Clayton Public School District awarded $10,000 for Sustainability Project

Clayton Public School District awarded $10,000 for sustainability project – Photo: Anne Marie Peracchio, Chairperson, Sustainable Jersey Board of Trustees, Michael Rollins, Field Representative in the Organizational Development Unit, New Jersey Education Association, Lisa Twomey, Special Projects Coordinator, Clayton Public School District, Steve Beatty, Secretary Treasurer, New Jersey Education Association, Erik Dahms, Middle School Teacher, Clayton Public School District and Green Team Coordinator, Jamie Quinn, High School Teacher, Clayton Public School District and President of Clayton Education Association and Randall Solomon, Director, Sustainable Jersey.     

Clayton, NJ – Press Release 2/28/2019

Sustainable Jersey for Schools and the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA)

announced that Clayton Public School District has been awarded a $10,000

Sustainable Jersey for

Schools grant. Eleven $10,000 grants and thirty-six $2,000 grants were distributed to fund a variety of

projects including vertical aeroponic tower gardens, student green team capacity building, outdoor

classrooms, innovative recycling efforts and more.

Nikolaos Koutsogiannis, Clayton Public School District Superintendent said, “We are thrilled to receive

the Sustainable Jersey for Schools grant!

This grant will enable us to install water-bottle filling stations at

each of our schools while supporting our efforts to build a culture in our District that is sustainable and

will continue to be so for years to come.

We will combine efforts with our Green Team to promote a

District-wide “Rethink Your Drink” campaign to emphasize the importance of choosing water as a daily

beverage while encouraging students and staff to assume ecological responsibility in using refillable

containers.” The project will fund

the purchase and installation of water-bottle filling stations at each of

the District’s three schools in order to increase access to fresh clean water and reduce daily water bottle

waste. The District will promote the nationally recognized “Rethink Your Drink” campaign utilizing age

appropriate curriculum and activities across all grade levels.

With this contribution NJEA has provided $1 million to support a sustainable future for children across

the state through the Sustainable Jersey for Schools program. “Every day in the news we hear more and

more about the importance of recycling and creating eco-friendly products, as well as the value of using

sustainable resources,” said NJEA Vice President Sean M. Spiller. “Our job as educators is to prepare the

next generation with the skills, information, and resources to become engaged citizens and leaders in

our efforts to save and protect our planet. NJEA is honored to continue to work with Sustainable Jersey

on this important program that directs resources into our schools.” In addition to the grant funding, NJEA

supports Sustainable Jersey for Schools as a program underwriter.

“Our State’s students and teachers continue to inspire me with their passion for sustainability and

commitment to New Jersey’s future,” said Sustainable Jersey Executive Director Randall Solomon. “We

are proud to support their efforts with grant money to help realize their vision.” Proposals were judged

by an independent Blue-Ribbon Selection Committee. The Sustainable Jersey for Schools grants are

intended to help school districts and schools make progress toward a sustainable future in general, and

specifically toward Sustainable Jersey for Schools certification.

Clayton Public School District recently met the rigorous requirements to achieve Bronze Level

Sustainable Jersey for Schools certification. According to Nikolaos Koutsogiannis, Superintendent of

Schools, “Achieving the Bronze level of sustainability certification demonstrates the District’s

commitment to making important contributions toward establishing sustainable programs in the

community. This $10,000 Sustainability NJ award highlights the leadership and collaborative effort of our

Green Team members and supports plans for its long-term commitment to implementing

environmentally friendly practices.” According to Fran Adler, Clayton Business Administrator, “The

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District is working hard to do its part in conserving resources through daily recycling efforts and regular

strategies to reduce energy consumption and waste. The “Rethink Your Drink” campaign funded through

Sustainable NJ is another excellent opportunity to engage our students and staff in conservation efforts.”

About Sustainable Jersey for Schools:

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, 325 school

districts and 840 schools are participating in the program. Sustainable Jersey for Schools has awarded

over $1.7 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.