Climate Action in Schools

Schools are the heart of our communities and shape the future of our children. 
With the right support, schools can also help create a greener, healthier, and brighter world for our students. 
Sustainable Marin Schools (SMS) is delighted to partner with the Novato Unified School District (NUSD) on this mission.   
​Working within the schools, SMS helps schools reach their goals through our four main programs:
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 Zero Waste         Energy Efficiency/Electrification         Environmental Literacy         Greening Schoolyards

​Thanks to the instrumental support of our school communities, SMS and NUSD have made great strides in
greening our school campuses, and educating a new generation of environmentally literate and
​empowered global stewards ready to make their mark on a carbon-free future.

​What's New

                                We are thrilled to announce that SMS is                                                                                                 hiring a Program Manager!

🌍 Join Our Team as a Program Manager at Sustainable Marin Schools! 
Are you passionate about sustainability and eager to make a positive impact in our schools and communities? Sustainable Marin Schools (SMS) is seeking a dedicated and dynamic Program Manager to lead and oversee our key sustainability initiatives across Marin County’s schools.

🌱 Position Overview: SMS is seeking a detail-oriented and organized Program Manager to join our team. This individual will be responsible for overseeing the daily operations, assisting with a team of California Climate Action Corps (CCAC) fellows, and providing support in program development, grant administration, and community engagement. The ideal candidate will have a passion for sustainability, strong leadership skills, and experience in program management.

✨ Key Responsibilities:
  • Develop and implement operational best practices and procedures to improve efficiency, tracking, and communication.
  • Facilitate strong relationships with school districts, community partners, fellows, funding sponsors, and stakeholders to advance SMS programs.
  • Assist the Executive Director in coordinating Fellow assignments, projects, and growth.
  • Contribute to grant proposals and donation requests.
  • Manage budgets and ensure successful submissions to Fiscal Sponsor  

​For more information please visit: https://www.idealist.org/en/nonprofit-job/7502a25929844e1295561066d93efe95-program-manager-sustainable-marin-schools-novato or contact SMS directly at [email protected]. 

​    Let’s work together to empower the next generation of environmental leaders!


​
Marin County Parks' Food, Agriculture, and Resilient Ecosystems (FARE) Grant
We're thrilled to announce that Sustainable Marin Schools has received the Marin County Parks' Food, Agriculture, and Resilient Ecosystems (FARE) Grant. With a strong focus on regenerative agriculture, we'll be utilizing the $198,000 grant to establish two new gardens:
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  • The Rancho Family Garden, dedicated to supporting families in the vicinity who lack space to cultivate their own food.
  • The Pleasant Valley Garden, ensuring that all NUSD students have access to a school garden.

​In addition to constructing these new gardens, the funding will also be allocated towards supporting our existing gardens, garden teachers, and expanding garden classes for students. This initiative not only enriches environmental education for Novato students but increases food production for students, families, and community.

With the aim of creating greener and more resilient schoolyards, the funds will support the expansion of pollinator and rain gardens. To oversee and coordinate these exciting initiatives, SMS will employ a District-Wide Garden Manager for a period of 3 years.  We can't wait to see our gardens and students flourish!

2024-2025 California Climate Action Corps Fellows
SMS has received a generous grant of $200,000 to support six full-time CCAC fellows for 11 months during the 2024-2035 school year! This funding will allow us to expand upon the remarkable achievements of the 2023-24 fellows in areas such as Zero Waste, Environmental Literacy, and Campus Greening/Resilience.  We're excited to meet the new team!  ​

​Celebrating Success in Our Schools  

Sustainable Marin Schools is proud of our work in partnership with Novato schools this year. 
Here are some of the things we’ve been up to:
                            
  • Invested over $600,000 in grants into environmental literacy, campus greening and outdoor learning spaces in Novato schools.
  • Launched recycling and composting programs in four elementary schools and Novato High.
  • Provided the infrastructure for waste sorting stations and classroom recycling/composting in four elementary schools and Novato High.
  • Trained 1,000+ students how to recycle and compost waste at home and at school.
  • Empowered student leaders to direct their own recycling and composting program at school.
  • Implemented bulk milk dispensers in three elementary schools, cutting milk waste in half. 
  • Redistributed 1,000+ lbs of edible food within the school community and with local food banks.
  • Diverted over 85,000 lbs of organic waste from the landfill to composting facilities.
  • Created/Expanded Green Teams and Environmental Literacy in three elementary schools.
  • Supported high school environmental club members in reaching their climate action goals.  
  • Partnered with Safe Routes to Schools advocating for green trips to schools.  
  • Brought four schools compliance with mandatory state laws regarding composting food waste (SB 1383).​​
PicturePictured: Just one day of compost from a Novato elementary school.

​About SB 1383

Approximately half of the billion pounds of trash generated by California TK-12 schools and universities is estimated to be organic waste.   A state bill called SB 1383 (Organic Waste and Edible Food Recovery Program) has set standards for recovering, diverting and recycling organic waste to reduce the amount of methane, a short-lived climate pollutant emitted when unrecovered organic waste decomposes in our landfills. 

The main goals of SB 1383 are:
  • Expand the definition of organic waste to include food scraps, landscape and pruning waste; 
  • Reduce organic waste disposal 75% by 2025; and
  • Divert and rescue at least 20% of edible and surplus food currently disposed for people to eat by 2025.
​
SB 1383 applies to all local education agencies, including TK-12 public and charter schools, school districts,
and County offices of education (not subject to the control of city or county solid waste regulations). 

Mandatory implementation and compliance with SB 1383 is effective on January 1, 2024.  
​© Sustainable Marin Schools 2023