SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) was awarded the Green California Schools Summit Leadership Award during a ceremony on November 4 in Pasadena. This award is from Green Technology, a non-profit initiative designed to inform government efforts toward sustainability, providing a forum in which government officials can communicate with those in the private sector who are developing and distributing green technologies.
LTUSD Trustee Bonnie Turnell accepted the award for the District as they were recognized for setting a path towards healthy, energy-efficient, climate-responsive schools.
The statement on why LTUSD was the recognized District for 2021:
This work was kicked off by the District’s Board adoption of the Resolution for Healthy and Sound Schools. The District put a heavy emphasis on collaboration with the local community. The Tahoe community as a tourism community is already feeling the effects of climate change. Because of this, they were able to rally support from the surrounding community. There accomplishments and ongoing efforts include the following: A Resolution for Climate Literacy; A Resolution to Establish Goals for Energy Efficiency, Clean Energy, and Carbon Neutrality; Goals for carbon neutral by 2045 with interim goals of 40 percent by 2030 and an 80 percent reduction in energy by 2040; Securing two electric buses; Development of an EV fleet adoption plan; Formation of a Student-led Climate Action Group; Participation in the DSA Getting to Zero in California’s Schools Cohort; Adoption of Guidance Standards for Reducing Energy and Carbon Emissions; Utilizing the Guidance Standards developed a 5-year energy efficiency plan; Development of an annual reporting process for energy and carbon; A plan with the City, Lake Tahoe CC, and other local entities to become their own Community Choice Aggregator; A district infrastructure plan for funding and planning building upgrades and more.
While there, Turnbull spoke of the many accomplishments the District has made toward its sustainability goals and ultimately becoming a zero net energy school district.
The other honorees for 2021:
PIONEER – Aurelio Carrillo, Jurupa Unified School District
TEACHER – Jeff Rivero, Merced Union High School District
ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY – San Mateo County Youth Commission
SCHOOL- Santa Monica High School, Discovery Building
CONSERVATION – California Conservation Corps