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Board adopts sustainability resolution, asks staff to pursue cost‑saving pilots and green curriculum
Summary
The board approved a broad sustainability resolution directing SFUSD to pursue energy and water efficiency, waste diversion, green curriculum and a Green Schools Advisory Committee; staff highlighted pilots (LED lighting, water filtration, server consolidation) that could reduce costs and urged external grants to cover upfront expenses.
The San Francisco Board of Education on Feb. 9 adopted a comprehensive sustainability resolution asking district staff to develop policies and programs on buildings, procurement, transportation, food service, waste diversion, school yards and environmental education.
Nick Kastner, director of sustainability, outlined recent district actions — server consolidation that reduced energy use, green cleaning pilots at 40 schools, tree plantings, rainwater harvesting demonstrations, a pilot to switch from bottled to filtered tap water, and new public information sites for teachers and the public. Kastner said many measures can lower operating costs but often require upfront work or external grants.
Board members discussed specific items in the resolution, including phasing out the district’s purchase of bottled water (the adopted language phases out purchases by departments while preserving vending contracts and allowances for field trips), ensuring water fountains are safe to drink from (staff said only a small number of schools have fixtures requiring replacement and those are being addressed), and the practicalities of composting and waste‑diversion programs. Staff said the city mandate did not automatically apply to the district but a diversion incentive built into contracts offered a financial imperative to raise diversion rates.
The resolution asks staff to form a Green Schools Advisory Committee, publish aspirational goals, invite departments to take specific steps and seek partnerships and grants to fund capital needs. The board approved the resolution with roll call (vote recorded as 6 ayes). Kastner said many proposed actions would be implemented as resources permit and that outside funding would be sought to cover initial costs where possible.
Next steps: staff will move forward with pilot projects and a district‑wide plan; the sustainability office will coordinate with buildings and grounds, nutrition services and custodial staff on implementation and return to the board with budget and operational recommendations.
