Dorothy Morrison, director of the Department of Sustainability and Resilience (DSR), presented the committee’s sustainability update on Oct. 29, reporting progress across curriculum, waste reduction, composting and community-engagement activities.

"We, DSR, Department of Sustainability and Resilience, are starting to plan the the Climate Leadership Summit for 2026," Morrison said, and she invited committee members to provide ideas for the summit program and format.

Key items:

- Curriculum/training: DSR is partnering with EcoAmerica to host Climate Ambassadors training on Dec. 5 (5–8 p.m.) open to PGCPS staff for professional-development credit. Morrison also described monthly office hours for work groups to support implementation and staff engagement.

- Waste reduction and composting: Morrison said an administrative procedure for waste reduction has been approved and distributed to schools with resources and slides. The district is expanding its composting program to six additional schools and has run six composting/recycling education sessions to date in partnership with the Schmidt Center.

- Community food forests and gardens: Morrison said the department is drafting an administrative procedure and legal review to address liability concerns and management standards for community gardens on school property. Regarding liability, Morrison said: "we have thought about things like, you know, soil on a property ... there's like, okay, we might want to monetize these lands. So maybe we don't wanna go ahead and say yay to the to the community gardens. But based on the internal conversations we've had, to date, there's definitely an acceptance now to be able to to open up to community gardens. But we just need to do it legally where whatever organization decides to work with us on community gardens of of of food forest will not hold the school system liable."

- Partnerships and events: Morrison listed recent engagements (Maryland Clean Energy Center, Greater Washington Regional Clean Cities Coalition and the Center for Engagement and Environmental Justice and Health) and encouraged participation in Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day (Nov. 14) and the county climate leadership summit (Nov. 20). Morrison said program staff are applying for NSBA Magna Awards (indoor air quality category) and the Maryland Sustainable Maryland Award.

Committee members asked about past inconsistent messages on gardens and liability from other parts of the district; Morrison acknowledged the inconsistency and said the AP and a proposed demonstration project will clarify roles, management and maintenance expectations for schools and partners.

Next steps: Morrison said staff will share contact information for office hours and follow up with the committee as the AP and demonstration projects are advanced.