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U.S. Department of Education
Office of Communications & Outreach, Press
Office
400 Maryland Ave., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20202
MEDIA ADVISORY
EVENT DATE: July 10-11,
2013
Contact: press@ed.gov and green.ribbon.schools@ed.gov
White
House Rural Council Agencies Tour Alabama Schools to
Listen, Learn Best Practices for ‘Education Built to Last’
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Rural Outreach
and ED-GRS Director Visit U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools with
EPA, USDA and Alabama Education Commissioner
Deputy
Assistant Secretary for Rural Outreach John White and U.S. Department of
Education Green Ribbon Schools Director Andrea Falken will visit U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools in
Talladega, Alabama with federal officials from the Environmental Protection
Agency Green Schools Program, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Alabama
State Superintendent Dr. Tommy Bice on Wednesday and
Thursday, July 10-11, to see and discuss the ways school facilities can enhance
the conditions for learning.
White, Falken, and other federal officials will tour Fayetteville
High School and Winterboro High School beginning at 1:30 p.m. CT on July 10,
before meeting State Superintendent Bice on July 11 to visit Munford
Elementary, Middle and High Schools and host a regional listening session. The first leg of the Department’s Education
Built to Last Facilities Best Practices Tour includes rural schools
that exhibit best practices in school building and grounds design, construction,
operations and management to support health, equity, educational outcomes,
energy efficiency and cost savings in our nation’s public schools. In the
coming weeks, the tour will also visit New England, the Great Lakes and the
West Coast.
Students attending U.S.
Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools experience and learn about the latest
technology that makes their schools safe, healthy, and energy efficient learning
environments. President Obama also believes that 99-percent of students should have
access to high-speed broadband Internet through his ConnectED
plan to accelerate and sustain student achievement regardless of where they
attend school.
The Alabama visit will include
tours of school buildings and grounds, conversations with students and teachers
regarding environmental education and project-based learning, and discussions
with key partners and energy management personnel. In addition, state and district facilities
personnel and stakeholders from Alabama and other states in the region are
invited to attend the listening session portion of the event at 12:30 p.m. on
July 11, at Munford Schools. The listening session will allow facilities
experts in the region to share best practices on school facilities.
The ED-Green Ribbon Schools
and District Sustainability Awardees are recognized for reducing their
environmental impact, including energy use, waste and water; creating healthy
learning environments and fostering wellness practices; and providing effective
environmental education that prepares students to succeed in the 21st century, including STEM, green
careers, and civics. A report with highlights on the 78 honorees can be found here. More information
on the federal recognition award can be found here.
The U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools
Program is supported by multiple federal agencies and received awards from both
the U.S. Green Building Council Center for Green Schools and the Center for
Innovation and Environmental Leadership in 2011. President Obama has encouraged
federal agencies to work together in new and exciting ways to maximize existing
resources.
In 2011, the President signed an Executive
Order establishing
the White House Rural Council to address the challenges and opportunities in
rural areas. The same federal agencies supporting the U.S. Department of
Education Green Ribbon Schools also serve on the White House Rural Council
where they are building on the Administration’s economic strategy to sustain
and grow the economy throughout rural America.
WHO:
John White, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Rural Outreach,
U.S. Department of Education
Andrea Suarez Falken, Director, U.S. Department of
Education Green Ribbon Schools and Facilities, Health and Environment Liaison,
U.S. Department of Education
Dr. Thomas R. Bice, State Superintendent, Alabama
Dr. Suzanne Lacey, Superintendent, Talladega County
WHAT:
Education Built to Last Facilities Best Practices Tour –
Alabama Leg
WHERE:
Talladega
County, Alabama
WHEN:
Wednesday, July
10, 2013
1:30 p.m. – Fayetteville
High School, 170 West W Averitte Dr.,
Sylacauga, AL
2:30 p.m. – Winterboro
High School, 22601 Al Hwy 21, Alpine, AL
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Munford Schools, Cedars Road, Munford, AL
9:00 a.m. – tour elementary, middle, and high schools
12:30 p.m. – listening session, Munford Middle and High
School media center, 300 Cedars Rd., Munford, AL
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