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Board member urges district consideration of ECHO School environmental certification
Summary
A board member proposed that Upper Adams consider ECHO School certification — a free, menu-driven environmental literacy program that is student-led and could build on current district projects such as greenhouses and Envirothon.
At the Curriculum & Operations Committee meeting, board member Nia Dalal introduced the ECHO School Certification (Pathways to Green School), outlining a voluntary, seven-step recognition program run with partner organizations that promotes student-led environmental projects and sustainable practices.
Dalal, who described prior experience with ECHO programming overseas, said the certification is menu-driven and can be scaled to school or district level: "It's just as much or as little as you would want to be involved in," she said, and noted the program is free to register and offers incremental recognition (bronze, silver, gold, green).
Why it matters: District speakers pointed out many existing programs align with ECHO goals — greenhouse work, Envirothon teams, intermediate-school environmental camps, and agriculture partnerships — and suggested the certification could formalize and showcase that work while providing STEM/STEAM and community-engagement benefits.
Questions and next steps: Board members asked how ECHO would integrate with the science curriculum and whether there are awards or scholarships tied to certification; Dalal said the program offers recognition and possible scholarship connections, and recommended an administrative review to determine timing and teacher buy-in.
What’s next: The committee treated the item as informational; staff were asked to consider fit and timing with upcoming state standards and other initiatives.
Speakers quoted: Nia Dalal; Mr. Alban; other principals who noted existing environmental programs.
