Student leaders and district staff told the Bellevue School Board of Directors on April 17 that student-led projects and district partnerships have produced early sustainability wins and a roadmap for wider implementation.

Deputy Superintendent Eva Collins said the Sustainability Committee — led by students, staff and community members — has focused this year on district resources, environmental safety, collective understanding and student voice. "Our students really have led the way bringing our sustainability plan to life," Collins said.

Student co-leads described completed and planned actions. Soroya Arjemand, a student leader on the committee, said the district has reduced energy use at Bellevue and Interlake high schools by switching to LED lighting and has secured funding for a pilot electric bus. The district has replaced Styrofoam and single-use plastics in cafeterias with compostable alternatives, launched a "lean-and-green" program introducing more plant-based meal options, and expanded internship opportunities tied to the Environmental Protection Agency, the committee reported.

Randy Litzenberger, a teacher at Bellevue High School and a sustainability co-lead, asked the board for continued support as the committee seeks to embed sustainability goals into each school's improvement plan and scale student involvement districtwide. Litzenberger also reported partnerships with the City of Bellevue on student transit access (including a recent distribution of ORCA cards) and with local nonprofits that assist curricular work.

Committee leads described an Earth Month plan that includes a districtwide spirit week with a campus cleanup competition, a garden-and-planting day, a "turn-off-the-lights" day, an environmental-impact survey and a "Take Action" day encouraging walking, carpooling and volunteering. The social-media team launched an account (BSD Sustainability) and held an Earth Month art contest; the horticulture program at one high school is already supplying lettuce to district lunches, presenters said.

Board members praised the student engagement and asked for practical steps to keep momentum evergreen, including mentorship structures so older students can hand projects to younger cohorts, clearer communications to engage parents and PTSA groups, and continued visibility for district capital investments such as planned photovoltaic installations. Director Phil Block called the electric-bus pilot "an opportunity" while noting the district must learn how to deploy battery buses across varied routes.

Staff and students acknowledged several areas still in planning: enhanced emergency-response training and a relief-center plan tied to the city hazard-mitigation process, and logistics for scaling composting and plant-based meal options. Maria Bassiouni (Environmental Safety lead) said evaluation and plan development for relief centers will begin next year.

The board directed staff to continue developing implementation details and reporting successes publicly so students and the community can see measurable results. "Showing students and our community how we can be successful in these environmental initiatives — which save us money and resources — is one of the critical tools we have," Director Block said.

The presentation concluded with board appreciation for student leadership and a request that staff return with implementation timelines and metrics during future budget and planning discussions.