District unveils sustainability action plan with Green Schools Network partnership
Loading...
Summary
Fayetteville Public Schools presented a multi-year sustainability action plan developed with the Green Schools National Network, outlining goals across curriculum, facilities, leadership and culture to expand outdoor learning, student-led projects and operational transparency.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Fayetteville Public Schools unveiled a district sustainability action plan developed with the Green Schools National Network that sets multi‑year goals across four impact systems — curriculum/instruction, facilities/operations, leadership, and culture/climate — and prioritizes student-led, project-based sustainability learning and expanded outdoor education.
David DenHartog of the Green Schools National Network and Justin Keane, the district’s outdoor education and sustainability coordinator, presented the plan, which the district says was shaped by a sustainability leadership summit in May that included about 60–70 participants from the district, university and community partners.
The action plan lists two primary goals for each impact system. Among curriculum and instruction goals are expanding access to outdoor education across grades and empowering students through authentic, standards‑aligned sustainability projects. Facilities and operations goals include making energy, water, transportation and waste data visible and accessible to students and staff and using detailed operational data to guide facility improvements and offer real‑world learning opportunities.
Leadership goals focus on embedding sustainability into decision‑making forums and showcasing initiatives that advance educational success, well‑being and financial viability. Culture and climate goals emphasize consistent community engagement, modeling sustainability practices district‑wide and avoiding shaming approaches; presenters emphasized fostering optimism and agency among students.
DenHartog said the district is already a regional leader in several sustainability practices and that the plan aims to systematize and scale those efforts. District staff said the next step is to develop an annual work plan that will list specific actions, champions and measurable evidence the district will track. The board thanked staff for a participatory process and noted Fayetteville Public Schools will present at the Green Schools Network conference as a case example.
