61 Schools in Newark School District Achieve Sustainability Certification

Newark Schools meet Sustainable Jersey for Schools certification requirements

Newark, New Jersey, [September 15, 2020] Sixty-one schools in the Newark School District have met the rigorous requirements to achieve Sustainable Jersey for Schools certification. Sustainable Jersey for Schools, a program for pre-kindergarten through twelfth-grade public schools in New Jersey, is voluntary, but achieving certification takes commitment and collaborative effort. Each school in the Newark School District was certified at the bronze level after submitting documentation to show it had completed a balanced portfolio of the program’s sustainability actions, attaining a minimum of 150 points.

“Since 2014, this initiative has been 6 years in the making and we’re so glad that we’re able to accomplish such a tremendous feat” noted Superintendent Roger León. “We love doing programs involving the whole NPS community. This isn’t just words or another program; but an opportunity for the schools of Newark to benefit from Sustainable Jersey, which in turn will benefit the city of Newark,” he added.

Newark Public Schools has managed to create energy profiles and green cleaning initiatives while winning awards for sustainability.  With the help of Jill Buck, a Go Green consultant, the District was able to present these existing initiatives and receive credit for our many food service programs and clean air program, which works with school buses on a “no pollution” plan.

A significant part of the Newark Public Schools certification applications was the completion of the actions for energy efficiency of school facilities and energy tracking and management. Each school has completed an energy audit through New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program(NJCEP) “Local Government Energy Audit (LGEA)” program. The Newark Public School District instituted a $17 million Energy Savings Improvement Program (ESIP), also through New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program. “The project encompasses 63 Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) over 1.4 million square feet. Actions included lighting retrofits, boiler replacement, roof replacement, solar installation, upgrading systems and components to improve the safety of energy use, and performance monitoring. From 2017-19, the district saved $1.9 million, 4.7 million kWh, and 460,000 therms of gas,” said Newark Public Schools Director of Sustainability, Rodney Williams.

The Newark School district is one of 352 school districts participating in the Sustainable Jersey for Schools program.  “Sustainable Jersey for Schools is pleased that the 61 schools from Newark Public Schools are part of our cohort of 321 certified schools,” said Randall Solomon, executive director of Sustainable Jersey. “I commend the teachers, administrators, staff, parents and students for their commitment and vision for the future. Becoming certified with Sustainable Jersey for Schools is a significant achievement and these schools are leading the way to a more sustainable New Jersey, right when we need it the most.”

Click here to review the list of Newark schools that achieved certification in 2020: 2020 Sustainable Jersey for Schools Certified Schools.

About The Newark Public Schools District

Newark Public Schools has a student population of approximately 38,000 students, a staff of more than 6,300, and is the largest and one of the oldest school systems in New Jersey. Its origin dates back to 1676 with Barringer High School, in Newark’s North Ward, being the third oldest public high school in the nation. In a city comprised of rich diversity, Newark Public Schools provides a multicultural learning experience for pre-kindergarten to secondary school students. As the city continues to thrive with widespread change, the district continues to revise its services to meet the changing needs of students.

About Sustainable Jersey for Schools

Sustainable Jersey for Schools is a certification program for public schools in New Jersey. It was launched by Sustainable Jersey, an organization that provides tools, training and financial incentives to support and reward municipalities and schools as they pursue sustainability programs. To date, 352 school districts and 969 schools are participating in the program. The full list of participating and certified schools and school districts is available: Participating Districts and Schools. Sustainable Jersey for Schools has awarded over $2.2 million in grants to schools and school districts.

Website:              www.SustainableJerseySchools.com
Twitter:               www.twitter.com/SJ_Schools
Facebook:           www.facebook.com/SustainableJersey
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Linked In:           www.linkedin.com/company/sustainable-jersey

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For more information, please contact:

Newark Board of Education
Nancy Deering, Interim Executive Director
Communications
973-733-6265