Climate Change Action Plan January 2026 Newsletter

• Students from the Academy of Health Sciences (AHS) attended the Prince George’s County Braveboy Climate Leadership Summit, where they shared posters highlighting their work on Climate Change.
  Four students representing various high schools (AHS, Charles Herbert Flowers, Oxon Hill and Parkdale) also presented at the conference, sharing with county leaders the importance of addressing Climate Change.
•  The number of touchpoints in the curriculum have increased for Climate Change and Environmental Justice. This sustained and consistent exposure fosters the deep awareness that students need to
  more effectively translate classroom learning into meaningful, real-world action.
• The Chesapeake Bay Foundation trained teachers on Climate Change education and is supporting Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) teachers with field trips this school year.
• Climate Ambassador Training – 191 PGCPS staff completed Climate Ambassador training; 75 people joined the ecoAmerica Ambassador Community; and 43 high school teachers expressed interest in Earth Month activities.
• Board of Education Climate Change Ad Hoc Committee – On August 27, 2025, the PGCPS Environmental Coordinator and Science Supervisor, in collaboration with our workforce partners, facilitated a presentation
  to share progress updates and next steps for Priority One of the Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP). Representatives from community organizations, nonprofit partners, government agencies, the Board of
  Education, and district staff attended the session.

• Grant applications totaling $2,586,656 were submitted for three Phase II Public-Private Partnership (P3) schools: Brandywine 3–8 School, Fairwood Elementary, and Hyattsville Elementary. These funds, if awarded,
  will be designated for construction costs related to critical net-zero or low-emission energy systems. We are currently awaiting the final award selection. 
• Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) smart meters have been installed at 199 locations across the district. These meters allow PGCPS to monitor real-time water usage, track historical data, and receive automatic
  alerts for leaks or unusual consumption, helping to conserve water and reduce associated energy costs.
• We have renewed our utility billing management contract to streamline the collection of all utility data. This service will integrate our billing directly into ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, ensuring comprehensive benchmarking and more effective energy management across all district buildings.

• PGCPS submitted a $1,626,560 grant application to install 16 dual-port charging stations at the Crossland and Greenbelt bus lots. These funds will provide the critical infrastructure necessary to support our expanding electric school bus fleet. We are currently awaiting final award selection.

During the 2025-2026 school year, the Director of Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) held various food tastingevents to give students a voice in shaping the cafeteria menu. FNS collaborated with the Student Member of the Board (SMOB) Advisory Council to hold a County Taste Test at Eleanor Roosevelt High School. The event brought together students from all grade levels across the county, along with parents, faculty, and staff, ensuring that our audience truly reflected our diverse student body. During the event, FNS showcased five new menu items from our vendor, JTM Food Group (JTM):

1. JTM Korean BBQ Sauce
2. JTM General Tso’s Sauce
3. JTM All-Meat Beef Meatball
4. JTM PlantBorn Taco Filling
5. JTM PlantBorn Pasta Sauce

Students were eager to participate—many even went back for seconds (and some for thirds)! It was wonderful to see their enthusiasm and genuine excitement about the food. Our team had the opportunity to sit down and connect with students, engaging in meaningful conversations about their meal experiences and preferences.

We also shared FNS regulations and guidelines with the students, helping them understand that, even within these nutritional standards, school food can be both healthy and delicious. The conversations were insightful and reaffirmed our shared goal of creating menus that students enjoy while maintaining strong nutritional standards.

FNS strives for an 80% student satisfaction rate before introducing new menu items.

In February, FNS partnered with various schools to hold taste tests for potential new menu items that include international cuisines. Our goal is to incorporate minimally processed foods as well as more fresh fruits and vegetables while ensuring that student voices remain at the center of our menu planning.

• The PGCPS composting program is expanding to include six additional schools, for a total of 42. The schools joining the program are Non-Traditional Program South, Colin Powell Academy, Benjamin
  Stoddert Middle School, District Heights Elementary School, Overlook Elementary School, and Tulip Grove Elementary School.
• Administrative Procedure 0111 – Reduction of Wasted Food was finalized and posted to the PGCPS website, with school procedures for Offer versus Serve, Share Tables, and Food Donation.
• Schools were encouraged to participate in America Recycles Day and utilize the Teacher Toolkit, which includes activities and lessons for students.
• A Waste Diversion professional development session for teachers was held in October, focusing on strategies to reduce waste through reducing, reusing, recycling, and composting actions.
  Composting professional development sessions were held for teachers and custodians this fall for composting schools.

• Grow Your Own (GYO) – This tree nursery partnership with the Prince George’s County Department of the Environment helps to create a system to grow native trees and shrubs for local restoration plantings and
  provide outdoor classroom learning for PGCPS students.
• The DuVal High School Tree Planting is scheduled for Saturday, April 18, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• PGCPS and the Langley Park Civic Association (LPCA) have been collaborating to assess the feasibility of Langley Park Community Garden; this initiative will not only beautify this plot but also enhance its use to
  PGCPS and the local community.