What 

Why

How Does it Work

What is it Doing

Benefits

Endorsers

 

The official SOSI web site is now online with information, resources and opportunities to get involved. Please check it out!

What is it?

The Sustainable Oregon Schools Initiative (SOSI) is a long-term, comprehensive, state-wide program to help interested schools integrate sustainability into their operations and classrooms. It is being developed now with a multi-stakeholder process. It is guided by a Steering Committee with staff support from the Zero Waste Alliance.

The goal of the Sustainable Oregon Schools (SOS) Initiative is to move Oregon’s K-12 school districts and their schools toward a comprehensive state of sustainability, guided internally by a system for its implementation and management, and supported externally by resources from a permanent statewide program. It aims to prepare the coming generation to successfully manage and even reverse current trends, while helping schools to better manage these priorities now.

Why

The concept of sustainability means meeting current needs without reducing the ability of future generations to meet their needs. A growing body of scientific evidence demonstrates our society is damaging the balance of our natural systems. Current trends in climate change, pollution and resource depletion will impact our children’s and grandchildren’s ability to live safe and healthy lives. The state of sustainability is achieved by managing environmental, social and economic activities.

How does it work?

SOSI carries out its work by engaging a large, broadly representative group of stakeholders that choose to participate, including schools and school districts, school associations, non-profit organizations, businesses, government agencies, parents and individuals. This group is developing the comprehensive set of topics and issues that lead to sustainability for K-12 schools.

Interested schools can choose to utilize the tools and resources that are being developed through this initiative to review their current operations and then to select one or more topic areas to pursue based on a variety of benefits as described below. Assistance will be available for these efforts as needed.

What is It Doing?

  1. Engaging a diverse group of stakeholders, who contribute their knowledge and work jointly to develop the resources.
  2. Developing a comprehensive vision of sustainability for K-12 school districts and schools. This vision provides the framework for the tools and resources being developed.
  3. Expanding the comprehensive, resource-rich Sustainable Oregon Schools website, as the focal point for school sustainability.
  4. Developing a sustainability assessment tool for schools and school districts. The assessment tool will be beta-tested and revised as needed.
  5. Developing model systems for districts or schools to begin and manage their progress toward sustainability.
  6. Developing a state-level sustainable K-12 schools award program, which will provide recognition of successes while generating interest among schools.
  7. Preparing to provide education, outreach and support to schools and school districts in order to increase interest in the initiative and to identify those that would like to participate.
  8. Laying the foundation for a permanent state sustainable schools program. At the conclusion of this initial multi-year effort the pieces for a permanent program will have been developed and momentum to use them begun.

What Are the Benefits?

The SOS initiative will increase the number of schools and districts that are beginning to address sustainability. As individual projects from the various topic areas are successfully completed and shared, it will motivate others to initiate similar improvements. As schools and districts establish systems to manage their sustainability progress they will be able to gain momentum by involving everyone, setting priorities, working toward long-term goals and assessing progress. They will experience such benefits as reduced costs, risk and environmental impact, and increased academic performance, community support, and personal health. Students, with their experience and knowledge of sustainability, will be better prepared to lead the future. Oregon will be a national leader in sustainability and will provide a unique model for the nation.

Who Are Some of the Endorsers?

Organizations:

  • Office of the Governor
  • Oregon Department of Education
  • Oregon Sustainability Board
  • Portland Public Schools
  • Beaverton School District
  • Klamath County School District
  • Lake Oswego School District
  • Oregon PTA
  • Environmental Education Association of Oregon
  • Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
  • Oregon Department of Energy
  • Portland State University, Leadership for Ecology, Culture and Learning
  • Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
  • Oregon Environmental Council
  • Portland Office of Sustainable Development
  • Oregon Green Schools Association
  • Oregon Nurses Association
  • Norm Thompson Outfitters
  • Oregon Natural Step Network
  • Oregon Coast Sustain
  • United States Environmental Protection Agency
  • Catlin Gabel School
  • Business Education Compact
  • SOLV - Stop Oregon Litter and Vandalism
  • LSW Architects
  • Clearing Magazine
  • Lean Path, Inc.
  • Chinook Book
  • reSource
  • Zero Waste Alliance

Individuals:

  • John A. Kitzhaber, M.D., former Governor, State of Oregon
  • Bill Bradbury, Chair, Oregon Sustainability Board and Secretary of State
  • Al Davidian, retired superintendent
  • Dilafruz Williams, Professor, Portland State University
  • Jenna Train, Nike
  • Jerry Green, Administrator for Facilities Operations and Maintenance, Beaverton School District
  • Jack McGowan, Executive Director of SOLV
  • Meeky Blizzard, Advisor for Livable Communities, Congressman Earl Blumenauer's office
  • Joe Zenisek, Teacher, Molalla High School
  • Larry Beutler, Director and Editor, Clearing Magazine
  • Andrew Shakman, Lean Path, Inc.

Join the Endorsers, download and sign the Endorsement Form (PDF 184K) and email it to schools@zerowaste.org.


This Sustainable Oregon Schools Initiative is the next stage of a sustainable schools project that was initiated by the Governor and convened in 2003 by the Secretary of State as an Oregon Solutions project. In 2006 responsibility was passed to the Zero Wase Alliance to develop this larger, comprehensive initiative.

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Updated
5/7/08
 

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