Sustainability

An Initiative With Impact Today and Tomorrow

The Department of Sustainability, under the Division of Operations for the DeKalb County School District, is dedicated to fostering an environment of ecological responsibility and resource efficiency. This department plays a crucial role in implementing sustainable strategies that not only reduce the district’s environmental footprint but also promote long-term economic and social benefits. By integrating sustainability into our daily operations, we aim to create healthier learning environments, conserve resources, and inspire future generations to value and protect our planet. Instituting these strategies today is vital for ensuring the well-being of our students, staff, and community, and for securing a sustainable future for all.

The DeKalb County School District (DCSD) is committed to promoting sustainability and reducing its environmental impact. The DCSD believes that environmental, economic, and social sustainability within the school district is the responsibility of the district, but is also the concern of all individuals, staff, administrators, teachers and students. We support sustainable practices that create a healthy learning environment, strengthen our facilities and operations, and engage our employees and students in developing environmental awareness and practices.

Sustainability is defined as a systematic process for managing economic, social, and environmental resources in order to meet the District’s short-term and long-term goals.

Key points to consider:

  • Energy Efficiency: Installing energy-efficient lighting and appliances, and encouraging school bus ridership, public transportation, carpooling, or walking/biking to school.
  • Water Conservation: Implementation of water-saving measures, such as low-flow fixtures and equipment, and gray water reuse systems.
  • Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Implementation of recycling programs, reducing paper and materials usage, and encouraging students and staff to reuse materials whenever possible.
  • Waste Reduction: Reducing food waste; moving away from single-use plates, bowls, and con-tainers; encouraging students and staff to bring reusable containers and bags. Implementing food recovery and food residuals composting programs.
  • Sustainable Procurement: Purchasing sustainable products, such as recycled paper and other items made with recycled materials. Purchasing and installing energy-efficient equipment when possible. Supporting local and environmentally responsible suppliers.
  • Education and Awareness: Incorporation of sustainability education into the curriculum and en-couraging students and staff to participate in environmental activities and events.
  • Community Engagement: Engagement with the local community to promote sustainability and involving students and staff in decision-making processes.

The DeKalb County School District received a grant from Georgia Southern University’s Institute for Health Logistics & Analytics (IHLA) to support COVID-19 mitigation projects in the district’s schools and administrative buildings.

This grant has enabled DeKalb Schools to acquire High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) fan/filtration systems and other smaller units to enhance air quality and circulation. Additionally, it provides for the necessary air filters, such as MERV filters, for these systems.

The funding has also been used to purchase hand soap dispensers, personal protective equipment (PPE) including masks, gloves, and gowns, as well as hand hygiene and disinfecting/cleaning supplies.

This grant is a collaboration between Georgia Southern, the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) Reopening Schools Grant Program.

Through this program, funding is provided to Georgia schools, both public and private, from kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12), to help maintain safe in-person instruction.

The DeKalb County School District Division of Operations is pleased to announce the launch of our new Surplus Inventory and Equipment Sale Program, which began in May. This innovative initiative is designed to give a second life to equipment that is no longer needed by the District, rather than sending it to landfills or for scrap. By making these items available for purchase by the public, we are not only reducing waste but also creating new opportunities for our community members.

The first sale, held in May, was a tremendous success, generating $47,000 for the District. Items sold included several operable pieces of equipment such as lifts, tractors, a backhoe, a skid steer, and a loader. Damaged equipment was responsibly recycled or disposed of.

The Surplus Inventory and Equipment Sale Program is part of our ongoing commitment to sustainability and responsible resource management. We are excited to continue this program with plans to hold public sales on a quarterly basis. Keep an eye out for future announcements about upcoming auctions, where you can find quality equipment at great prices while supporting DeKalb Schools’ efforts to manage resources efficiently.

This program not only supports our sustainability goals but also provides an excellent opportunity for the public to acquire useful equipment that still has plenty of life left. We look forward to your participation in our future sales and to continuing to find innovative ways to serve our community.

In a continuing effort to be better stewards of our environment and to keep usable materials from going to landfill, Business Services and Fleet Services of the DeKalb County Schools are collecting and recycling scrap metals. These metals are generated at the schools and from the DCSD Warehouse, as well as from the bus and vehicle maintenance facilities. Before this program was initiated, these materials went to the landfill. We are pleased to report that during 2023-2024 we have generated 2,127,109 lbs. (1,064 tons) of scrap metals and collected $29,209.05 in recycling revenue.

DCSD Recycling Program

DeKalb Green New Deal Festival

New Electric Buses Coming to DeKalb

The DeKalb County School District is one of seven Georgia school systems receiving federal funding for new electric and low-emission buses. DeKalb Schools will receive 50 new electric buses, which will be put into service starting in 2025.

Currently, over 800 predominantly diesel buses transport students to DeKalb County Schools daily, contributing to air pollution and exposing the district’s nearly 92,000 school children to less-than-healthy air. Introducing electric buses is a crucial first step by DeKalb to limit students’ exposure to harmful emissions from the district’s transportation fleet. These new buses will significantly reduce the fleet’s carbon footprint and minimize diesel exhaust.

Adding electric buses is part of DeKalb County School District’s broader and ongoing sustainability efforts. The district aims to add another 25 electric buses within the next few years.

The Georgia grant funding is part of a $1 billion national initiative to support clean school buses, funded by the bipartisan infrastructure spending bill passed by Congress in 2021.

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