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Topic Team Roles

Teams will have the following primary tasks:

1. Create a vision and definition of sustainability for that topic.
2. Develop sustainable criteria, with metrics, in that topic area. This will build on existing knowledge, if any, that already exists for that topic.
3. Identify and develop case-studies and best practices and other resources that will help schools meet these criteria.

These steps are further detailed in the following file.

• TT Overview and Workplan (PDF 69KB)

 

Join a Topic Team and Help Build the Initiative

 

You can choose to participate in one or more Topic Teams. Members will include topic specialists, school representatives and other stakeholder participants. The topic areas are listed below. It is anticipated that Topic Teams will have about 5 meetings over 2-3 months. Meetings will be in person or by conference call.

 

To join a team(s) or learn more about teams contact Lori Stole, 503-307-4067 or lstole@zerowaste.org.

 

Many areas impact school sustainability, some of which are listed below. The Sustainable Oregon Schools Initiative participants will develop these topics in-depth through topic teams.

 

Note: Topic Areas in Bold indicate that the team has been formed.

Category	Topic Area	Details
EDUCATION	Education for Sustainability	Formal (classroom), Non-formal (outside classroom), Informal education (school environment), Service learning, Career and technical education, Teacher education
	Sustainability Education for Staff	Sustainability training and education for school staff; opportunities and needs
FACILITIES AND OPERATIONS	Buildings	New construction, Building operations and Maintenance
	Grounds & Landscaping	Grounds: Natural areas, Landscaping design & maintenance, Food gardens, Parking areas, Play areas
	Indoor Environment/Toxics	Indoor environmental quality, Chemical management (pesticides, cleaning, lab, other), Toxics
SYSTEMS AND SERVICES	Managing Sustainability	System and framework to guide school district progress toward sustainability. Ideally it covers all topic areas.
	Food and Wellness	Choices and sources of foods, Farm to school, Wellness
	Transportation	School vehicles, Maintenance shop practices, Alternative transportation options
	Procurement & Resource Management	Procurement:  Sustainability of goods and services, Product stewardship, Procurement infrastructure; Bulk and cooperative purchasing. Energy: Amount and source of all energy used Material: Waste prevention, Recycling, Product stewardship Water: Water to and from facility (domestic and natural)
COMMUNITY AND CULTURE	Community Involvement	Community support to school, Learning opportunities in community, Partnerships, School outreach to community
	Multi-Cultural Proficiency	Student and staff diversity, Cultural understanding, Language, Communication

 

School sustainability is also impacted by other areas including: funding, budgeting, land-use planning, readiness for kindergarten, human resource practices and much more.

 

 

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