Boston’s “greenest” school plants the seeds of environmental learning

BOSTON – The Franklin D. Roosevelt K-8 School in Hyde Park is proud to call itself Boston’s “greenest” school. The Roosevelt has earned that distinction in part because its recent renovation and expansion comply with environmental standards set by the U.S. Green Building Council – such as solar panels, water-saving sinks and toilets, low-energy light fixtures, and renewable materials. But it’s more than the building helping this school protect the planet: Teachers are also helping to grow a green generation of students through environmental learning activities.

For three days this week, students have engaged in assemblies, classroom lessons, outdoor activities, and visits from Mayor and Mrs. Thomas M. Menino (grandparents of Roosevelt students), Councilor Rob Consalvo (father of Roosevelt students), State Rep. Angelo Scaccia, and other community leaders to learn more about preserving the earth’s natural resources in school and at home. Today, all students wore green to school and engaged in hands-on learning, including planting outside and in classrooms. They also participated in workshops about such topics as solar cars and homes, bicycle safety, and recycling.

The Roosevelt K-8 School occupies two buildings in Hyde Park: the former Hemenway School building at 30 Millstone Road (kindergarten and grade 1) and the Roosevelt building at 95 Needham Road (grades 2-6). The Needham Road building has undergone major renovations and an addition, including extensive green features.

The green renovation of the Roosevelt enables it to become the City of Boston’s first LEED-registered public building, and one of the first in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, meaning it was built to meet green building standards (www.buildgreenschools.org). The City has applied for the Roosevelt to earn LEED Silver designation from the U.S. Green Building Council.

The $4.4 million renovation and expansion of the Roosevelt building includes six new classrooms, computer room, cafeteria and outdoor play structure, as well as extensive renovations to existing spaces. Environmental features include a green roof, solar collector, super-insulated walls, water-saving sinks and toilets, light fixtures that dim from daylight, porous pavement in the parking area, and renewable materials such as bamboo.

Mayor Menino, whose grandchildren attend the Roosevelt School, is one of the founding members of the U.S. Mayors’ Alliance for Green Schools. Boston was the first major U.S. city to incorporate green building standards into its zoning codes, requiring all private construction over 50,000 square feet to follow the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED standards.

Boston Public Schools’ efforts in green management practices have earned the district state and national recognition. Strategies include:
· The use of green cleaning products in all schools and central offices;
· An anti-idling program for all 700 BPS buses and other vehicles, including signage and driver training, as well as low-sulfur diesel fuel for the entire BPS bus fleet;
· Use of natural gas in all schools for heat, hot water and cooking, saving on maintenance costs and reducing pollution;
· Solar panels on at least four school buildings;
· An energy management system in which the temperature in nearly all school buildings is controlled centrally to reduce energy use and costs; and
· Opportunities for wind turbines on school grounds to generate power through clean energy.

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

Angela Menino, wife of Mayor Thomas M. Menino, reads a book about recycling to elementary students at the Roosevelt K-8 School in Hyde Park during “Green Week.” Mrs. Menino’s grandchildren are enrolled at the school.

Third grade student Patrick Deery, Jr. of Hyde Park presents a report about water conservation.