Sustainability

From Salt Lake to Carson City to Virginia Beach, school districts across the country are improving energy efficiency, switching to clean energy, and saving costs. Fighting climate change ranks as the most important issue for students across the globe. As the 13th fastest-warming city in the country, Boise is facing existential challenges due to climate change including decreasing water supply, damaging smoke pollution, and ever-increasing summer temperatures. These threats are especially effecting the youngest members of our community — the students the School Board is elected to serve. Climate change is causing higher rates of asthma, birth defects, heat stroke, obesity, and food insecurity in Idaho's youth. As the institution tasked with preparing and protecting students for the world we'll graduate into, Boise Schools must take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate change.

In 2020, the City of Boise made a landmark commitment to clean electricity citywide by 2035 and carbon neutrality by 2050. As one of the city's largest polluters, the onus is now on Boise Schools to improve energy efficiency and switch to clean energy. Beyond a moral imperative to fight climate change, there are numerous economic benefits of energy sustainability for our school district. Some experts suggest that Boise Schools could save up to 50% of its annual energy budget within 10 years of going green. That's over $3 million annually that can be reinvested in students and classrooms.

As a member of the Idaho Climate Justice League, I have worked with students across Boise for a clean energy commitment and long-term sustainability plan for our school district. It was in seeing the current board's disinterest in our initiative and student voices as a whole which motivated me to run for this position in the first place. In November, after nearly two years of student efforts, the school district passed a watered-down "Collective Commitment on Clean Energy." This resolution established no timetable for clean energy implementation nor any student-driven process to create such a timetable. As a Trustee on the Boise School Board, I'll continue working for clean energy and elevating student voices in the fight for our future.From Salt Lake to Carson City to Virginia Beach, school districts across the country are improving energy efficiency, switching to clean energy, and saving costs. Fighting climate change ranks as the most important issue for students across the globe. As the 13th fastest-warming city in the country, Boise is facing existential challenges due to climate change including decreasing water supply, damaging smoke pollution, and ever-increasing summer temperatures. These threats are especially effecting the youngest members of our community — the students the School Board is elected to serve. Climate change is causing higher rates of asthma, birth defects, heat stroke, obesity, and food insecurity in Idaho's youth. As the institution tasked with preparing and protecting students for the world we'll graduate into, Boise Schools must take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate change.

In 2020, the City of Boise made a landmark commitment to clean electricity citywide by 2035 and carbon neutrality by 2050. As one of the city's largest polluters, the onus is now on Boise Schools to improve energy efficiency and switch to clean energy. Beyond a moral imperative to fight climate change, there are numerous economic benefits of energy sustainability for our school district. Some experts suggest that Boise Schools could save up to 50% of its annual energy budget within 10 years of going green. That's over $3 million annually that can be reinvested in students and classrooms.

As a member of the Idaho Climate Justice League, I have worked with students across Boise for a clean energy commitment and long-term sustainability plan for our school district. It was in seeing the current board's contempt for our initiative and student voices which motivated me to run for this position in the first place. In November, after nearly two years of student efforts, the school district passed an extremely watered down "Collective Commitment on Clean Energy." This resolution established no timetable for clean energy implementation nor any student-driven process to create such a timetable. As a Trustee on the Boise School Board, I'll continue working for clean energy and elevating student voices in the fight for our future.