Asumag 1041 Imgp0409
Asumag 1041 Imgp0409
Asumag 1041 Imgp0409
Asumag 1041 Imgp0409
Asumag 1041 Imgp0409

GCA Honorable Mention (Sustainability) K-12 School Districts: Virginia Beach City Public Schools, Virginia Beach, Virginia

Dec. 1, 2014
Virginia Beach City Public Schools built the state’s first LEED-certified elementary school, but yet the staff was still using cleaning practices that did not match the environmental consciousness of the school’s architecture. In 2007, students, teachers, administrators and parents collaborated to change that.

Program Information

Total number of students: 69,848

Total square footage maintained: 10,250,000

Total number of custodians: 720

Total annual cleaning budget: $1,742,106

Green cleaning team members: Dale Holt, Chief Operations Officer, Division Services; James Kerekesh, Area Supervisor; Michael Kenon, Area Supervisor; Birsch Industries Community Group; Tim Cole, Sustainable Coordinator

Virginia Beach City Public Schools built the state’s first LEED-certified elementary school, but yet the staff was still using cleaning practices that did not match the environmental consciousness of the school’s architecture. In 2007, students, teachers, administrators and parents collaborated to change that, and by the end of 2009, green cleaning chemical and procedures were fully integrated across the school district. It didn’t take long to reap the benefits. The school nurse at the school, Hermitage Elementary, told the media in 2009 that they no longer had respiratory-related ambulance calls.

The division started with Hermitage, but it is now working on its ninth LEED building and its green cleaning program is viewed as an integral part of the creating a 21st Century learning environment.

Sponsored Recommendations

How to design flexible learning spaces that teachers love and use

Unlock the potential of flexible learning spaces with expert guidance from school districts and educational furniture providers. Discover how to seamlessly integrate adaptive ...

Blurring the Lines in Education Design: K–12 to Higher Ed to Corporate America

Discover the seamless integration of educational and corporate design principles, shaping tomorrow's leaders from kindergarten to boardroom. Explore innovative classroom layouts...

Room to Learn: Furniture Solutions for Education

Preparing students for the future. Utilizing our experience in the education market, we offer a dynamic selection of products that pair technology with furniture to help stimulate...

Transforming Education: A Case Study in Progressive Classroom Design

Discover how Workspace Interiors and the Baldwin School District reshaped learning environments in Long Island, New York, creating pedagogically responsive spaces that foster ...