About Us

Our Vision

Every Boston Public Schools student will attend a healthy and sustainable school.

OUR FOCUS

Climate & Energy

Curriculum

Engagement

Environmental
Justice

Healthy School Environment

Outdoor Teaching
& Learning

Transportation

Water

Zero Waste

2022-2023 PRIORITIES

1. Outdoor Teaching & Learning

2. Indoor Air Quality

3. Drinking Water Access

4. Zero Waste

5. A Green New Deal for BPS

History

The first BPS Sustainability position was a 2011 UTC Green Schools Fellow, thanks to the Center for Green Schools.

In 2014, the fellowship was transformed into a BPS full-time employee (FTE) as Sustainability Manager in the Facilities Management Department.

In 2017, the position was promoted to the Sustainability and Environmental Resources Manager, and made supervisor of the Energy (4 FTE) and Environmental Divisions (3 FTE).

In 2022, the position was promoted to Sustainability, Energy, and Environment Program Director.

Also, due to the success of team’s work, and the growing recognition of the importance of sustainability and environmental resources at BPS, the Director has been able to add 4 additional FTE to the Environmental Division (2 Senior, 2 Junior positions), and create 3 new Sustainability FTEs – Water and Sustainability Project Manager, Zero Waste and Sustainability Project Manager, and Outdoor Teaching and Learning Manager – since 2020.

Now, the team is known as the Sustainability, Energy, and Environment Program.

Grants Awards and Special Funding

$15.4M IVAQ grant from DESE for HVAC investments (2022)
$3.3M ESSER funds for Outdoor Teaching and Learning (2022)
$6.7M ESSER funds for Indoor Air Quality Monitoring Initiative (2020)
$5,000/year & education support for 5 years, Jet-A-Way/BPS contract funds for BPS Recycling (2021)
$10.34M City of Boston Capital Funds for BPS Drinking Water Initiative (2020)
$6.215M U.S. EPA Grant – Reduction in Lead Exposure Via Drinking Water for BPS (2020)
$10,000 Schneider Electric and ENE Grant for BPS Gardens (2020)
$100,000 USDA Farm to School Implementation Grant for Green City Growers and BPS (2019)
$10,000/year for 3 years, Capitol Waste Services, Inc./BPS contract funds for BPS Recycling (2018)

Awards and Recognition

U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School District Sustainability Award (2023)
Change Agent of the Year for Katherine Walsh from Built Environment Plus (2022)
Award for Excellence in Energy and Environmental Education from MA Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (2021)
2019-2020 School District Scholarship from Center for Green Schools (2019)
Henry L. Shattuck Public Service Award for Jeff Lane (2019)
Millennials for 100% Renewable Energy for Katherine Walsh from Environment Massachusetts (2019)
Award for Excellence in Energy and Environmental Education from MA Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs for BPS teachers Nicole Ruttan (Umana Academy K-8) and Kris Grymonpre (McCormack Middle School) (2019)
Mayor’s Greenovate Award for Climate Leadership for Katherine Walsh from City of Boston (2019)
Green Ribbon Schools Award for Boston Green Academy from U.S. Department of Education (2019)
Public Water Systems Awards: STAR-L Award from Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (2018)

THE TEAM

SUSTAINABILITY, ENERGY, and ENVIRONMENT PROGRAM

The Sustainability, Energy, and Environment Program is part of the Building Services team within Facilities Management, and is led by the Program Director and the Sustainability, Environment, and Energy Divisions.

The Program is responsible for leading districtwide initiatives to transform the sustainability measures and environmental health of the 121 BPS schools, prioritizing critical, equitable improvements in drinking water access, indoor air quality, outdoor teaching and learning, renewable energy and efficiency upgrades, and zero waste.

Sustainability, Energy, and Environment Program Organizational Chart

This website is maintained by the Sustainability, Energy, and Environment Program.
SUSTAINABILITY DIVISION

The Sustainability Division is a new division within the Program, representing BPS and City of Boston investments in drinking water access, outdoor teaching and learning, and zero waste as sustainability priorities for the district and the City of Boston.

Through a lens of climate equity, justice, and action, the Sustainability Division implements district initiatives that “green” the design and operations of BPS schools and engage teachers, students, and families in using the schools as living learning laboratories for sustainability and climate education.
ENVIRONMENTAL DIVISION
ENERGY DIVISION

Collaborators

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

BPS believes that every child deserves access to a great education, and every day we work to design, build and operate our school sites as high-performance spaces where every child can succeed.

With a focus on whole school sustainability, the 2013 Greening Boston Public Schools Report is an exciting showcase of district-wide initiatives that are helping to save resources, promote health and wellness and connect students to environmental, STEM and community learning opportunities.

Mayor Wu describes a Green New Deal for BPS.

RELATED BPS POLICIES & PLANS

Health and Wellness (Linked Here)

District Wellness Policy
Healthy School Environments
Tobacco and Nicotine-Free Environment

Facilities Management (Linked Here)

Drinking Water Access
Environmental Audits
Green Cleaners
Integrated Pest Management
Recycling and Zero Waste
Science Safety in Laboratories and Classrooms

CONTACT US

Facilities Management
1216 Dorchester Ave.
Boston, MA 02125
617-635-9576