Advisory Clean Energy Committee Charter

Purpose

The committee’s purpose is to serve in an advisory role to the Green Bay Area Public School District Board of Education pursuant to the Clean Energy Resolution passed by the Board in April 2020, specifically to effect the following goals:

1. Development of a long term plan of energy sustainability and clean energy, possibly including standards for clean energy use, energy and water efficiency, recycling, and clean energy projects, to present to the Board of Education;
2. Review of the district Wellness Policy to consider inclusion of the effects of climate on staff and student health;
3. Establishment of goals to guide district operations energy needs with a carbon-neutral energy goal, as measured by the carbon footprint, on this schedule:
   • 50% carbon neutral by 2035
   • 75% carbon neutral by 2040
   • 100% carbon neutral by 2050
4. Possible investment in future clean energy and energy efficiency projects.

The committee will propose, by December 30, 2024, an initial plan for meeting the 2035 goal and will monitor progress and recommend changes throughout the plan’s implementation.

Membership

Member recruitment will aim to reflect the diversity in culture, expertise and geography within the school district, with membership of no fewer than 10 and no more than 15 individuals, and at least 2 students shall be included in this membership. This will be a standing, uncompensated committee of volunteers, with individual membership anticipated to be two years, although members may volunteer to serve consecutive terms. Membership will also include one nonvoting staff member, as appointed by the superintendent, to attend meetings and participate in committee activities. Initial membership will be assigned as a 1 year or 2 year term with the terms distributed among the membership.

Voting members will be nominated by the president of the School Board or designee Board member, in consultation with the Superintendent of Schools and Learning, from the pool of applicants derived by an online application procedure. School Board will approve final committee membership.

Member Qualifications

Required

• Commitment to or relationship with Green Bay Area Public Schools, either currently or in the past. At least 75% of committee members must be residents of the District.
• Acknowledgement that human
• Understanding of environmental topics
• Intention to attend meetings and participate

Desirable

• Knowledge of and commitment to the health of Northeast Wisconsin’s natural environment and climate
• Dedication to collaborative, creative problem solving

Nominations

The application, to be made available online and on paper in several languages, will include these requests for information:

• Name
• Address
• What is your current or previous relationship to Green Bay Area Public Schools?
• How have you demonstrated some level of knowledge about the natural environment of Northeast Wisconsin?
• In your understanding, does human behavior impact climate and environment?
• To what extent do you believe the local public school system can/should commit to reducing its carbon footprint?
• Please cite an action, however small and personal, you have taken to reduce a carbon footprint.
• Can you commit to meeting every other month over the next two years? (You may explain your scheduling limitations.)
• Please tell us any other personal information you’d like us to consider
• Please give us your phone number and email address in case we have questions

Based on the results of the application process, and in consultation with the Superintendent, the president of the board will present to the board a proposed committee and a shorter list of possible alternative members, should their membership be required.

Every two years or as needed the board president, in consultation with the Superintendent, will submit to the board the updated proposed list of committee members, activating another application process if needed. Should discussion of membership be required, the board may
meet in closed session to protect the reputation of proposed members.

Authority

The nature of the committee is advisory only; the committee has no expressed or implied power or authority. Pursuant to Board of Education Resolution to Establish Goals, Sustainability, Clean Energy, and Carbon Neutrality (April 13, 2020) the advisory committee will meet to review and consider district progress toward the goals stated above and report regularly to the Board of Education. Specifically, the committee may:

• Submit recommendations for action toward goal fulfillment
• Address the board and answer questions
• Monitor progress and recommend adjustments

Responsibilities

1. Following each committee meeting, the committee shall report publicly at the subsequent meeting of the BOE. The presentation shall be listed on the agenda.
2. Review, discuss, and respond to reports provided by designated staff regarding the four main goals:
3. Standards for sustainability, clean energy and carbon neutrality in facilities planning and operation;
4. Possible effects of climate on staff and student health
5. Progress toward carbon neutrality goals for 2035, 2040, and 2050;
6. Recommendations for investments toward clean energy improvement.
7. Identify and recommend community resources, partnerships and funding to support district efforts toward carbon neutrality.
8. Identify ways to elicit community feedback and make recommendations to the Board.

Limitations

Subject to Wisconsin Open Meetings Law and Public Records Law, the committee’s meetings will be announced and open to the public. The committee will create its own schedule per the guidelines of Policy 185 to include meetings every other month (or more frequently) and regular reports to staff and the board as detailed above.

The committee’s work shall be governed by the following district policies and procedures:

• Green Bay Area Public School District Budget
• 110, District Mission and Beliefs
• 150, Board Powers and Duties
• 185, Advisory Committees
• 485, Wellness and 485 Rule, Procedures for Implementing District Wellness Policy
• 620, Annual Operating Budget
• 623, Budget Implementation
• 640, School Funding Sources
• 657, Grants from Private Sources
• 657, Rule, Procedures for Grants from Private Sources
• 672, Procurement and Purchasing
• 672, Rule, Procurement Requirements and Methods
• 683, Management of Capital Assets
• 721, Buildings and Grounds Management, Maintenance and Inspection
• 723, School Safety Plans
• 724, Indoor Environmental Quality Management
• 726, Chemical Hygiene Plan/Hygiene Management
• 733, Energy Management
• 733, Rule, Energy Management
• 740, Materials Resources Management

District Resources

The Superintendent will designate a staff member to coordinate steps toward the above mentioned goals, understanding that return on investment will be part of the decision making process as the District moves to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality. That staff member will attend mutually agreeable dates and times for committee meetings and collaborate with the committee as needed.

Timeline and Meetings

This is a standing committee, intended to continue work indefinitely as needed.

• Committee will meet at least in alternating months but may meet more often per consensus.
• Meeting time will accommodate the schedule of the designated staff person.
• Reports to the BOE will follow each official committee meeting.

Board Approved: October 23, 2023