Parkway schools go green
This year, Parkway School District, which has already received national recognition for its recycling program, is continuing to strive for greater energy conservation by installing solar panels on the roofs of all the schools and continuing to build the recycling programs implemented by its schools.
Considerations for solar panels began in 2008, when a group of students from North High presented the idea to the board. Although several different plans have been considered over the years, the current proposal was created in the spring of 2012.
“Parkway has a long history of being mindful with energy use and the subject of alternative energy has periodically been discussed over the years,” said Board of Education President, Beth Feldman.
The 3200 panels being installed will create approximately 1,000,000 kilowatt hours of electricity. This is the largest solar power project in Missouri for a school district.
“We anticipate all Parkway buildings to have their solar systems installed by the end of the 2012 calendar year,” said Feldman.
Not only is the district striving to create greener schools through the use of renewable energy sources, but also through the practice of recycling.
“Our main goal is to educate and motivate students and staff to recycle,” said sponsor of recycling club at North, Andy Duggan
Recycling club strives to educate students and make them more aware of recycling by putting signs on trash bins with slogans and placing recycling bins around the school to encourage students to recycle.
“Recycling and conservation is important [to me]because I’m living on this earth and I don’t want it to be ruined ,” said sophomore Kemi Ola.
Parkway School District is also piloting a program that uses compostable lunch trays rather than Styrofoam, which will be able to be turned into compost that can be put back into the earth. The new lunch trays are also made up of 100% recycled material, and will be introduced at Parkway Schools in the North region starting on Sept. 24th.
“At Parkway, we’re continuing the path to a more sustainable [school],” said Feldman. “We hope everyone joins in this journey to create sustainable green schools here.”
by Gianna Sparks