Lafarge Ravena, through its Community Liaison Panel’s Environmental and Safety Scholars Grant Program, awarded a $1,000 grant to the Clarksville Elementary School Green Club to launch a school-wide composting program.

Led by fifth grade teacher Heather Bush, the club will use the award funds to install worm-composting bins in each of the school’s 12 classrooms. This system, which Bush introduced and tested in her own classroom several years ago, breaks down such organic wastes as apple cores or orange peels into compost for the schools’ flower beds and garden. Debbie Jackson of the Department of Environmental Conservation served as an advisor on the project.

Lafarge Ravena’s Community Liaison Panel, an advisory group comprised of Lafarge staff, local government leaders, environmental advocates and community leaders, requested proposals from schools in Rensselaer, Columbia, Greene and Albany counties.
Selecting a winner wasn’t easy. The panel received eight excellent responses from schools throughout the region but chose the Clarksville program because of its large impact on the entire school.

The panel looked for a project with clear objectives, positive results and easy to replicate, practical steps that other schools or organizations could emulate successfully. The Clarksville Green Club is the first elementary level environmental club in the district and can serve as an example for other schools in the district and beyond.

Congratulations to the students at Clarksville Elementary, to project coordinator Heather Bush and to principal Dorothy McDonald for developing this inspiring and practical program. We’re proud that our grant will expand the environmental activities at this forward-thinking school where other recycling programs and natural studies are in full swing.

The Bethlehem Spotlight also has a nice article about this green program, read it here.