2024 Maryland General Assembly Testimony – Part 2

Posted on by Climate Parents of Prince George's

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The Maryland General Assembly is underway and we have been continuing our work providing support for laws that will lead to greenhouse-gas-free schools. We do this as part of the Maryland Climate Justice Wing. Here is the second set of testimony that we submitted in the 2024 legislative session.

You can see the testimony we submitted earlier in the session here.

2024 Maryland General Assembly Testimony

Posted on by Climate Parents of Prince George's

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The Maryland General Assembly is underway and we have been continuing our work providing support for laws that will lead to greenhouse gas free schools. We do this as part of the Maryland Climate Justice Wing. Here is the first set of the testimony that we are submitting in the 2024 legislative session.

  • SB 56/HB 163 – The bill allows for counties to put a surcharge on solid waste some of which could go to school climate grants. Read the testimony.
  • SB 200 “Safe Alternative Routes to Public Schools” – Helps move forward safe routes to school. Read the testimony.
  • HB 356 – Makes some instances of not stopping at a school bus stop a warning instead of a fine. Read the testimony.

If you would like to help us review more bills let please consider volunteering.

Testify at the February 15 PGPCS Budget Hearing

Posted on by Climate Parents of Prince George's

It is budget season now and PGCPS is making decisions for what 2025 will look like for our kids’ schools.  We need to make sure they are continuing to be leaders on climate action. Please sign up to speak at the February 15, hearing. We still need folks to talk about funding for climate education, low carbon foods, climate adaptation, and electric buses.  Sign up now and plan to make a difference.
Also if you need a refresher on what the operating budget is, read our November newsletter.
Sign Up to Testify

Testimony at PGCPS FY2025 Budget Hearing on January 25

Posted on by Climate Parents of Prince George's

On January 25 testimony was given on the FY25 Budget Hearing by two Climate Parents volunteers.  Nate from Eleanor Roosevelt High School spoke on the importance of PGCPS providing funding for solar installations on his school and others throughout the county and Joseph spoke on the need for funding for solar, crossing guards, and composting programs, as well as the need to take advantage of all of the federal and state grant programs that are available to schools.  You can check out the video to hear the testimony from us and other concerned residents.

There is also one more PGCPS FY25 Budget Hearing on February 15.  You should register to speak up for funding of school climate action.

Sign Up to Testify

Testimony in Favor of the Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) Ad Hoc Committee

Posted on by Climate Parents of Prince George's
On January 11, 2024, Board Members Kenneth Harris II and Pamela Boozer-Strother introduced the Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) Ad Hoc Committee to the Board of Education. We are supportive of this!
 
This would create a workgroup to provide review of the implementation of the CCAP. In particular, we think it will inform the community of the great work PGCPS staff is already doing to implement the CCAP and will get outside experts in to provide help with info on new technology and financing options.  Here is our full testimony.
You can watch the introduction here:

 

Testimony at December 4 Prince George’s House Delegation Meeting

Posted on by Climate Parents of Prince George's

We testified in favor of two bills at the the December 4 Prince George’s House Delegation Meeting

The first bill was PG 301-24, which would authorize stop sign cameras, which is important for the safety of young students that walk or bike to school.  Read the testimony.

We also spoke in favor 501-24 that would study the feasibility of relocating the Board of Education headquarters.  This would align with one of the commendaitons found in the Climate Change Action Plan. Read the testimony testimony.

 

Testimony to OBFA on FY25 Operating Budget

Posted on by Climate Parents of Prince George's

On October 25, we testified to the Prince George’s County Board of Education Operations, Budget, and Fiscal Affairs
(OBFA) Committee on the need to include important climate action items in the PGCPS FY25 operating budget. Those include:

  • Continue to fund the new sustainability/resiliency officer position.
  • Continue to fund the Student Environmental Alliance Summit.
  • Perform a comprehensive energy audit of all existing buildings.
  • Purchase solar energy through Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs).
  • Begin purchasing Electric Vehicles (EVs) and electric grounds maintenance equipment.
  • Fund a baseline assessment for food waste.
  • Provide staff funding for expansion of composting pilot programs to more schools.
  • Provide funding for maintaining natural turf fields.
  • Ensure that purchases related to school food packaging lead to less packaging that is destined to
    the landfill by switching to packaging that is compostable, recyclable, or just reduced in amount.
  • Invest in planting more native trees across the school system.

You can read the full comment letter here.

2023 Prince George’s County Green Summit

Posted on by Climate Parents of Prince George's

 

We had a great time at the Prince George’s Green Summit in Hyattsville this Saturday.  It was a great opportunity to talk about PGCPS’s Climate Change Action Plan, the progress being made, and how folks can get involved. Residents are excited to hear that composting is expanding to more schools and that an electric bus lot is being built.  They are also concerned that schools are still being built in flood zones and want to see more climate-friendly food options.

PGCPS Climate Change Action Plan Committee Year-End Report, July 2023

Posted on by Climate Parents of Prince George's

Last month PGCPS released the second progress report on Climate Change Action Plan implementation (CCAP).  Once agin they are showing great progress on many of the CCAP Focus Workgroup recommendations.  Of course, there is always need for more on this very important issue and we will continue to advocate for full implementaiton.

Read the report here.

Testimony to the IAC on May 11, 2023

Posted on by Climate Parents of Prince George's

On May 11, we testified to the Interagency Commission on School Construction (IAC) on the need to develop regulations as directed by the General Assembly in Maryland Education Code Section 5-319 to require solar installation to be analyzed for new buildings and major renovations. The IAC was very receptive to our comments and even stated they are moving towards net-zero school construction. You can watch the video and read our written statement below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lj7EqvjUOAY

Read the comments.

IAC’s response was excellent as well:

“The IAC is moving forward to implement, in coordination with all the other state agencies around the climate change requirements laid out in the recent Climate Solutions Now Act, as well as other statutes recently enacted.  We are looking forward to pushing forward with all the LEAs around net-zero of which we are able to support with a 5% state share as well as solar for other projects in school facilities. This is all part of a larger movement forward.  The IAC is fully on board with those actions.”