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Students and staff urge Bellevue Public Schools to ramp up sustainability efforts; board hears recycling and tray-cost estimates
Summary
Public commenters and district staff discussed sustainability goals in the district strategic plan, district waste and recycling data, estimated costs to replace styrofoam trays, and grant-funded playground and outdoor fitness projects.
Students and district staff urged the Bellevue Public Schools Board of Education on May 5 to accelerate sustainability work from waste reduction and recycling to cafeteria tray changes, and administrators reviewed district waste data and grant-supported projects.
Alyssa Osborne, identifying herself with Students for Sustainability, urged the board to prioritize sustainability in the strategic plan and recommended elementary environmental clubs, compost programs and replacing styrofoam cafeteria trays. “The National Institute of Health reports that styrofoam has been linked to cancer, poor vision and hearing, and increased memory loss,” Osborne said during public comment.
District data and costs District staff told the board the district produced just over 2,000 tons of waste last year: roughly 1,500–1,600 tons of trash and about 450 tons of recycling (cardboard and commingled materials). Administrators said the district currently focuses recycling collection on cardboard because cardboard has a market value and other materials (for example, many plastics or glass) would incur processing fees from haulers.
On cafeteria trays, the board heard two cost figures: administrators said a prior district-wide switch away from styrofoam had cost “over a hundred thousand dollars,” while the director of food services provided an estimate specific to the two high schools of about $9,600 to replace trays there. Administrators cautioned that campus kitchen layouts limit the feasibility of reusable-plate programs at scale.
Grants and projects Administrators discussed grant activity tied to military-connected students and other programs. They said a grant named Project Shape Up (a program discussed in prior meetings) had been terminated but that much of the grant work was complete; the administration reported that the district had secured nearly $1 million in outdoor fitness equipment via grant funding for programs and play areas and that some grant-funded curriculum and paraprofessional supports continue.
Public comment and board response Teacher and community commenters supported district sustainability goals and recommended districtwide steps such as adopting compostable trays and leveraging school clubs. Tim Bogatz, a longtime district teacher and parent, said the community could support a sustained sustainability effort and encouraged the board to pursue a multi-year vision. The board thanked public commenters and asked staff to continue compiling information on costs and operational feasibility.
Ending No board action was taken on sustainability measures at the May 5 meeting; staff said they will continue to gather data and return with implementation options and cost estimates where appropriate.
