1005 Parker Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Stephen Collins, Maintenance Manager
stevecollins@berkeley.net
Sofia Peltz, Sustainability Program Coordinator
sustainability@berkeley.net
Join us in celebrating Earth Week across BUSD!
Students and staff are taking the lead with activities celebrating Earth Day. We would like to offer guidance to those who would like to participate. Here are lessons, activities, and films that can be enjoyed in the classroom or at home.
Paid Sustainability Teacher Leader Position
Are you a teacher or a classified staff member and passionate about engaging our youth in protecting the environment? If that’s you, then sign up to be a Sustainability Teacher Leader for your school site. Teacher Leaders will be compensated for up to 20 hours of sustainability support activities, covering the period from September 2021 through June 2022. Please fill out this form.
Reusable Foodware Pilot Project Gains Momentum
BUSD has embarked on a mission to eliminate plastic and other harmful single-use foodware throughout their school cafeterias. Achieving this goal has been embraced by the community since 2013 and was commemorated in the District’s Sustainability Plan in 2018.
BUSD’s reusable foodware pilot project will take place at Cragmont and John Muir Elementary Schools and at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School, the District’s central kitchen. These three sites are equipped with the necessary infrastructure to make this project successful. As soon as COVID-19 safety protocols allow for students to eat in the school cafeteria on an ongoing basis, we will begin the implementation process.
On June 16th, 2021 the District’s Board of Directors committed $10,000 for the purchase of washable, reusable stainless steel food and beverage wares to be used for school meals. This action marks the first step towards launching the pilot to integrate durable, washable, reusable trays, bowls, cups, and utensils into the District’s food service.
- It reduces the amount of waste that goes into the landfill
- Reusables are healthier for human health and the environment
- Sets a positive example for schools around the country
Department Overview
The Sustainability Program serves as a leader for sustainability initiatives across the District. Since 2018, when the District adopted a Sustainability Plan, we have undertaken a wide range of initiatives to improve the sustainability of our school campuses. We are working to eliminate the District’s carbon emissions, increase water resiliency, build healthy communities, and increase nature-based education for all students. Stakeholder and community engagement is an important part of this process. We have hosted and will continue to offer various opportunities for community engagement. To stay informed on District-wide sustainability efforts, accomplishments, and volunteer opportunities please become a member of the BUSD Sustainability Google Forum.
Our Vision
The vision of the Sustainability Master Plan is that all Berkeley students have access to healthy, green school buildings and grounds and hands-on environmental and outdoor education.
Student Engagement
Become a Waste Sorting Monitor at your school:
This tool can be used to create a system for students to monitor waste sorting and help fellow students sort properly. The goal is to share this responsibility across grades. Use and adapt the template linked above to help set up a system and schedule for student lunch monitors at your school.
Sustainability Student Leaders Spotlight:
Is your school working on a sustainability-related project? Is there a student that champions this work? We want to hear about it. Submit your sustainability stories and we’ll be sure to share your story on this webpage and A+ News!
Hearing stories from across the district helps inspire students, teachers, parents, and administrators. Everyone has ideas, and your student’s success lets people know that they can do it, too! By sharing your story, we create a culture of stewardship for the earth and healthy and sustainable practices for students, so THANK YOU!
Please send your story to Sofia Peltz at sofiapeltz@berkeley.net. She might email you for more details if needed!
Speaker Series
Every month, Sofia Peltz, BUSD’s Sustainability Coordinator, and Climate Corps fellow, will have engaging conversations with Bay Area sustainability professionals who are making our communities more resilient. Professionals such as business leaders, energy conservation experts, food entrepreneurs, and systems thinkers will meet with Sofia to present their visions, research, and experiences.We invite you to come and be inspired by these forward-thinking speakers who are addressing complex problems across a variety of sustainability-related fields. Those who choose to attend the live sessions will have an opportunity to present questions during the Q/A sessions!
Our Partners
- SEI
- Altamont Advisory Board
- Safe Routes to School
- ReThink Disposables
- The Center for Environmental Health
- City of Berkeley
- StopWaste
- Green Schoolyards America
- Teacher Leaders
- Custodial
- Facilities and Maintenance
- Nutrition Services
- Gardening and Cooking Program
BUSD Sustainability in the News!
Follow us on Instagram to keep up to date with student opportunities @busdsustainability
Berkeley’s yellow school buses are going green
Berkeley schools sow the seeds of climate progress with ‘pocket forests’
Recipients of the 2021 leaders in sustainable schools fellowship announced
Get involved in our efforts!
You can contact your school’s Green Team or send an email to “Striving for Zero Waste” and Sustainability Coordinator Sofia Peltz: sustainability@berkeley.net.
We hope that you support BUSD’s commitment to healthy, green school buildings and grounds and hands-on environmental and outdoor education.