Tri-North Middle School recognized for sustainability by U.S. Department of Education

The U.S. Department of Education recently named Tri-North Middle School a Green Ribbon School for its commitment to reducing environmental impact and costs, improving health and wellness and teaching effective environmental and sustainability education.

Also honored in Indiana was Plainfield Community Middle School in Plainfield. In all, just 41 individual schools were selected for the designation.

Tri-North's rooftop solar array has saved the school over $80,000 in just more than two years and the school has reintroduced native plants and grasses in a no-mow and no-pesticide area that is now a welcoming habitat for many different species, said Andrea Falken, special advisor for infrastructure and sustainability at the U.S. Department of Education.

Plainfield was recognized for recycling approximately 1,200 pounds of plastic, paper and cardboard each week and offering science classes in partnership with the Indianapolis Zoo on protecting endangered or threatened animals in their natural habitats.

Each year, the U.S. Department of Education requests nominations from states that are due in February. After going through all of the nominations, selectees are announced around Earth Day.   

Falken said the award was developed in 2011 and the program strives to include all types of schools including charter and magnet schools and early learning centers.

“The idea with this award is to recognize some examples and excite other schools about these practices,” Falken said. “By using the department to shine a spotlight on these examples, we can get the word out about positive practices, which is the aim of the award.”

The recognition event is in Washington, D.C., in July and each school is allowed to send two to four representatives. Falken said the department encourages states, schools and districts to issue news releases about their work.

“We encourage them to be really concrete, not just ‘rah rah we’re the best we won this’ but what is it that you’re doing to achieve this because that’s what other schools can learn from,” Falken said.

Between the two Indiana schools that were highlighted, one had older construction with renovations made and the other was a new construction. Falken said this does not matter and any school is eligible for a recommendation.

“What we want to show with the award is that you don’t have to have a new building to do this work, schools of all types are doing it,” Falken said.