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Three Schools and One School District Honored for Significant Sustainability Achievements in New Jersey

on Oct 23, 2018

Award recipients from Jackson School District, Long Branch School District and Readington Township Public Schools

Today, Sustainable Jersey for Schools announced the three schools and one school district that are the recipients of the 2018 Sustainable Jersey for Schools awards. Each year, Sustainable Jersey for Schools presents awards to the sustainability champions at the elementary, middle and high school levels. Additionally, a Sustainability Makes $ense award will be presented this year. Award winners are selected from the schools that are certified in the designated award year. 

2018 SUSTAINABILITY CHAMPION AWARD RECIPIENTS

  • Three Bridges Elementary School, Readington Township Public School District in Hunterdon County achieved 605 points

  • Long Branch Middle School, Long Branch School District in Monmouth County achieved 350 points

  • Jackson Liberty High School, Jackson School District in Ocean County achieved 355 points

Three schools were recognized as Sustainability Champions for earning Sustainable Jersey for Schools certification with the highest number of points in their category. Sustainability Champions are among the schools that have earned more than the 150 points required for certification. Representatives from these schools and districts will accept their awards tonight at a reception during the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA) Workshop 2018 in Atlantic City.

Three Bridges Elementary School has achieved the 2018 Sustainability Champion award with an impressive 605 certification points. This is the second time the school has earned the award; the elementary school also accomplished this distinction in 2015, the inaugural year of the program. “I am so proud of the entire Three Bridges and Readington Township communities for joining together and working so hard on all of our sustainability efforts,” said Kristen Higgins, principal of Three Bridges Elementary School. “I particularly want to thank our students for doing their part to save the earth with such energy and enthusiasm.”  

For a second year in a row, Long Branch Middle School achieved a Sustainability Champion award. James Brown, the principal at Long Branch Middle School explained, “The Long Branch Middle School students and staff ride the green wave of sustainability in order to create a green future for our community!”

Jackson Liberty High School Principal Geoff Brignola said, “Jackson Liberty High School is honored to be the recipient of this award because it recognizes not just one achievement, but a collective effort of so many people committed to being responsible to our environment. Here at Liberty, programs like our trout farm, our efforts to draw public attention to conservation issues, and simple things like a commitment to re-using art supplies are parts of a district-wide culture of conservation.” This is the first time that Jackson Liberty High School has received a Sustainability Champion award.

2018 SUSTAINABILITY MAKES $ENSE AWARD: Readington Township Public Schools (Hunterdon County)

Readington Township Public Schools in Hunterdon County received the Sustainability Makes $ense Award that recognizes a district that has made exemplary progress in sustainability resulting in cost savings to the school district.

Dr. Jonathan Hart, the superintendent of Readington Schools, said, "We are very proud of this accomplishment.  This recognition affirms the Board of Education's commitment to the work of the Green Committee and demonstrates the hard work and dedication of our students and staff to the district's sustainability efforts." Five years ago, the Readington Township Public School District took the ambitious step to create an Energy Efficiency Program. With the combination of operational and behavioral changes initiated by staff and students, the district has reduced its energy use. The estimate of avoided cost based on the usage savings over the five years of the program is $421,000. In 2016, Readington Middle School and, in 2017, Whitehouse School, earned the EPA ENERGY STAR certification for superior energy performance. Students are actively involved in the energy efficiency program. The green teams in each school participate in the program and the middle school students can participate in an Energy Club which monitors classrooms to ensure lights and electronics are turned off at the end of the day as well as investigates renewable energy sources.

“We are privileged to celebrate and highlight these leaders at this award ceremony. The Sustainable Jersey for Schools awards recognize the outstanding work being done at the local level,” said Randall Solomon, the executive director of Sustainable Jersey. “We’re impressed by the sustainability programs and initiatives of these schools and districts. They deserve to be commended for their outstanding accomplishments.” To date, 782 of New Jersey’s schools have demonstrated their leadership and commitment to sustainability by registering with the Sustainable Jersey for Schools certification program.