made it our focus to integrate meaningful and necessary water-saving practices within our leadership and daily behaviors. The water conservation efforts found in our school communities help to reduce the stress on our region. In addition to reducing the environmental strain on the regional water supply, the financial savings can be substantial. To ensure Santa Clara Unified School District is making impactful strides toward becoming a leader in water conservation, the following four goals were created.
Goal 1: Creating Environmentally Conscious School Sites
The District is collaborating with school sites and students to create green teams and to ensure any new construction and modernization is environmentally conscious.
Goal 2: Installment of Water Conserving Landscape
The Grounds Department has replaced turf at many schools and installed drought-tolerant plants. The District received reimbursement grants from the City of Santa Clara. Several examples are below.
Buchser Middle School
Hughes Elementary School
Scott Lane Elementary School in Progress
Montague Elementary School After
Montague Elementary School Before
Goal 3: Community / Student Education
For water reduction resources for teachers, classrooms, and afterschool learning, visit the link below.
https://www.valleywater.org/learning-center/water-education-programs-and-events
Brown is the New Green signs from the City of Santa Clara have been installed throughout the District.
Goal 4: Water Conservation Policy
The Board of Trustees approved the Water Conservation Resolution in June of 2021.
As water reduction efforts increase, usage data will be posted to this website.
- Water Reduction Resolution #21-31
- Climate Awareness Resolution
- Water Policy is in progress and will be created with staff and student input.
- For water reduction resources for teachers, classrooms, and afterschool learning, visit this link.