Commissioners Challenge Schools to "Go Green"

Macomb County Commissioners will recognize the efforts of the 71 schools from across the county which have successfully achieved “Official Michigan Green School” status at an award ceremony to be held at the Macomb Intermediate School District building in Clinton Township at 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 22nd, 2010.

More than 80 public and private, K-12 schools submitted applications prior to the March 1, 2010 deadline for certification for the 2009-10 academic year. Applications were reviewed for adherence to program criteria, set forth in P.A. 146 (2006) and the optional additional enhancements which created higher designations of “Emerald” or “Evergreen” for those wishing to participate in more activities.

Criteria included recycling paper, newspapers, magazines and batteries, creating a birdhouse habitat and other projects to make schools more energy efficient and environmentally friendly.

"We're very pleased with the response and enthusiasm for our Michigan Green Schools Program,"said Brian Brdak of New Baltimore, who sponsored the resolution creating the county's partnership with MISD to start the program in the county. "Educating our kids about the real things they can do to help out like recycling and saving energy is one of the most important ways they will learn to protect the environment for the future."

County Commissioners will be on hand to present the 2009-10 Macomb County Green Schools representatives with a flag and certificate, which is signed by Macomb County Board Chair Paul Gieleghem, the Governor and Lieutenant Governor. All 71 schools will participate and most school districts will have representation from superintendents’ offices or by school board officers. In addition, there will be several educational resource providers available to offer support and guidance to educators for the upcoming year.

The Macomb County Green Schools Program first launched in 2008-09; now in its second academic year, participation has nearly doubled. In November 2008, the Macomb County Board of Commissioners and the Macomb Intermediate School District challenged all schools to become a Green school. The deadline for schools to get Green school status was March 2009. Gov. Jennifer Granholm officially established the program when she signed Public Act 146 into law on May 22, 2006 to encourage schools to meet enough environmental goals to be designated a Green School. No more applications are being accepted at this time.

For more information or to see the list of Green Schools, please click here.