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
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.
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