Focus on TUSD - December 2007

Energetic Endeavor
Whitmore Elementary Wins REAP Award
Whitmore Elementary School has reaped the benefits of saving energy.

The school won the $5,000 first-place award in the TUSD Resource Efficiency Awareness Program (REAP) for fiscal year 2007. Located at 5330 E. Glenn St., Whitmore reduced its utility costs 18.33 percent for a savings cost of $11,906.71.

Principal Kristine Hansen explained the school's success by saying, "It's all about the staff and kids. The earth is ours to take care of and not waste."

Whitmore has placed every year in the REAP recognition, but this is the first time it won first-place.

Hansen and the staff have mobilized the children to save energy. Each classroom saves recyclable materials in a large, green plastic bin, and brings it to the weekly outdoors assembly where Hansen empties the contents into the dumpster. As each Student Council member turns in a bin, Hansen tells them they've done a good job and to keep up the teamwork. Hansen also carries out the recycling bin from her office and empties it at the assembly.

The eight-member Student Council, which has two representatives from each class in the second- to fifth-grades, is also active in the Energy Patrol Program. Students walk around the building, checking to see if the lights are out and water is turned off, if the air-conditioning is off, and if classroom doors are locked. They decide which color dots each room receives as a result of its performance, with green dots for the best jobs.

Third-grader Mikaela Heal, who is the Student Council secretary, is on board with the school's recycling effort, which stands at 33 percent, saying, "We might run out of stuff if we don't recycle." And fifth-grader Mia Wolfson, who is the Student Council president, added, "We don't get to reuse things if we don't recycle."

Whitmore has also approved a Site Council leadership assignment on resource issues, continued to irrigate with reclaimed water, used energy, water and waste curriculum materials and participated in the Safe Routes for Schools Program.

The school has also earned the Energy Star Award from the U.S. Department of Energy for saving energy. In addition, Whitmore has joined Cartridge World to recycle ink cartridges. The company picks up the school's used ink cartridges, which generates additional funding for the Student Council.

"We build it (energy savings and recycling) into the curriculum," Hansen said. "It's not separate because it's a way of life here."

REAP awards are soft capital transfers from the Engineering, Facilities & Planning Department. Overall in fiscal year 2007, TUSD saved $361,081 in utility costs by reducing energy, water and waste costs.

Thirty-three TUSD schools applied for the REAP awards. Marshall Elementary School won the $4,000 second-place award and Hohokam Middle School won the third-place $3,000 award.

Schools winning $2,000 each for the top ranking in size categories were:

• Small (under 600 students) -- Sam Hughes and Borton elementary schools (tied)
• Medium (600-1,100 students) -- Valencia Middle School
• Large (over 1,100 students) -- Catalina Magnet High School

Schools that won $500 were: Project MORE, Townsend Middle School, Davidson Elementary School, Wrightstown Elementary School, Naylor Middle School, Manzo Elementary School, Booth-Fickett Magnet School, Dodge Magnet Middle School, Fort Lowell Elementary School, Howell Elementary School, Maxwell Middle School, Steele Elementary School, Van Buskirk Elementary School, Brichta Elementary School, Fruchthendler Elementary School, Holladay Intermediate Magnet School and Dietz Elementary School.

Schools that won $250 were: Pueblo Magnet High School, Drachman K-6 Montessori School, Gale Elementary School, Pistor Middle School, Rogers Elementary School, Sewell Elementary School, Utterback Middle Magnet School, Van Horne Elementary School and Wright Elementary School.

-- By Sharon Dunham
Communications & Media Relations

TUSD - Proud Supporter of Small Classes

Photos in the December issue by Jes Ruvalcaba of Communications & Media Relations, unless otherwise noted.

The deadline to submit material for the January Focus is Friday, Jan. 11. The Focus will be published Monday, Jan. 21. Email submissions to Chyrl Hill Lander or Sharon Dunham in the Communications & Media Relations Department or use the online Tip Sheet.