Arlington Public Schools awarded state grant to promote student sustainability awareness

January 2, 2019 1:30 am
An Arlington Schools maintenance worker feeds a large branch through a chipper. Arlington Public Schools recently received a Healthy Kids-Healthy Schools grant to buy the chipper.
An Arlington Schools maintenance worker feeds a large branch through a chipper. Arlington Public Schools recently received a Healthy Kids-Healthy Schools grant to buy the chipper.

ARLINGTON- Arlington Public Schools has been awarded a Healthy Kids-Healthy Schools grant from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.

The $14,190 grant will be used for student sustainability awareness, in this case by purchasing a heavy-duty two-behind chipper to dispose of yard waste stored at several sites in the district.

The equipment will enable the district to reduce the impacts of storing the material, while also creating chips and mulch that can be used for weed control, as well as gardening activities for the Future Farmers of America agricultural program and the district’s grounds department.

“By partnering with our agricultural program, the organic materials generated from their work may also be shredded for composting and re-used in the greenhouse,” said Ed Aylesworth, director of Child Nutrition and Support Services. “Students will observe and learn sustainable methods of responsible farming and be able to put this learning into practice.” 

OSPI received 80 applications competing for $2.25 million in grants for student sustainability awareness, nutrition, and physical education and activity improvements.

An Arlington Schools maintenance worker feeds a large branch through a chipper. Arlington Public Schools recently received a Healthy Kids-Healthy Schools grant to buy the chipper.

An Arlington Schools maintenance worker feeds a large branch through a chipper. Arlington Public Schools recently received a Healthy Kids-Healthy Schools grant to buy the chipper.