Grades of Green program should continue to expand

By Isabelle Chiu
Staff Writer

In the September 4 Board of Trustees meeting, Manhattan Beach Unified School District discussed the possibility of developing the Grades of Green Certification program. This course of action should be approved as it will save money in the long-run and educate students.

In order to go with this course of action, $15,000 dollars from the general fund are needed. The goal of this is for all MBUSD Schools to be greener and to recycle more. The money will go toward the creation of meetings of the MBUSD Green Council, development of student-led programs at each of the MBUSD schools, the purchase of appropriated trash cans, and eco-consultations.

Continuing the Grades of Green program at MBUSD will help reduce costs towards trash collection. If the program is implemented, then the district will save more money this year. According to Superintendent Dr. Michael Mathews, it will take less than a year to achieve the $15,000 district wide if Grades of Green¹s continues, since our bill for trash removal went down last year by $35,000. Ever since the program was introduced five years ago, the district has saved over $40,000.

In the past, many students have been exposed to the Grades of Green Program causing the district to save more money. After eleven permanent lunchtime waste sorting stations at Manhattan Beach Middle School were introduced during the 2012-13 school year, the district started saving at least $2,300 annually in waste hauler pickups. Implementing proper trash, recycle, and compost bins at Mira Costa will not only educate and encourage students to recycle, but also will reduce fees towards trash pick up. In current budget circumstances, this is important.

The Grades of Green program is more active at the lower levels to encourage kids to be eco-friendly early on, and stay eco-friendly, with activities such as “Walk to School Wednesday” and “Trash-Free Tuesday.” Part of the budget this year will go toward MCHS and MBMS so the campus can be more environmentally friendly.

The Grades of Green program should be continued to make all of the schools greener. If it continued, then the MBUSD schools could potentially be recognized as a flagship Grade of Green Certified schools, and it could open up a possibility to apply and win the National District Green Ribbon Award. In 2012, Grand View has won the National Green Ribbon Award with help from Grades of Green staff. These awards will show that MBUSD is near the top in not just academics, but for having green campuses.

The expansion of the Grades of Green program will educate more students on how to become environmentally friendly by showing them the impact they make on the environment and will encourage students to be more aware of what is being thrown away, and how they can reduce more trash and other pollution. This year, the cost will go towards the meetings of the MBUSD Green Council and other programs to encourage students to be greener.

Ever since the introduction of the Grades of Green program at MBUSD, the entire district has been greener and has saved more money due to recycling and waste costs. Overall, if Grades of Green continues this year, it will benefit Mira Costa.