Student group asks Durham board to back state ‘polluter‑pay’ campaign and adopt local green initiatives

Students from the Sunrise Movement Hub at Durham School of the Arts urged the school board on Thursday to pass a resolution endorsing state‑level “polluter‑pay” legislation and to pursue low‑cost local climate initiatives. Aiden Mendoza Maya, recruitment lead for the Sunrise hub, outlined a set of district actions the students want the board to adopt and said they will forward a draft resolution to the superintendent. Requests and rationale: the students asked the district to: complete a comprehensive environmental assessment of district facilities and operations; develop a district‑wide climate disaster plan in partnership with local government and nonprofit partners; establish a committee including students and local climate experts to expand climate curriculum; create career pathways tied to climate jobs; and include climate mitigation and adaptation goals in the superintendent’s annual evaluation and the district strategic plan. State advocacy: students asked the board to support state legislation to create a climate super‑fund, funded by large polluters, that could provide resources for school green initiatives such as clean energy upgrades and sustainable meals. The student presenters recognized budget constraints and included a menu of low‑cost options the district could pursue while advocating at the state level. Board response and next steps: the students asked Superintendent Lewis to forward the resolution to the city and state officials listed in their draft. Board members listened and encouraged follow up; no formal board resolution or vote took place during the meeting.