Student climate teams urge Sequoia Union to adopt climate impact assessments and dashboard

On Earth Day, student leaders from the district‑wide sustainability committee presented a policy package asking the board to institutionalize climate impact assessments for district decisions and to create a public climate dashboard and climate action plan.

Noah Gallatin, an 11th grader at Carlmont, said a climate‑literate populace is necessary to empower future voters and described the resolution as central to that aim. Student committee leaders Iris Yan and Supriti outlined concrete items in the 2026 resolution: an annual electrification audit feeding a climate dashboard, biannual student surveys to measure environmental literacy, waste‑reduction efforts and curricular integration of climate topics in freshman biology.

Trustees asked about stakeholder input, the practicality of biannual surveys and how the district would implement assessments for procurements (for example, device purchases). Student presenters said the committee is largely student‑led but had sought advice from the county office, district food service and local climate organizations, and said many elements could be implemented with modest district spending and county/state resources.

Trustees praised the student work and asked follow‑up questions about proctor training, survey timing and whether nonstudent partners were formally part of the committee. The board did not take a final vote on the resolution at this meeting but placed it on the agenda for review and possible action at a future date.