Climate Parents of Prince George’s County
Author: Climate Parents of Prince George's
We had a great meeting this week with Director Shorter of Food and Nutrition Services, Pamela Boozer-Strother: Board Member PGCPS District 3, the William Schmidt Center, and several clubs at Eleanor Roosevelt High to discuss ways to have healthier, climate-friendly food in the schools and reduce food waste. There are no easy answers but PGCPS is taking this seriously.
Oh and EHRS has a great student led composting project going too! Go Raiders!
We provided written testimony at the November 10, 2022 Board of Education Meeting on approval of the second batch of Alternative Construction Financing (ACF) Blueprint Schools, specifically the building specifications, which were very climate friendly.
It was a beautiful day to be talking about the PGCPS Climate Change Action Plan at the Prince George’s County DOE Green Summit. We had a great time talking to residents and other organizations about the Climate Change Action Plan. It was exciting to spread the word and success.
We collaborated with the Climate Justice Wing to take the lead on submitting comments to the IAC on their Proposed 14.39.07 Public School Facilities Educational Sufficiency Standards (September 9, 2022).
We provided written testimony at the September 22, 2022 Board of Education Meeting on the second batch of Alternative Construction Financing (ACF) Blueprint Schools and on the final FY24-28 Capital Improvement Plan.
On August 18, 2022, the Prince George’s Board of Education introduced a Sustainability (Energy Use) Policy for first reader. The Sustainability Policy is intended to fulfill the requirement to develop an energy use policy under HB 630 (2021 Maryland Legislative Session). It also goes beyond the bare bones requirements of HB 630 and institutes into policy many of the recommendations from the PGCPS Climate Change Action Plan.
At the meeting we testified in favor of adoption of the Sustainability Policy, though did have several suggestions for improvements to more completely align the Sustainability Policy with the Climate Change Action Plan. You can read the written testimony here. You can also watch the oral testimony we gave.
On July 14, 2022 we testified to the Interagency Commission on School Construction (IAC) on the need for the IAC to update their rules and guidance to require school construction decisions to be made in light of full Life Cycle Cost Analyses (LCCAs) and the need to include Maryland’s statutory climate goal of net zero emissions by 2045 in its (LCCAs).
Watch the Testimony:
Read the Written Testimony Here.
CR-032-2022 – 2022-07-12 – Testimony – Climate Parents of Prince George’s
We submitted two sets of comments to the full Prince George’s County Council urging them to adopt the County Climate Action Plan. This plan is important for our work since the PGCPS Climate Change Action Plan was developed with this plan as a complement to the one developed by the County Council. You can read our comments here.
And the good news is that on July 12th the County Council passed the resolution adopting the Climate Action Plan in response to all of the positive comments submitted by the public.
We submitted two sets of comments to the Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy and Environment Committee urging them to adopt the County Climate Action Plan. This plan is important for our work since the PGCPS Climate Change Action Plan was developed with this plan as a complement to the one developed by the County Council. You can read our comments here and here.
Its not too late for you to take action too. Voice your support for the County Council to Adopt the Climate Action Plan.
On June 21 we submitted comments on the PGCPS FY 2023 Educational Facilities Master Plan (EFMP). Additionally, several parents testified at a hearing on the EFMP that evening held by PGCPS. We voiced the need for the EFMP to include the Climate Change Action Plan recommendations as part of facilities planning.
You can read our written comments here.