Schools of the Future Task Force Delivers Policy Recommendations
Torlakson said his first major initiative was creating a "Schools of the Future" team because the decisions made about school facilities today will affect students for years to come. "I see a huge potential for a win-win-win on energy efficiency and renewable energy in schools," he said. "Sustainable schools would save education dollars, improve the environment and create thousands of teachable moments for students."
Schools as Models of Sustainability, Centers of Community
On June 1, 2011 the “Schools of the Future” task force delivered its final recommendations to California State Superintendent Tom Torlakson focusing on innovative ways to foster school facilities that are centers of the community, models of sustainability and efficiency, and enhance achievement of all students.
Torlakson was elected in November 2010 to a four-year term as California’s 27th State Superintendent of Public Instruction. He convened this task force in March 2011, charging it with the task of eliminating regulatory, legislative, policy and financial barriers to high performance schools. Superintendent Torlakson was present throughout the June 1 meeting, engaging with committee members, asking questions, and seeking feasible solutions.
Huge Potential for a Win-Win-Win
Torlakson said his first major initiative was creating a "Schools of the Future" team because the decisions made about school facilities today will affect students for years to come. "I see a huge potential for a win-win-win on energy efficiency and renewable energy in schools," he said. "Sustainable schools would save education dollars, improve the environment and create thousands of teachable moments for students."
He added, "We can't teach the next generation of California students in facilities that are relics of the past. We want our students to be in 21st Century learning environments that allow for personalized learning and are technology rich."
Key Recommendations
Each of the 8 subcommittees (see full list at the end of this article) reported on their 5 key recommendations involving everything from restructuring the governance of the school facility design, approval, and funding process, to better aligning the siting and construction of school facilities with the state’s other health, environment and land use goals.
In addition to school facilities, committees made recommendations about high efficiency operations and building occupant behaviors that are needed for truly sustainable schools. In this way, the task force acknowledged the interplay between the built learning environment and the educational curricula that engages students in sustainable best practices.
A Team Approach
Recognizing that a common thread in many of the committees’ recommendations was to better coordinate and strengthen partnerships and collaborations among the numerous agencies, companies, and organizations involved with schools so as to avoid duplication of efforts, Torlakson – a former high school coach – said “We need a TEAM approach, where TEAM means Together Everyone Achieves More.”
Reflecting on the full day of presentations, Deborah Moore, Chair of the High Efficiency Schools Subcommittee and Executive Director of Green Schools Initiative, said, “I am really energized by the creativity of this initiative and urge the California Department of Education to follow through promptly on implementing the many money-saving ideas presented today.” She continued, “we stand ready to help.”
The full written report is now being reviewed internally by the California Department of Education staff and the Task Force Co-Chairs, Cesar Diaz, of the State Building Trades Council and Steve Rogers, President of the Board of the San Mateo Union High School District. After this review, the State Superintendent will develop his priorities for follow-up on several key policy recommendations. The report will eventually be made public, and we will post links once it is available.
Schools of the Future Initiative Subcommittees:
I. School Facilities Program Reform
* Subcommittee 1 - Funding/Governance; Chair: Bill Savidge, West Contra Costa Unified School District
* Subcommittee 2 - School Site Selection and Community Impact; Chairs: Mamie Starr, San Joaquin County Office of Education, and Cynthia Bryant, California Charter School Association
* Subcommittee 3 – Modernization; Chairs: Terry Bradley, School Business Consulting, Inc., and Bruce Hancock, Hancock, Gonos & Park Inc.
* Subcommittee 4 - Educational Impact of Design; Chair: Laura Knauss, Lionakis
II. High Performance Schools
* Subcommittee 5 – Financing; Chair: Dave Walrath, Small School District Association
* Subcommittee 6 - Renewable Energy; Chairs: Bob Linscheid, The Lindscheid Company, and Anna Ferrera, Murdoch, Walrath & Holmes
* Subcommittee 7 - High Efficiency Schools; Chair: Deborah Moore, Green Schools Initiative
* Subcommittee 8 - Grid Neutral Schools; Chair: Randy Britt, Parsons