The new procedures will begin immediately at Miller Middle School and the Impact Career Innovation Center. Other schools will implement the procedures through fall 2024.
These goals will help the district toward its goal of a designation by The Collaborative for High Performance Schools. CHPS is a nonprofit organization that works to ensure all PK-12 students have access to environments that support learning and wellness. School facilities constructed or renovated using CHPS high performance building criteria are more energy and water efficient, and make a difference for students, teachers, and communities. CHPS has worked with over 60 school districts nationwide on more than 700 projects to give millions of enrolled students better learning environments.
OM C6.1 District Anti-Idling Policy
- School bus drivers will shut off bus engines upon reaching destination, and buses will not idle for more than five minutes while waiting for passengers. This rule applies to all bus use including daily route travel, field trips, and transportation to and from athletic events. School buses should not be restarted until they are ready to depart and there is a clear path to exit the pick-up area. The exceptions will be during defrosting periods and in extreme cold weather when safety of staff and passengers is a concern. These events should be limited to fifteen minutes.
- Signage expressly prohibiting the idling of all vehicles for more than five minutes will be posted in the school zone at Miller Middle School and Durango High School for the Impact Career Innovation Center.
- Annually, operations staff will evaluate and shorten bus routes whenever possible, particularly for older buses with the least effective emissions control.
- All school district bus drivers will complete a “no idling” training session at least once. All bus drivers will receive a copy of this No Idling Policy at the beginning of every school year.
OM C5.1.2 Green Cleaning Resolution
- At least 75% of cleaning products used will be environmentally preferable and safer cleaning products that are certified by Green Seal or EcoLogo programs. If no third party certification is available for specialty products, then EPA’s Safer Choice label may be used.
- Teachers and other staff are prohibited from the use of aerosol and plug-in air fresheners.
- Use of only CRI certified vacuums or other HEPA vacuums.
- Teachers and other staff are prohibited from bringing in their own cleaning supplies to ensure the requirements of this plan are being met by all cleaning supplies used on-site.
EQ 8.1.2 District Resolution to Test Drinking Water
- The governing board for the Durango School District 9-R hereby commits to testing drinking water for lead annually and publishing the results to the community. This will be implemented district wide.
- Mitigation measures will be implemented if the water quality is compromised. Testing procedures will follow Colorado’s Test and Fix Water for Kids program meeting HB22-1358.
- The party responsible for water testing is the Durango School District 9-R Facilities Department in conjunction with Water Girl, Deb Hall and the Colorado Test and Fix Water for Kids program.
- Water is tested with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) issued water vials and results returned to CDPHE for analysis.
- Once results are received, the Durango School District 9-R will then work from the recommendations from CDPHE towards mitigation solutions.