Parents ask North Clackamas board to add ‘sustainability’ to district core values

Celeste Lewis, liaison from the EcoSchool Network, urged the North Clackamas School District Board of Directors on Nov. 13 to add “sustainability” to the district’s stated core values and to include EcoSchool Network volunteers in the district’s next strategic planning process.

“With all this solid effort, we would like to ask you for the next obvious step, which is to expand your current core values by adding sustainability alongside equity, relationships, integrity, and care,” Lewis said. She said EcoSchool volunteers support projects in 12 of the district’s 18 elementary schools, citing recycling campaigns, clothing swaps, Earth Day events, idle-free zones, bike buses and student green teams.

Lewis said the group has trained parents to work with classroom teachers and highlighted examples including a classroom game explaining the statewide recycling system and clothing swaps at El Puente. She told the board EcoSchool Network submitted written testimony and handed out a flyer with more information and offered to participate in the district’s strategic planning to “weed sustainability into all district aspects.”

Board chair thanked Lewis and reminded attendees that community comments reflect speakers’ views and not the board’s positions. No formal board action or motion to change the district’s core values occurred during the meeting; the request will remain part of the public record and could be considered during strategic planning or policy discussions in coming months.

The board will revisit policy and strategic-planning items at future meetings; Lewis asked the district to contact EcoSchool Network as those processes begin.