CSDNR Committee Members
Nathaniel Adams, Program Coordinator, New Rochelle My Brother's Keeper Initiative
Marisa Adler, Parent
Alex Alvarez, Community Volunteer
Meilisa Arlt, CSDNR Purchasing Agent
Oumar Bamba, Davis Student
Hawa Bamba, Parent
Emily Bates, Student
Mary Claire Breslin, Federation of United School Employees
Ray Casher, District Custodial Supervisor
Ava Dee, Student
Ivy Dee, Parent
Brenda DeGiacomo, Parent Teacher Association Council
Nicole Forman, Parent
Nicole Friedman, Student
Robin Friedman, Parent
Teresa Carmen Glenn, NRHS Science teacher
Sam Hollander, Parent
Leslie Hughes, District Office
Amy Kessler, Parent
Eric Kessler, Parent
Sara Key, Community Volunteer
Carlos Leal, CSDNR Business Official and Chief of Staff
Alexa Lopez, Davis Student
Maria Lopez, Parent
James Mumm, Community Volunteer
Kim Nieves, Jefferson Elementary School Principal, Administrators and Supervisors Representative, Co-Lead
Wendy Ochoa-Grosso, Senior Account Clerk
Jennifer Peck, Community Volunteer
Paul Anthony Presendieu, New Rochelle Ecology and Natural Resources Advisory Committee
Eli Robinson, Student Rep
Lauren Robinson, Community Volunteer
Nick Sioufas, Community Volunteer
Jayme Sirota, Student
Gail Sirota, Parent
Melany Soto, Davis Student
Cely Rodriquez Hernandez, Parent
Otilia Taylor-Tanner, Parent
Anastasia Tzortzatos, CSDNR Director of Technology
Keith Watkins, CSDNR Director of Facilities
Healthy and Sustainable Food Services
Pursue dining practices that minimize waste, take advantage of healthy, locally sourced food and explore composting and organic gardening opportunities
Reduce/eliminate the use of single use plastics in schools and cafeterias
Education
Expand outdoor education by increasing the number of school gardens
Expand schoolyard natural habitats
Offer sustainability/green workshops for students, families, and community
Green Schools Audits and Competition Fair
Create school Green Teams audit sites and provide recommendations for improvement projects in a science fair-style competition
Funding for Development, Implementation, and Sustainability of the Work
Grants
Bonds
Local, State, and National foundations
State and federal funding opportunities
Facilities and Central Office Operations
Develop a comprehensive utility management program (electricity, natural gas, water) that maximizes conservation of natural resources, ensures optimal mechanical efficiency, and utilizes inexpensive available sources to fund conservation projects
Obtain LEED, or other green certification for our buildings
Implement green cleaning practices
Create sustainable and healthy buildings
Expand a comprehensive recycling program
Pursue a comprehensive waste stream management program focused on source reduction and landfill diversion
Pursue a transportation plan that encourages and supports efficient forms of transportation for students, employees, and families, including carpooling, after school activities, and regular bus routes
Work with the transportation company to install particulate traps on all school buses and change all equipment to run on 5% biodiesel
Retrofit and upgrade existing greenhouses
Conduct building audits to reduce energy, water, waste, and toxic chemicals
Develop Green Plans to reduce carbon footprint greenhouse gasses
Establish procurement policies and practices that do not rely exclusively on initial cost, but account for other factors such as total cost of ownership (life cycle costing) and environmental impact (Energy Star, grown locally, etc.)
Incorporate “green and resilient” thinking into all new projects and renovations that encourage renewable energy sources, maintenance free components, maximum insulating efficiency, use of recycled materials, and take advantage of environmental factors that help conservation efforts